This National Volunteer Month, volunteers from United Way’s Giving Communities and corporate sponsors joined forces during our Leaders Day of Action on Saturday, April 6, to revitalize our impact partner, New Horizon Community Mental Health Center. As part of the renovation, volunteers, alongside muralist Martina Tasende, created a beautiful mural for New Horizon’s new program, The Living Room @ New Horizon — a mental health crisis living room for Miami residents! Together, we transformed the center into a vibrant haven of comfort and support for their staff and the families they serve.

With engaging activities like colorful mural painting sessions and landscaping projects, everyone had a blast while making a meaningful impact. A huge thank you to all who pitched in and supported this initiative.

For more than 45 years, New Horizon has offered comprehensive preventive, therapeutic and supportive mental health and substance abuse outpatient services. We are proud to support and partner with an organization that empowers Miami-Dade residents and children facing behavioral health disorders by delivering culturally competent care, treatment and essential support for their growth and well-being.

Check out photos of this year’s impactful Leaders Day of Action below!

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A special shout-out goes to our Innovator sponsors, Amazon and Duane Morris, for their invaluable support of this year’s event.

On Sunday, January 21, runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts teamed up for the Amerant Bank 5K in support of United Way Miami.

With more than 800 runners registered, nearly $90,000 was raised for nearly 100 United Way Miami-funded programs working to ensure everyone has access to quality education and the opportunity to live healthy and financially secure lives – the building blocks of a thriving community.

This year’s event held an extra special significance as it marks the centennial milestone for United Way Miami. For a century, we have been dedicated to positively impacting our community, and we are honored to continue this tradition with our 13th annual 5K that will benefit so many in our community.

The race began bright and early at Coral Gables City Hall, taking participants through the City Beautiful before ending with a festive post-race party.

Thanks to our 2024 Amerant Bank 5K sponsors, including Title Sponsor Amerant Bank and Gold Medal Sponsor Williamson Cadillac.

Check out photos from our third annual Amerant Bank 5K below!  

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View the local media coverage from WSVN 7 News.  

Adorned in aprons and chef’s hats, nearly 400 guests gathered for the most-anticipated interactive brunch experience held at the InterContinental Miami – United Way Miami’s Young Leaders Build Your Own Brunch (BYOB).   

The seventh annual BYOB, held on Sunday, December 17, blended culinary cooking, led by a trio of talented Miami chefs, with charitable giving. In a show of philanthropic support, Young Leaders shattered BYOB records by surpassing $225,000 in funds raised during the interactive cooking affair, making the event an unforgettable showcase of their profound commitment to United Way.   

The proceeds generated are instrumental in supporting United Way and its nearly 100 programs focused on building a stronger Miami through education, financial stability and health initiatives. United Way’s Young Leaders are an engaged group of young professionals, ages 40 and younger, who are dedicated to supporting United Way and the community.

Check out all the fun our Young Leaders had at this year’s BYOB below!

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Whether skilled cooks or novices in the kitchen, guests at every table prepared a three-course brunch menu, live, with the help of BYOB’s guest chefs: Chef Cesar Zapata from the restaurant Phuc Yea, who guided guests through the first course, arepas with scrambled eggs and tomatoes; Chef Francesco Martini, from the InterContinental Miami, who prepared the second course, an heirloom beet salad; and Chef Tristen Epps, the executive chef at Eden Roc Miami Beach, who presented the final course, a Tibs and Grits recipe.   

During the culinary cooking demonstrations, guests also enjoyed bidding on live auction items, such as lavish vacations, private dining and entertainment experiences and tickets to sporting events and concerts.  

Thank you to our Young Leaders, sponsors and guests for contributing to the success of this year’s BYOB event. Your partnerships are vital in advancing our mission to build a stronger Miami for all.

Watch local media coverage from CBS News Miami capture our Young Leaders cooking a delicious brunch at the InterContinental Miami.

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, United Way Miami’s annual Holiday Gift Drive, held on Thursday, December 14, displayed an incredible outpouring of generosity! The community’s support was nothing short of amazing, breaking all records with an astonishing donation of more than 3,000 gifts.

These gifts will find their way into the hands of low-income children and families from various United Way programs across Miami-Dade County. From the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education to MISSION UNITED, Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership and other agency partners, the holiday joy will be shared far and wide. By coming together, the community has spread holiday cheer to hundreds of children and displayed the true essence of service during the holidays.

