The Center for Leadership and Service at the University of Florida created the Purpose 20 Awards to honor the contributions made to Alachua County by local for-profit businesses. These 20 businesses provide invaluable cash and in-kind donations while supporting the community with efforts in environmental sustainability, serving as role models for change within the community and encouraging staff members to give their time to local causes. All of this work often goes unrecognized. The Center for Leadership and Service hopes that by recognizing these businesses, we inspire others through their example and demonstrate that business is about more than making a profit — it is also about having a purpose to build a better community.
My Yoga Connection
“We feel a strong need to give back and be engaged with our community because allowing connection within community is what makes our business come alive.”
– Cara Edwards, owner
Cara Edwards, owner of My Yoga Connection, believes that at the very substance of yoga are community, health and wellness and spirituality, and she supports these principles however she can. Since opening two years ago, MYC supports the community by partaking in activities such as free yoga at the Downtown Farmer’s Market to yoga-sharing with patrons at local farms like Frog Song Organics and Swallowtail Farm. MYC staff also volunteers with veterans at the Honor Center. With its ever-expanding business, the company always makes a strong effort to employ a philanthropic philosophy while also maintaining a focus on environmental sustainability. MYC will continue to demonstrate its “commUNITY” in the future by offering weekly donation classes, sliding scale rates and free classes to veterans. With the recent relocation to a larger facility, the company will add an educational workshop focusing on self-care completely free of charge. My Yoga Connection’s goal is to continue to provide Gainesville with the healing properties of yoga for years to come and to be a business that is designed to support the community.