Happy Thanksgiving, Miami-Dade. You proved you have a big heart | Opinion
There’s reason to give thanks this year, Miami-Dade.
Your generosity and compassion for our community’s less fortunate shone brightly on Give Miami Day last week as donors came together to support local nonprofits in record-breaking fashion.
The support came in the form of millions in donations — which truly exemplifies the spirit of Thanksgiving and the power of collective giving.
We all know the annual The Miami Foundation’s annual Give Miami Day, held this year on Nov. 21, is a special event.
During a 24-hour period, plus an early giving window, the yearly fundraising event allows everyone in the community to donate to charities and causes that need help. Sometimes, there are matching funds to help amplify donations. And it’s all at your fingertips on the Give Miami Day website.
This year, struggling nonprofits got a financial jolt in the form of a wave of generosity from the community — individuals and organizations and corporations all donating.
The results were impressive: a total of $39.5 million was raised from 109,784 donations made by 51,755 donors.
In 2023, the foundation collected $34.1 million through 96,473 donations made by 46,619 donors.
The 2024 numbers surpassed the 2023 totals and set a new record for the event, showcasing the commitment of the Miami community. We can all be proud that even during these hard financial times for so many, the support for Give Miami Day exceeded the previous year.
“This total represents a level of civic health, generosity and engagement that makes me feel very hopeful for the future of Miami,” Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation, told the Herald Editorial Board.
The success of this year’s event is a testament to the kindness and compassion of individuals who are dedicated to supporting those in need and making a difference in their local community. And as a result, many nonprofits will be able to fund vital work helping the homeless, the poor, children, the elderly, families in need and those who lack healthcare services.
The top fundraising nonprofits, such as Achieve Miami, Lehrman Community Day School Inc. and Greater Miami Jewish Federation, are examples of the diverse causes that received support during Give Miami Day.
These organizations and many others saw a remarkable increase in donations and donors.
Fishman Lipsey said individuals from all walks of life and all sorts of organizations participated in Give Miami Day, from True North Classical Academy to Sunset Elementary School, with each donation helping to support vital community initiatives.
As Fishman Lipsey wrote in the Miami Herald recently, Give Miami Day is “the best kind of positive peer pressure.”
The Miami Herald nonprofit also received donations. Wish Book, run by Miami Herald Charities for the last 40 years, raised $13,764 from 68 donors.
We owe a big thank you to our readers. Those donations will go to improve the lives of the less fortunate in our community during the holiday season.
”We are so grateful to be a part of this amazing effort. Since its inception, Give Miami Day has given the Herald Charities the opportunity to recognize the impact this one day has had on so many of the needy families nominated to the Wish Book Program,” said Roberta DiPietro, Wish Book coordinator for Miami Herald Charities.
The spirit of giving and gratitude that defined Give Miami Day this year serves reminds us of the impact that can be achieved when a community comes together for a common purpose. And it gives us hope that we can continue to support each other, not only during the holiday season but throughout the year.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving with gratitude for the blessings in our lives, let’s also remember the importance of supporting those in need and working together to build a stronger, more compassionate community.
Thank you to all who participated in Give Miami Day 2024. You made us — and your whole community — proud.
Click here to send the letter.
This story was originally published November 26, 2024 at 1:12 PM.