Root Company Launches Employee-Directed Community Fund
New partnership formalizes 75 years of giving while empowering employees to direct corporate philanthropy toward local priorities
Photo courtesy of Root Company.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Root Company, Root Family Foundation, and the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC) announce the establishment of the Root Company Community Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) that channels corporate philanthropy directly toward the region’s most critical needs while giving Root employees a voice in which local charities the fund supports.
The partnership expands Root’s philanthropic investment while introducing a new model: employees across the company can recommend grants, ensuring corporate giving stays in the community.
“The Root Company Community Fund is the best vehicle for keeping our large, geographically diverse family focused on helping the community that has been our home for 75 years,” said Preston Root, President of Root Glass Co. “It allows us to support programs and people who need our help with confidence that every gift reflects our values and follows best practices. As a seventh-generation family business, a DAF assures us we can continue this legacy of support for generations to come.”
A Daytona Beach native born at Halifax Health, Preston Root has long represented the family’s commitment to the region’s well-being.
“The Root family and Root Company have been longtime supporters of the United Way and Volusia and Flagler counties. The creation of this fund is one more example of that commitment, which has thrived since Chapman Root relocated the company to the Volusia-Flagler community in the 1950s,” said Glenn Kindred, CEO of Root Company.
CF/UWVFC serves as partner and steward, providing the infrastructure, expertise, and community trust Root sought in a collaborator. As the region’s longest-serving philanthropic organization, CF/UWVFC has built deep knowledge of Volusia and Flagler’s priority needs — education, youth opportunity, financial security, and community resiliency — and a proven track record of mobilizing resources toward measurable outcomes.
“This partnership reflects what’s possible when a company with long-term community involvement meets a foundation with deep community knowledge,” said Courtney Edgcomb, President and CEO of CF/UWVFC. “Root’s commitment to sustained, employee-informed giving sets a model for corporate philanthropy that serves the community first. We’re honored to steward this legacy.”
Companies ready to simplify their charitable giving can explore Donor-Advised Funds and other philanthropic partnerships at ConnectVFC.org.
About the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC)
Mission: Creating lasting solutions and sustainable resources for Volusia and Flagler Counties.
The Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC) unites the power of donors, nonprofits, and volunteers to drive lasting change. As one organization empowering many, CF/UWVFC connects donors to urgent community needs — fueling trusted local nonprofits to support families in crisis and build stronger, more equitable communities.
In 2025–2026, CF/UWVFC invested nearly $2 million across 113 nonprofit partners and currently stewards more than 50 unique funds, multiplying the reach and impact of every gift. Learn more at www.ConnectVFC.org or call (386)253-0563.
Make a long-lasting impact in Volusia and Flagler Counties. Donate today.
