Charity Spotlight | By Jocklyn Mundy
Spring Picnic Draws Community Together Under New Leadership
For years, the annual Spring Picnic at Edgewood Children’s Ranch has been one of those quiet traditions that says everything about who we are as a community. Families, supporters, and friends gather on the grounds of this beloved Orlando ministry, not for fanfare, but because showing up matters. And once again this spring, they did.
For those who may not know the story, Edgewood Children’s Ranch has been a haven for children and families in crisis for decades, providing faith-based residential care, counseling, and a sense of belonging to kids who need it most. The Spring Picnic has long served as the heart of the organization’s community outreach, a day where the people who make the mission possible can see its impact firsthand.
Bruce Jordan, who historically hosted the picnic and shepherded Edgewood’s mission through years of growth, has passed the torch to Jeff Fitzgerald, the organization’s new Executive Director. It’s a transition rooted in trust, and if this year’s picnic was any indication, the mission is in exceptional hands.
“Your presence alone was a gift,” Fitzgerald shared with supporters after the event. “It reminded us that we are not doing this work alone, but that we are surrounded by a community that believes deeply in what God is doing here.”
That spirit of gratitude wrapped in purpose is what makes Edgewood different. This isn’t an organization that measures success in press releases. It measures success in changed lives, in children who finally feel safe, in families that find hope when they had none left. The picnic is simply the day when the rest of us get to see it up close.
If you’ve never visited Edgewood Children’s Ranch, consider this your invitation. And if you have, Jeff Fitzgerald and his team would love to hear from you. The work continues, and so does the welcome.
Edgewood Children’s Ranch | edgewoodranch.com
