Branches
To serve, educate and inspire people through student, family and financial stability services in partnership with our communities. To lead through deeply rooted and impactful programs and centers that empower people to pursue life changing opportunities.
Why we Contribute:
We believe in the Branches’ mission to break the cycle of generational poverty. Branches takes care of the needs of all and each one of the members of a family as a unity. When families are ready to move on into the community, they should be able to support themselves with skills and education to work and take care of themselves with dignity and self-confidence. In addition, Branches supports micro businesses and offers financial couching, among other programs, as essential tools to achieve financial independence.
Chapman Partnership
The mission is to provide comprehensive services to empower homeless residents to become self-sufficient. Chapman Partnership is the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, operating two Homeless Assistance Centers in downtown Miami and Homestead. When a person becomes homeless, it affects every aspect of their life. They feel helpless and hopeless and the impact goes far beyond their health and self-esteem, affecting their ability to provide for their family and their future.
Why we Contribute:
No other organization has provided more permanent self-sustainability with the homeless than Chapman Partnership.
Coral Gables Community Foundation
Led by community leaders, the Coral Gables Community Foundation provides the philanthropic conduit to connect individuals and corporations looking to positively impact the success of the community. Celebrating 25 years, the Foundation has been at the forefront of the evolving needs of Coral Gables while effectively bringing together beneficiaries and benefactors to fund programs with the greatest impact and benefit to “The City Beautiful.”
Why we Contribute:
We have been a part of the Coral Gables community for over 30 years. Our son, Steven went from Webelo to Eagle Scout in Troop 7 and he attended to Coral Gables High School in the International Baccalaureate Program. Rick and Margarita are members of the Merrick Society and received the Philanthropy Award at the 25th Anniversary Gala in 2016.
Homestead Rodeo
2020 marked the 71st year of the annual Homestead Championship Rodeo, a tradition that grew out of a group of seventeen founding members who wanted to showcase this unique western sporting event. It is one of the oldest annual professional sporting events in South Florida and the only PRCA Rodeo in Miami-Dade County. Our rodeo is one of nearly 600 sanctioned annually by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). The PRCA is the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning body in the world; ensuring that every event is managed with fairness and competence, and that the livestock used is healthy and cared for to the highest standards.
Why we Contribute:
The rodeo has been “the” community event on Homestead. It is a family event. This is such a feel-good American event that you are motivated to be a part of it. For 20 years, we have sponsored the Bare Back Bronco event and we were recognized at the 2020 event with a beautiful buckle.
The Two Hundred Club of Greater Miami
The purpose of the Two Hundred Club is to benefit the families of law enforcement officers and fire fighters when such officers or fire fighters have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Two Hundred Club functions for the benefit of all law enforcement and fire personnel in Miami-Dade County, including employees of local, state, and federal jurisdictions.
Why we Contribute:
We support their community outreach. Rick was on the board of Directors.
M.U.J.E.R.
M.U.J.E.R. Inc. (Mujeres, Unidas, en Justicia, Educacion, y Reforma, Women, United in Justice, Education, and Reform) is a non-profit community based social service organization located in Homestead, FL. MUJER has steadily earned recognition as a responsive agency by ensuring culturally sensitive services to our target population.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the concept of MUJER became firmly entrenched in the reality of deep South Miami-Dade County residents. Through the following years, MUJER became an independent, non-membership based organization, first incorporated as a 501(c) 3 non-profit in 1994 and was the first agency to begin addressing issues of family violence among Latino families.
Today, their programs fully engage the entire community, predominantly Hispanic low income residents living in the Deep South Miami-Dade County area.
Why we Contribute:
We support their community outreach.
IBEW Local 627
IBEW Local 627. The mission of the International Brotherhoods of Electrical Workers is to improve the quality of life of their members. The community welfare it the outreach to help the local community where the members live. Local 627 serves the Fort Pierce/Port Saint Lucie area.
Why we Contribute:
This Local is situated in Fort Pierce and it is the union for the FPL employees in the area. The Ironman Golf Tournament is their signature community event and we have been the platinum sponsor since 2000. The money raised supports 25 local charities.
The Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus has always been an organization dedicated to the well-being and support of Catholic family life. The family is the first and primary place where we experience and are formed in our Catholic faith. By building upon our current programs and activities, the Knights of Columbus continues to promote the family as a ”domestic church” where husbands and wives, parent and children, grow in their knowledge and practice of the Catholic Faith. In order to perform its important mission of evangelization, each family needs to find support in the sacramental life of the parish.
Why we Contribute:
We support San Marcos Knight of Columbus Council #6344 golf tournament in Naples and the money raised goes to the local community.
The Caring Place - Miami Rescue Mission
Since 1922 the Miami Rescue Mission I Broward Outreach Center, The Caring Place, have served the homeless and needy of South Florida. The Broward Outreach Centers serve over 1,300 men, women and children each day. There are approximately 800 people enrolled in our residential life-changing programs. At the heart of these decades of serving those in the greatest need are our core values.
Why we Contribute:
25 years ago Rick gave up his membership to the Bankers Club and decided to use his dues to help feed the hungry thru the Miami Rescue Mission.
Rotary International and Rotary Club of Coral Gables
Rotary International is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a secular organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 34,282 member clubs worldwide. 1.2 million individuals called Rotarians have joined these clubs.
Why we Contribute:
Our commitment to Rotary goes back 23 years. Rick was president of the Rotary Club of Miami in 2006-2007. Rick and Margarita have attended seven Rotary International conventions including Japan and Copenhagen. They are double diamond donors and have recognized 28 family and friends as Paul Harris Fellows. Rick has volunteered in India in 2008 with the Polio Plus vaccinations. We met Kristina Shamonina as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 1997. We joined the Rotary Club of Coral Gables in 2010 because our proximity to the office and fellowship. In 2017 Steven was recognized as an honorary member. Of the numerous events we have sponsored and enjoyed, the scholarships to seniors at the Coral Gables High School has been a keen interest.
Special Olympics of Florida
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. The ultimate objective of Special Olympics is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public’s awareness of their capabilities and needs.
Why we Contribute:
Steven and some friends would participate in the Ragnar Relay from Miami to Key West as a charity team. They ended up raising a good amount of money for the Special Olympics of Florida. Steven, wanting to know more about the charity and how the donations were being used, started volunteering with them in different sports. Being absolutely blown away with impact the charity has, Steven wanted to be more involved. Since then, Steven is a coach for standup paddleboard and a unified athlete in track and also mentor at the Special Olympics of Miami-Dade County. Sarah began volunteering as standup paddleboard coach in 2018.
2019 the Foundation donated 7 stand up paddleboards to Team 305SUP, the Miami Dade Standup Paddleboard team.
WPBT2 PBS
PWT2 broadens the boundaries of communication, and is an agent for innovation and growth; culturally, socially, economically and historically. Through varied media and technologies WPBT2 extends the reach of the arts and education, connects organizations and institutions across this diverse region, and preserves South Florida's history, leading the way in this global society. WPBT2 combines the many voices of our community into a dynamic and vital conversation, serving the greater good. WPBT2 is a vibrant force in the South Florida community that entertains, enlightens, and educates. We provide content from PBS, from other partners, and of our own creation – programs and services that change lives, inspire trust, and make a difference. We are community-supported and take pride in reflecting the diversity of the region in which we live and work.
Why we Contribute:
We have for many years enjoyed the outstanding programs of public television. We were one of the sponsors of Downton Abbey.