Connecting Good
South Florida's bridge to the causes that matter
We connect families, schools, and businesses in Miami with volunteer opportunities they'll love — and we ship Miami's generosity directly to kids who need it most.
Your community, doing good together
Schools, churches, and companies across South Florida rally with us — bring your group and we'll handle the rest.
800+
volunteers engaged
1,000+
handmade cards delivered
700+
costumes collected for Lotus House
500+
kids supported in Venezuela
South Florida
Making a difference, right here
Every week, South Florida students, families, and businesses give back through Volunteer Channel — near home and around the world.
Miami, FL · Year-round
Seasonal Giving
1,000+ cards · 800+ volunteersEvery year our teens hand-paint hundreds of greeting cards — in English, Spanish, and Russian — and deliver them in person to seniors at the North Miami Foundation for Senior Citizens and Aventura Plaza Rehabilitation Center. We also run a candy collection at Halloween to sweeten the visits.
Join the next delivery
South Florida · For students
Passion Project Lab
Full-ride Cornell scholarshipImpact Channel: Connecting Passion with Purpose
We guide high schoolers to design and launch their own service project from scratch — with mentorship, resources, and a real community to serve. Daria Petrova, founder of Heart in Hands Passion Project, earned a full ride to Cornell University through her work with us.
"51% of college admissions officers rank extracurriculars as a major factor." Make yours count.
Start your project
Miami, FL · Annual
Lotus House Costume Drive
700+ costumes since 2018Every October since 2018, our students collect Halloween costumes for women and children at Lotus House — Miami's largest shelter for homeless women and children. 700+ costumes delivered and counting.
Donate a costumeSouth Florida · Weekly
Find Your Volunteer Match
Not sure where to start? Every week we send curated local volunteer opportunities matched to your interests, schedule, and skills. Community service hours available for students.
Join the networkGet involved
Get involved — your way
Whether you're here as an individual, a student, or a business — there's a role for you.
For individuals
- Join our weekly volunteer network
- Host a donation drive
- Donate (one-time or monthly)
- Sponsor a child or program
For students & schools
- Earn community service hours
- Launch your own Passion Project
- Organize a school-wide drive
- Present at our annual showcase
For businesses
- Sponsor a program or event
- Organize a team volunteer day
- Collect in-kind donations at your location
- Earn recognition on our Partner Wall
Our projects
Our programs in Venezuela
When Miami gives, we make sure it travels. These are the children your donations reach.
Quíbor–Sanare, Lara, Venezuela
Kids of El Callejón La Pancha
Led by Inés Peña Madriz
Volunteer Channel supports since 2018 (before VC was officially founded)
From 20 to 25+ kids · 2 university scholarships
Students who once struggled to read began earning top grades in school. Several children became leaders among their peers. Two girls from the program were admitted to university programs in Veterinary Medicine and Engineering — achievements that once felt unimaginable for families in the community.
Learn more
Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
Playa El Yaque Beach Patrollers
Led by Vanesa Quintero
Volunteer Channel supports since 2021
80+ kids · Yellow vests · Trading plastic for futures
An after-school environmental education program led by Vanesa Quintero. Its mission is to provide homework assistance while fostering environmental awareness and stewardship. The program has three volunteer instructors offering support in English, kite surfing, and general education — helping students develop academic skills and a deeper connection to the environment.
Learn more
Venezuela · Active since 2025
Villa 2020 Soccer School
After seeing what's possible through soccer, we expanded. Villa 2020 is our newest program — bringing the same support that changed 23 de Enero to a new generation of young athletes.
Support Villa 2020
Cabudare, Lara, Venezuela
Grandmother's Club: Joy of Living
Led by Marbella Lucena
Volunteer Channel supports since 2025 · In partnership with La Ruta Teatral
Founded in 2016, this initiative began as a space for grandmothers to come together, socialize, celebrate birthdays, and enjoy dancing and companionship. Since 2025, Volunteer Channel — in partnership with La Ruta Teatral — has enhanced the program with biweekly gatherings that promote active aging, social connection, and personal growth. Participants enjoy chair yoga, arts and crafts, wellness workshops, and other enriching experiences designed to foster well-being, creativity, and community engagement.
Support the GrandmothersGraduated programs
Stories of Success
We don't want to be a forever-dependency. We want to be a catalyst.
Cabudare, Lara · 2021–2025
Escuela 23 de Enero Soccer School
We started with 43 kids and 3 soccer balls. Three months later they won their first championship. They grew to 152 players, created the first girls' team, and two players were recruited by Deportivo Lara. By 2025, the parent community took over completely — they run it themselves now. That's what success looks like to us.
Why we need your money: Shipping.
Our community in Miami already donates the clothes, books, soccer balls, vitamins, school supplies.
What stops the help from arriving? Shipping ONE box of donations to Venezuela costs about $120. We send boxes throughout the year — last year, we spent close to $10,000 just on shipping.
That's our single biggest expense, and it's literally what gets the donations from Miami to the kids. When you donate, your money pays for the box. Not for overhead. Not for staff.
