Good works in Miami-Dade are improving the lives of children and their families | Opinion
Thanksgiving matters not just because there is a beautiful turkey dinner awaiting those of us lucky enough to have one. It matters because it is the day we set aside to give thanks for the blessings we have. I am grateful for my many blessings.
But giving thanks cannot and should not be a passive act. We must also honor our good fortune by being giving, in return, to those in need.
During November, countless activities around Miami-Dade show how our community is working hard to improve the lives of our children and families. When we come together, we can accomplish many great things, and this month there is a lot to show for our efforts.
Just last week, on National Adoption Day, 53 adoptions were finalized at Miami Children’s Museum at an event hosted by Citrus Family Care Network. Those are 53 children who have found their forever homes and will be waking up with a family who loves them during this holiday season and the rest of their lives. As those adoptions were taking place, the 2019 Miami Book Fair attracted typically large crowds, including thousands of children who believe in the power of literacy and had the opportunity to sign up for The Children’s Trust’s free book club.
We also made inroads in one of our most important initiatives when our board approved funding to support high-quality early learning. Our investment of $3.6 million leveraged more than $28 million for the community to assist lower-income families that might otherwise not be able to afford high-quality childcare. That means 3,200 childcare slots will be available to families in need.
Earlier in November, Future Bound Miami launched, providing college savings accounts for kindergarten children. The program is initially slated for children in the city of Miami, but will expand to all of Miami-Dade County in the next five years. Finally, more than $14 million was donated on Give Miami Day, one of the largest annual giving days in the nation. Led by The Miami Foundation, Give Miami Day is a chance for everyone to become a philanthropist and donate to their favorite nonprofits.
These accomplishments were possible because of great partnerships and the generosity of the people of Miami-Dade County. At The Children’s Trust, our mission is to promote the wellbeing of all the children and families in Miami-Dade. This year, we give thanks for the opportunity to affect the lives of those we serve. We can’t accomplish these things by ourselves at The Trust; we rely on partners in every corner of the county.
For our community of givers, we give thanks.
James R. Haj is president/CEO of The Children’s Trust.
