On Thursday, April 26, 2018 the Citi Foundation announced that United Way of Miami-Dade was selected as the recipient of a two-year, $500,000 grant as part of the 2018 Community Progress Makers Fund.
Our United Way is one of five South Florida organizations and 40 across the country to receive such a grant. In total, Citi Foundation is investing $20 million over two years in high-impact community organizations that are driving economic opportunities and working in new ways to address urban challenges.
As a Community Progress Maker, our United Way will implement its first employer-based financial wellness program at Jackson Health System, where employees will have access to free on-site financial coaching and wraparound services to help strengthen their financial health. United Way selected to partner with Jackson on this pilot program because the hospital’s 12,000- employee workforce, which is comprised of people from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and varying socio-economic levels, is a microcosm of the larger Miami-Dade community where the cost of living exceeds the median household income.
According to the United Way ALICE Report, the reality is that more than 314,000 households in Miami-Dade work, earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, yet are one emergency away from falling into poverty. That represents 37 percent of all households.
“Our community and economy cannot succeed if hardworking families cannot thrive,” said Maria C. Alonso, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade. “We are grateful to the vision of the Citi Foundation Progress Makers Fund and its commitment to help ALICE families pave a path toward economic mobility. The fund allows us to pilot a financial wellness program at one of our largest employers and long-standing partners, bring dedicated resources to help their employees overcome obstacles that impede prosperity and demonstrate the transformational benefits of financial capability services.”
“Jackson Health System’s greatest asset is its employees, and we’re committed to helping them achieve their life goals,” said Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System. “We already offer wellness programs and expansive benefits to our workforce, and this holistic financial stability partnership with United Way will be an invaluable additional benefit to our organization, our employees, and their families.”
In 2016-2017, the inaugural cohort of Community Progress Makers helped more than 14,700 low-income people secure financial assets; built over 10,500 affordable housing units; strengthened more than 1,100 small businesses; and connected 1,800 young people to jobs in their communities.
“We launched this program in 2015 as our version of ‘venture philanthropy’ – a chance to invest in the vision and mission of these organizations who are helping positively transform their communities,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation. “We’re pleased with the results from our inaugural Community Progress Makers and are looking forward to implementing the lessons we’ve learned with this next, impressive group of community leaders as they scale, innovate and drive impact.”
About the Citi Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.