Charity begins in Miles Toshie's backyard.
"There was a small group of us who said (that) we want to do more to give back," he said.
And so, three years ago, Toshie and his brother, Andrew, joined with other like-minded friends to create Our Backyard Foundation — a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families in need in Central Florida.
"It's a collective effort where our spouses, friends and family are coming together to support this," he said.
Starting with just four fundraising events, the organization is hoping to hold 20 in 2015. Golf tournaments are one of the events planned to help Our Backyard Foundation generate funds. So far, the nonprofit has raised thousands of dollars to help people in Orange and Seminole counties.
The group finds deserving charities for money and also individuals who are recommended by social workers.
"Just recently, we helped an elderly woman that needed help with her wheelchair lift on her van," Toshie said. "We ended up paying to redo the motor. (It's) small things like that."
There's little overhead with just nine nonpaid board members and family and friends as volunteers.
"We like to think that all the dollars are passed through and really, with the process that we do have in place, we're dealing with — typically — the end-user of the money," Toshie said.
Events like Under the Lights and Wine with a Heart show how people can have fun while also helping others.
In addition to May's golf tournament, Our Backyard Foundation hosts a bowling event, a poker night and a family dance.
"After years of giving to other organizations, having some control over that and really seeing the people and how it affects them — it's very simply to say, but to experience it ... is just a really wonderful thing," Toshie said.