While Experience Kissimmee, the tourism marketing arm for Osceola County, works hard to bring tourists and other out-of-towners into town, it also works to strengthen the local community those folks are visiting.
Experience Kissimmee’s charitable arm, Kissimmee Cares, is made up of nine civic leaders throughout the community—including those involved in the Tourism Development Council, Osceola Chamber, Valencia College, and more. The committee is responsible for selecting one organization each year to benefit from Kissimmee Cares’ charitable opportunities.
After providing thousands in contributions to Healthy Start of Osceola County in the last year, Help Now of Osceola, the county’s domestic violence advocacy team, has been announced as this year’s selected non-profit.
“Help Now provides safety, empowerment, and healing for domestic safety survivors,” said Tammy Douglass, Help Now of Osceola Executive Director. “It’s especially important and amazing to have this partnership with Experience Kissimmee, because domestic violence has touched our tourism industry. We’re grateful to be partners alongside these folks to provide support to keep our community safe.”
“It’s a very competitive application process,” said Jason Holic, Experience Kissimmee Chief of Destination Stewardship Kissimmee Chief of Destination Stewardship, during the “Give Back Beer” announcement held at Celebration Brewing on Dec. 11.
Kissimmee Cares received 40 applications for the 2025 award, and as the recipient, Help Now will receive the benefit of the proceeds from charitable events and programs like the EK’s annual golf tournament as well as efforts like Give Back Beer, which is turning into an annual tradition. For the second year in a row, Celebration Brewing collaborated with Experience Kissimmee on a special brew. This year’s is called “Hibiscus Hope,” and every purchase of it will benefit Help Now.
The Hibiscus Hope is a limited-edition brew, featuring tropical flavors with a unique touch of Jamaica flower, and a visual hue to compliment Help Now of Osceola’s purple logo.
“We’re so honored to be here for the second year in a row, working with Celebration Brewing, giving back so much to the community at a place where both residents and visitors can enjoy a sense of community and local flavor,” Holic said.
“Last year was such a success,” said Celebration Brewing Co-owner Frank Lozito about the collaboration with the Healthy Start Coalition. “We decided to go a little bit of a different route this year with the beer. We went with our traditional award-winning pilsner, with a little addition to it, hibiscus and dragonfruit.”
