Universal Orlando Resort: Celebrating Impact Across Community, Legacy, and Learning

Universal Orlando Team Member Volunteers Help Fill Over 25,000 Backpacks with School Supplies for Students
This summer, over 100 Universal Orlando team members volunteered at The Great Big Backpack Build –?A Gift For Teaching’s?annual fundraising event that fills backpacks with school supplies for elementary, middle and high school students in need across Central Florida.? 
The event was funded in part by a Universal Orlando Foundation grant of more than $60,000 and resulted in over 25,000 backpacks being filled – a record for this event.  
Universal Orlando has partnered with A Gift For Teaching since 2011. At this year’s event, team members helped set up the event at the Orange County Convention Center, checked in volunteers and worked together in assembly lines to fill the backpacks with supplies including notebooks, pens, pencils, markers and more.  
Universal Destinations & Experiences is committed to serving the local communities where we operate and making a positive impact. To learn more about these efforts, click?here.? 
 
Where It All Started: Universal Studios Florida’s 35th Anniversary
On June 7, Universal Studios Florida celebrated its 35th anniversary. This milestone year marks another exciting moment for the company as we look back at the experiences that have provided our guests with countless incredible memories. 
Universal Studios Florida’s slogan invites guests to “Ride the Movies” and delivers on that promise with unique attractions themed to the classic Universal films guests know and love. Today, Universal Studios Florida continues to leave a lasting impact on guests and also serves as the birthplace of beloved special events such as Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights.  
Since its gates opened in 1990, this original park remains the cornerstone of Universal Orlando Resort, as Universal Destinations & Experiences continues to grow and expand in new markets for new audiences. This anniversary represents the company’s dedication to creativity and innovation, and we can’t wait to see what the next 35 years will hold. 
 
Celebrating the Universal Education Center’s 30th Graduating Class

This year, the Universal Education Center’s (UEC) 30th graduating class received their diplomas – an achievement that speaks to the dedication of these hardworking students at Universal Orlando. 
Started in 1994, the UEC serves as an alternate education program and partnership with Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), offering up to 40 junior and senior high school students per year the chance to thrive in an environment with small class sizes and more focused attention than the traditional classroom setting. 
When they aren’t in class, the students spend their time working in the parks, gaining real-world experience. With a 100% graduation rate from the program, these students are well-equipped for life after high school – and this year, all 16 graduates are staying on as Universal Orlando team members, where they’ll be able to apply the valuable skills learned at the Universal Education Center.