A United Front

For Sanford natives Kerry S. Wiggins Sr. and Britt Henderson, giving back to their community has always been personal.

Both grew up in single-parent households, played college football after graduating from Seminole High School, and returned home to coach and mentor young people.

What Britt and Kerry started in 2004 as a small football and cheer camp has evolved into something much bigger: the nonprofit Unity Youth Association (UYA), a free program designed to support local children academically, socially, and emotionally while helping their parents become stronger advocates for their families.

“We are big on transforming their lives from ‘I think I can’ to ‘I can,’” says Britt.

Others have taken note of Kerry and Britt’s efforts. Recently, Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell included both men in his annual list of 10 people who are making Central Florida a better place to live.

Britt and Kerry officially launched their nonprofit in 2006. Today, in an unassuming building (the old Sanford Police Department station on French Avenue), the organization serves nearly 125 elementary-and middle-school students and always has a waiting list. During the academic year, UYA operates Monday through Friday, offering after-school tutoring with enrichment activities such as drumline and piano lessons. During the summer, UYA offers an all-day camp.

Academic support is at the heart of UYA, with tutors and mentors – including employees of Seminole County Public Schools – working with students in reading, math, and other subjects. The results can be significant.

Focused on Success

Carli Massey, now a sixth grader, began attending UYA in fourth grade after struggling academically in other after-school programs. With focused reading support, her comprehension improved and her test scores eventually increased by 90 points, says Vernique Dillon, Carli’s mother.

“Carli loves it here,” says Vernique. “She loves the teachers. She loves coming here to do her homework. It has really boosted her confidence.”

The program’s holistic approach is one of the things that sets UYA apart. Students receive academic assistance, but they also develop personal and social skills and learn about mental health. UYA brings in professionals to teach children how to make friends, manage anger, regulate emotions, and avoid hurtful behavior. Sports programs are still part of what the organization offers. Other activities expose students to art therapy, music, character development, and specialized enrichment. The goal is to give children tools they may not otherwise have access to.

“Stuff may happen in their communities or neighborhoods that might challenge their mental capacity,” says Kerry, who is also a Sanford city commissioner. “So, we try to bring people in from outside to work on those different skill sets with our kids.”

Parental Support Is Key

UYA is also committed to the children’s parents. One of the most important aspects of the program, Kerry says, is the way the organization supports parents while holding them accountable. When families enroll, parents attend an orientation and sign an agreement acknowledging that their involvement is part of the process. If a child needs reading support, mental health services, or another intervention, parents are expected to participate and follow through.

“The accountability doesn’t start at the church, the school, or the community,” says Kerry. “It starts at your house.”

At UYA, workshops to help support parents cover subjects such as mental health and financial literacy. The organization offers GED classes and helps interested parents connect with CareerSource, a workforce development network. The program also organizes family events, including mother-son and father-daughter dances.

UYA’s after-school and summer programs are free, a distinction that is especially important to Britt and Kerry. When they were growing up, many sports programs and other opportunities for youth were unaffordable.

“We both had single mothers, and we know what it’s like to struggle and come from little or nothing,” says Britt. “We are blessed to be able to make sure these kids have a little help.”

UYA’s annual operating costs are about $750,000 for its academic and summer programs, with most of its financial support coming from private donations. The organization also has a gala fundraiser every year, with the next one planned for March 2027.

Giving Back to Their Community

Big Nova Foundation, led by the Lee P. Moore family of Sanford, has become one of UYA’s strongest supporters, helping the organization expand from a grassroots effort into a more established nonprofit.

“We just love what they are doing there,” says Stephen Moore. “Those with have a responsibility to those without. It is how we base our lives and why we do what we do. Kerry and Britt feel the same way. But they have even less to give than we do, and they’re giving more.”

For Britt and Kerry, the ultimate goal for UYA is a state-of-the-art facility with space to serve even more children and families. But their greatest measure of success is not about buildings or budgets. It’s about seeing former students grow into successful adults – and sometimes return with children of their own.

“That’s our biggest joy,” says Britt. “Just knowing that our kids come up and do well.”

To learn more about Unity Youth Association, visit UYASanford.org.