Children’s Trust announces nearly $400 million in funds to help Miami-Dade school kids

Support is on the way to Miami-Dade’s children.

The Children’s Trust 33-member board of directors announced that a $383 million funding allocation to support 143 after-school and summer camp programs in Miami-Dade County over the next five years is a go.

Children’s Trust founder David Lawrence Jr. applauded Tuesday morning’s announcement that was delivered from the Belafonte TACOLCY Center in Liberty City.

“Over the past two decades, The Children’s Trust has invested more than $2 billion in one American community — our own — to give children a much better chance to succeed in school and in life. It gives me such joy,” said Lawrence, a former publisher of the Miami Herald.

Lawrence, who chairs The Children’s Movement of Florida, founded The Children’s Trust in September 2002.

Miami-Dade County voters approved a referendum creating The Children’s Trust to use “property tax dollars to invest, support and advocate on behalf of children and families in the county,” according to the institution. Natalia Zea, the Trust’s chief public policy and engagement officer, told the Miami Herald that the funding is dedicated thanks to two voters’ referendums, the last one in 2008, that are in perpetuity.

Tuesday’s $383 million announcement represents an overall increase in Trust-funded program locations from 484 to 682, including a 41% expansion in priority areas, the organization said Tuesday.

“Miami-Dade is an incredible community, which invests a significant number of resources into the strong support of children and families. The establishment and support of The Children’s Trust clearly demonstrates that. Despite what any national article or poll may suggest we know that we live in a special and generous community,” The Children’s Trust president and CEO James Haj told the Herald in an email.

This investment is expected to benefit over 36,000 school-aged children and youth across Miami-Dade each year, the Trust said.

The Trust funds an array of groups including programs that provide after-school programs, STEM education, arts and youth sports groups, museums and schools. The Trust helps present spring events like the Miami Herald’s Spelling Bee and Silver Knight Awards and the Actors’ Playhouse’s Young Talent Big Dreams competition annually.

“Securing sufficient funding is crucial for us and other providers to continue to deliver valuable services to our communities in Miami,” said Shownda Pagan, CEO of Trust-funded service provider Belafonte TACOLCY Center in a statement. “Together, we can ensure that every child has access to a safe, supportive, and engaging environment that facilitates their academic and personal development.”

A portion of the funded programs also includes college readiness training, civic engagement programs, bilingual cultural programming, and a focus on helping teens who have dropped out or are disconnected from school or work, and those who are involved in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, according to the Trust.

“I am confident that our investment will positively impact the lives of numerous young people in our community to help them develop new skills, build confidence, and create lasting memories,” said Trust Board Chairman Ken Hoffman in a statement.

The support is part of The Trust’s continuous five-year community-needs assessment and funding planning process, with $76.7 million provided to programs annually, so long as the programs continue meeting required standards of care and upon annual Board approval.