Although this year has been difficult for the events industry and the world overall, it’s great to be able to celebrate achievements and milestones that will ultimately help us return to normal. For several years, Hello! Florida and Talk of the Town Restaurant Group (TOTT) have partnered for the “Round Up for Charity” program, which raises much-needed funds for Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) children and the Hello! Florida Field Trip Fund (“Field Trip Fund”). The Field Trip Fund allows OCPS children who are experiencing poverty or homelessness to attend Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused field trips at no cost. While many children are currently either learning remotely or with social distancing protocols that limit this interaction, the importance of field trips to stimulate and educate is more important than ever as we look towards our return to normal in the coming months.

Throughout the month of August 2020, guests at TOTT restaurants were invited to donate by rounding up their check to the nearest dollar. Thanks to the support of the local community, the benefit raised over $3,000 to help classroom content become more relevant and meaningful for low-income OCPS children. The support couldn’t come at a better time, as many Central Florida families will need to prioritize their spending in 2021 as our economy begins to recover. We’re so thankful for the outpouring of support, and that we were able to continue this important charitable cause even in the face of the challenges we faced this year. Thank you to our partners at Talk of the Town Restaurant Group and those who supported this cause during their visit to TOTT restaurants.

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Founded by Hello! Florida Director of Special Accounts Shannon Orme in 2014, the Hello! Florida Field Trip Fund has raised nearly $100,000 and sent over 10,000 OCPS children on fun, educational school field trips that they otherwise would not have been able to afford.