$120 = one full box, shipped, delivered.
Ways to give
Choose how you help
Ship one box — $120
One-time. Pays for one full box shipped from Miami to the kids.
Monthly donation
Make a difference with a monthly donation to Volunteer Channel. Choose to support local programs in South Florida or initiatives in Venezuela — and help create lasting change all year long. 100% of monthly donations go directly to program costs.
Sponsor a kid
Custom monthly amount, directly supporting one child.
In-kind donations
Got things to give? Drop them off in Miami.
Also accepting Venmo @Volunteer-Channel · Zelle 786-832-6550
Host a drive
Don't have money? Host a Drive instead.
Get your school, church, or office to collect donations. We handle the rest — and you earn community service hours.
Step 1
Get approval
Step 2
Set dates & location
Step 3
Create a flyer
Step 4
Collect donations
Step 5
Deliver to us
Step 6
Receive hours letter
Volunteer network
Want to volunteer near you?
We connect people in Florida with volunteer opportunities at schools, churches, and nonprofits in your area. Every week we send curated opportunities matched to your interests.
When you volunteer with us, expect:
- Lots of variety in opportunities
- Ways to get friends, family, or colleagues involved
- Community service hours for students
- Flexibility — in-person, remote, or hybrid
- Real, lasting impact for kids
Savvy Girls
We don't just connect. We educate.
Meet Savvy Girls: Smart Money Adventures — our podcast and video channel where two teen hosts teach other teens what schools skip: how money actually works. From opening a bank account to understanding credit and investments, we make financial literacy real, fun, and accessible.
New episodes dropping soon — follow to get notified.
About
Who is Mafe
María Fernanda (Mafe) Briceño
Founder · Volunteer Channel · VoluntEAR of the Year — Disney Latin America
VoluntEAR of the Year — Disney Latin America
I'm Mafe Briceno — a passionate changemaker and community builder. With over 15 years of experience at Disney Latin America, where I honed my skills in creativity, storytelling, and multitasking, I was honored to be named VoluntEAR of the Year for my commitment to service. Beyond creating unforgettable TV content, my true calling has been connecting people with meaningful causes.
As founder of Volunteer Channel, I lead a mission to transform the landscape of volunteering by making it easier for individuals to discover community service opportunities that align with their passions. I believe in the power of kindness, collaboration, and collective action to create lasting impact. Through my work, I strive to inspire others to give back, strengthen communities, and find joy in serving.
Our journey
Our Story
Volunteer Channel was born from a lifelong passion for helping others. For years, I supported various causes — from orphanages and women's shelters to environmental projects and programs for the elderly. My husband often suggested I start my own nonprofit, but I struggled to focus on just one mission.
Then, while recovering from a severe cold, it hit me — why choose just one cause? Instead, I could create a platform that connects people to the causes they care about, making it easier for them to volunteer where they're most needed.
That's how Volunteer Channel came to life. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we're committed to creating personalized volunteer opportunities for families and groups, helping people find the right ways to give back. We believe the health of our community is measured by the meaningful connections between volunteers and the nonprofits they support.
— Mafe Briceño, Founder
Leadership
Our Board
Director of Volunteer Engagement
Jorge Parra
Jorge brings boundless energy and creative vision to Volunteer Channel. With expertise as a commercial photographer and educator, Jorge ignites passion in every initiative — transforming ideas into action, whether rallying volunteers, sparking innovative projects, or capturing our mission through his lens.
Director
Dr. Yolaris Garcia
Dr. Yolaris Garcia is a chiropractor, entrepreneur, and community advocate with more than 15 years in healthcare and nearly 20 years in nonprofit service. As founder of Awesome Chiropractic Center in North Miami, she's passionate about holistic health and giving back — bringing expertise, leadership, and dedication to our Board.
Corresponding Secretary
Liliana D'Hoy
A dedicated mother of three with a degree in Psychology and a specialization in child development, Liliana serves as the key link between Volunteer Channel's programs in Venezuela and our initiatives in South Florida — helping identify community needs and coordinate support.
The team
Our Team
Logistics & Community Engagement
Victoria Parra
Victoria's journey with VC began in elementary school. Today she's our Volunteer Coordinator — a recent Cum Laude graduate, Eagle Scout, and co-host of the Savvy Girls: Smart Money Adventures podcast.
Social Media Manager
Alejandro Rodríguez
Through creativity and digital storytelling, Alejandro connects more people to opportunities to serve — creating engaging content and promoting volunteer events and community impact stories.
Newsletter Editor & Savvy Girls Social Media Manager
Maggie McMillan
Maggie shares stories of volunteers and community impact through our newsletter — while also managing the online community for the Savvy Girls podcast.
Volunteer Coordinator
Candela Planas
Candela recruits, organizes, and supports our volunteer network — serving as the key connector between volunteers, staff, and project leaders.
Our community
Partners & Community
The organizations, schools, and creators who show up with us.
Get updates that matter
Real stories from the kids you help. No spam, no overwhelm.
Thank you for being part of this.