Miami shows its big heart — Give Miami Day raises a record $33.4 million for nonprofits
The take from the annual Give Miami Day nearly doubled that of last year’s total of $18 million, with preliminary numbers showing $33.4 million was raised for South Florida nonprofits.
“I am beyond proud of what we as a community can achieve when we stand together to support the incredible organizations that make up the fabric of our community,” said Richard Berkowitz, board chair at The Miami Foundation and executive chairman of Berkowitz Pollack Brant.
Sponsored by The Miami Foundation, Give Miami Day has raised more than $80 million for more than 1,000 nonprofits since launching in 2012.
The event is a 24-hour online fundraising drive where anyone can become a philanthropist simply by clicking an amount they want to donate to their favorite charitable organizations.
Early giving started Monday, leading to the finale Thursday from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
“With $33.4 million raised, we sit in awe at the generosity of our community,” said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation. “Miami was on fire today, standing together to give to the hundreds of organizations that keep our community strong. This is who we are in the 305. Bold, generous and unified.”
There were 38,128 unique donors this year, 62,222 donations and 976 participating organizations, according to The Miami Foundation.
Top 10 recipients from Give Miami Day
The 10 organizations that received the most money this year were:
▪ The Center for Jewish Life, with 34 unique donations totaling $10,131,741
▪ The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, with 368 unique donations totaling $1,226,197
▪ Achieve Miami, with 472 unique donations totaling $705,263
▪ The Children’s Movement of Florida, with 1,285 unique donations totaling $517,866
▪ Miami Country Day School, with 230 unique donations totaling $379,569
▪ Teach For America, Inc., with 112 unique donations totaling $369,145
▪ Lehrman Community Day School, Inc., with 296 unique donations totaling $357,805
▪ Breakthrough Miami, Inc., with 231 unique donations totaling $315,164
▪ KIPP Miami, with 45 unique donations totaling $283,155
▪ Gulliver Preparatory Academy, with 362 unique donations totaling $278,795
The bulk of the funds donated to the Center for Jewish Life — $10 million — was given by one anonymous donor, Fishman Lipsey said. The $10 million will be used as a catalyst to break ground on a new Jewish Community Center, called the Center for Jewish Life, which will house Miami’s oldest synagogue, Beth David Congregation, at 2625 SW Third Ave.
“This gift is a response to belief in people. It signifies the need and desire to reinforce Jewish continuity for generations to come,” said Rabbi Julie Jacobs of the Beth David Congregation. “It is bold, inspirational and a statement that The Center is a project that people want to support. I am grateful beyond words.”
In addition, the Congregation’s Gordon School, which includes The Tivkah Center for students on the autism spectrum, hopes to build a new middle and high school, expanding from its pre-K to elementary school. The Center will also house a pool, a gym and sports fields for Center members and the school.
Support for schools, public library
The top three small organizations benefiting from the program this year were:
▪ Friends of North Beach Elementary, with 278 unique donations totaling $78,783
▪ Sunset Elementary School PTA, with 374 unique donations totaling $32,118
▪ Friends of Miami-Dade Public Library, Inc., with 274 unique donations totaling $28,103
Wish Book breaks records
One of the many organizations that benefited from this year’s campaign was Wish Book, a program piloted by Miami Herald Charities that aims to steer donations to among the neediest families in South Florida by highlighting their stories in the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald and on the papers’ websites. The program, in its 41st year, raised more than $21,000, which broke last year’s record-breaking $17,000.
“This year’s participation in the Give Miami Day campaign was the most successful to date for the Wish Book program. The overwhelming generosity of our supporters raised more than $21,000, which exceeded our goal,” said Roberta DiPietro, Wish Book coordinator for Miami Herald Charities. “These donations will be a great kick-off to the 40th annual Wish Book program providing important items and services to the needy in our community.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 4:27 PM.
