by Susan White

Frank McKinney learned about UCF through an NBC News feature and visited the Knights Helping Knights Pantry on February 7. His goal? Not just to spread awareness about those in need, but to take action by educating all of us about how we can help. “Our great country has become a nation of talkers, dreamers and debaters,” says McKinney. “Where have all the doers gone?”

Frank thinks survival is not enough. He believes we should all strive to thrive, and has launched a nationwide effort to ensure that everyone has that chance.

Traveling on his rockstar-worthy bus, McKinney embarked on the Survival to Thrival Tour and journeyed 4,071 miles across the United States, stopping at 16 different helping organizations and giving aspirational talks on how all of us can do more.

Those who support the KHK Pantry are some of those doers. Their generosity has helped the pantry assist more than 1,000 students with over 3,000 pounds of food since January. McKinney spoke to a crowd of about 80 students during his visit; both those who serve and those who are served by the pantry benefitted from his words and actions.

Marcus Anderson, development officer at the UCF Foundation, helped facilitate McKinney’s visit. “Frank reached out to me and we were honored to be included as one of his tour stops,” he said. “He made quite an impact on campus.”

The magnificent rockstar bus may have had something to do with his impact, but his message of inspiration and action was the real star. That impact will be felt long after his bus is parked -- McKinney’s foundation, The Caring House Project Foundation, donated $3,000 to the pantry by day’s end. In addition, he donated $1,000 in grocery gift cards and supplies to the pantry.

“It is important to look at all opportunities to support our students. Frank is very inspirational and has definitely sparked an interest in philanthropy among students on campus. It is amazing to see how the UCF community can come together for such a great cause,” says Anderson.