Click the link below to view photos from this year’s record-breaking Holiday Gift Drive! 

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United Way would like to thank everyone who contributed to ensuring children have a gift to open this holiday season. Special thanks to our sponsors who helped make this Holiday Gift Drive a success. To our Santa Sponsor, Telemundo, and our Rudolph Sponsors, BB Americas Bank and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. The success of this year’s Holiday Gift Drive has truly touched the hearts of many.  

In the spirit of community service, made possible by hundreds of dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors, United Way Miami orchestrated a record-breaking Thanksgiving Drive initiative to elevate the holiday experience for more than 2,200 families and veterans across Miami-Dade County.   

Take a look at the impact we made in the community – together!

Throughout November, more than 450 volunteers collaborated to make United Way’s Thanksgiving Drive a success, contributing food and donations and assisting in preparing, packing and delivering thousands of meal kits for families in need. 

Each Thanksgiving meal kit included essential dinner staples like stuffing, cornbread, dessert mix, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, cranberry sauce and a $20 Publix gift card that allowed families to choose their preferred protein. 

Meal kits were packed into several Amazon trucks at United Way before drivers distributed the kits throughout the local area, including those at the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education, United Way Center for Financial Stability, MISSION UNITED, Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership and other agency partners.

Event Photos: Take a look at photos from the Thanksgiving Drive.

United Way would like to thank the dedicated sponsors for their support during this year’s Thanksgiving Drive. Feast Sponsors include Amazon, AvMed, Bradesco Bank and Publix. Turkey Sponsors include BB Americas Bank, Level Up Insurance Group and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. 

Media Coverage: Check out the local media coverage from WSVN Channel 7 and WLRN Radio.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, United Way Miami proudly marked a significant milestone during a press conference with the launch of UpSkill Miami – a transformative fund focusing on workforce development initiatives. The event gathered more than 90 esteemed individuals, including dignitaries, representatives from the Office of the Mayor of Miami-Dade County and key community partners, to celebrate this transformative fund’s unveiling.

What set this launch event apart was the enthusiastic participation of CEOs and executives from some of the region’s most prominent organizations, who stood united as valued partners of the first phase of UpSkill Miami. Notable leaders like Bo Boulenger, CEO of Baptist Health; Carlos A. Migoya, CEO of Jackson Health System; Madeline Pumariega, President of Miami Dade College; Charles Hodges, President of Education and Training Division of The CDL School; and Michelle Barton King, Chairperson of the Board of United HomeCare, lent their influential voices to UpSkill Miami, amplifying the collective impact of the initiative. United Way is confidently leading the charge and forging powerful partnerships with some of the largest employers in our region.

UpSkill Miami is poised to redefine the trajectory of Miami-Dade County residents, enabling them to upskill and secure employment in industry-leading fields. Serving as a vital bridge between education and employment, this initiative epitomizes the strength of collaboration for lasting change. The recently released ALICE Report underscores the urgent need for such a transformation. The data shows the number of Miami-Dade County households unable to afford the basics has grown to nearly half a million. The report also establishes the Household Survival Budget at $76,284, the estimated minimum cost for a family of four to live and work in the county. However, the current median household income in Miami-Dade is only $59,044, highlighting the disparity between living expenses and actual earnings. Combining those findings with the complex issues the community is currently facing – an inflated economy, a lack of skilled workers and widening wage gaps – now is the time for collaboration through a strategic approach. UpSkill Miami is more than just a fund; it is a catalyst for economic mobility, creating a resounding impact for future generations.

In its initial phase, 500 students are expected to join the ranks of those United Way Miami has helped to grow and succeed. After initial investments of more than $2.5 million in the healthcare and transportation/CDL industries, United Way will assess opportunities in energy  and construction trades.

The launch of UpSkill Miami wouldn’t have been possible without the collective efforts of countless individuals. The ongoing support of partners, stakeholders and champions of United Way’s mission remains pivotal in carrying out this vital work.

Whether you’re a potential donor looking to invest in transforming lives, an employer or training provider seeking meaningful partnerships or a resident interested in exploring UpSkill Miami’s opportunities, we invite you to get involved. To learn more, visit unitedwaymiami.org/UpSkillMiami.

Check out the photos from the press conference here. Additionally, delve into a captivating article by the Miami Herald about UpSkill Miami here.