In the age of social media, streaming platforms, and 24-hour news cycles, you might wonder: Why does public media still matter?
The answer is simple—public media matters because local stations serve local communities!
At WUCF, our mission goes far beyond delivering programs. We exist to change lives, create community connections, and provide commercial-free access to reliable information, education, and culture.
Our free, expert-informed educational content like Meet the Helpers and On My Way to K empowers and equips parents and caregivers to support children's learning and growth. Through television programs, interactive games, mobile apps and hands-on activities, we set children –particularly in low-income areas -- on a path to school and lifetime success – all at no cost to families.
And each public media station, including WUCF, is locally managed, tailoring content and services to reflect the unique needs of Central Florida. Programs like Florida Road Trip and NewsNight exist because Central Florida asked for them. We foster community connections that address critical local issues, verify facts, strengthen community bonds, and enrich society through programming that changes lives.
WUCF kicked of 2025 by hosting the Community Book Bash at Orlando Family Stage, a celebration for collecting over 5,000 books for Head Start programs across Central Florida! We welcomed over 400 people for interactive storytimes with local authors, hosted literacy stations, theatrical performances and got to introduce families to Clifford the Big Red Dog!
At WUCF, we’re proud to be part of your lives, and deeply grateful for your support in serving Central Florida.
Together, we can ensure public media continues to highlight our community’s unique opportunities and remains a cornerstone for generations to come.