JACKSONVILLE, Fla., October 2026 – Reaching the Unreached, Inc. (RTU), a volunteer-run nonprofit serving families in Northeast Florida and abroad, has earned the 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, the highest level Candid awards.
Candid, the organization behind GuideStar and the Foundation Center, maintains the largest source of information on U.S. nonprofits, used by donors, foundations and grantmakers nationwide. To earn the Platinum Seal, an organization must publicly share its mission, finances, leadership, goals and strategies, and the specific measures it uses to track progress.
“From day one, we promised our donors that every dollar would be accounted for,” said Maximo Morel, RTU’s founder and president. “Families in Jacksonville, Colombia and the Dominican Republic are counting on us, and so are the people who make this work possible. This seal is our way of showing them exactly what their generosity accomplishes.”
Founded in 2024, RTU works to break the cycle of hunger, poor health and limited opportunity for families who are often missed by larger aid efforts. Its programs include:
- Nutrition: food distributions for families in underserved communities.
- Sports and Arts: soccer sponsorships of $25 per child per month, and transportation so children with music and art scholarships can attend.
- Health and education: health care resources, school supplies and educational support.
In 2025, RTU raised $33,263.66 and put $44,909.84 to work in documented programs and operations, including $8,156.77 in direct support for children through 45 verified transfers. RTU is run entirely by volunteers: no board member or officer is paid, and board members have traveled at their own expense to deliver aid in person.
RTU’s commitment to accountability goes beyond Candid. The organization is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and has adopted written policies on conflicts of interest, gift acceptance, record keeping and oversight of international programs. It publishes its finances openly.
“Transparency isn’t paperwork for us. It’s respect for our donors and the families we serve,” Morel said. “As we grow, we want every supporter to be able to see the impact for themselves.”
RTU’s board of directors includes Maximo Morel, Chris Lazzara, Bernard Minter, Diana Donovan, Vic Micolucci and Evan Rajta.
RTU’s Candid profile is available at candid.org. To learn more or support RTU’s work, visit reachingtheunreached.org.
About Reaching the Unreached, Inc.
Reaching the Unreached is a Florida nonprofit and 501(c)(3) public charity that alleviates hunger and improves health outcomes for families in need by providing essential food supplies, health care resources and educational opportunities in Jacksonville and abroad.
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