The Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, Inc. (FAVACA), is a private not for profit organization formed in 1982 by Florida Governor (now former U.S. Senator) Bob Graham. FAVACA's Florida International Volunteer Corps is the only program of its kind in the country and enjoys statutory authority under Section 288.0251 Florida Statutes. A state appropriation, voted annually since 1986, provides a funding base for an estimated 200 volunteer missions to Latin America and the Caribbean this year. Florida is a Caribbean State. Florida's International Volunteer Corps is a unique development partnership with the Caribbean and Central America. Its aim is, through training and technical assistance, to improve environmental, social and economic conditions in the region. Volunteers are top experts in their fields and are thus able to impart invaluable knowledge and information to their international counterparts. FAVACA establishes sustainable partnerships between non-governmental organizations, universities, government agencies and businesses in Florida and the Caribbean and Latin America. In response to requests from partner organizations throughout the region, FAVACA has conducted more than 2,500 technical assistance and training volunteer missions reaching approximately 50,000 individuals in 30 countries over the past 25 years- living proof of Florida's commitment to the well-being of the region. These activities also help to mitigate threats to Florida's agriculture, health, and the environment before they reach critical proportions.