Orange County Regional History Center receiving $50,000 grant from the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation

The $50,000 grant from the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation will help bring more than 2,000 students from Title I schools to the museum.

A $50,000 grant from the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation will help bring more than 2,000 students from Title I schools across Central Florida to the Orange County Regional History Center for hands-on encounters with the region’s history. The grant will cover field trips and transportation to and from the History Center, removing a significant barrier that can prevent students from taking part in museum learning experiences.

During the History Center’s two-hour field trip experience, students explore the museum with educators through guided activities designed to reinforce classroom learning and spark curiosity about the region’s history, culture, and civic life. In a courtroom mock trial, students take on the roles of historical figures, attorneys, witnesses, jurors, and others as they explore the judicial process and historical events.

“This generous support does much more than provide admission to the museum – it removes a significant barrier to getting students beyond the classroom and into places where learning comes to life,” said Azela Santana, executive director of the Orange County Regional History Center. “As a regional museum, we serve students and communities across Central Florida, and for many schools, the combined cost of transportation, admission, and educational programming can determine whether a field trip is possible at all. The Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation is helping to close that gap and ensure that more students, regardless of their school’s resources, have the opportunity to experience their community’s history firsthand.”

The History Center welcomed more than 11,000 students on school field trips during the past year, connecting classroom learning with Central Florida’s history through hands-on activities, primary sources, exhibitions, and experiences in the historic 1927 courtroom. Field trips are designed to align with curriculum standards while encouraging critical thinking, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of local and regional history. Support from the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation will build on that reach by helping to remove financial barriers and extend these opportunities to students throughout Central Florida.

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“We believe all students should have the opportunity to visit the History Center and experience Central Florida’s history firsthand,” said Andrea Massey-Farrell, president and CEO of the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation. “We are pleased to help make these field trips possible and to support educational opportunities for young people throughout our community.”

Massey-Farrell also serves as senior vice president of community relations for Orlando based Massey Services. In her work with the Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation, she oversees its charitable giving and outreach efforts.

“The best museum field trips let students become participants rather than simply observers, noted Kallie Turner, the History Center’s curator of education. “They can ask questions, work together, make decisions, and discover that history is connected to the community they live in today.”

The first field trips supported by the Massey Foundation grant are now being scheduled by the History Center’s education team. The grant was awarded to the Historical Society of Central Florida, the nonprofit organization that supports the Orange County Regional History Center. Title I schools throughout the museum’s seven-county service area of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties are eligible to participate.

Schools interested in learning more about the initiative or scheduling a field trip may contact Kallie Turner, curator of education, at Kallie.Turner@ocfl.net.

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