MBF’s WE ARE MIAMI® 2018 Event Celebrates City of Miami Minority Businesses and Education

by | Jan 29, 2018 | Press Release

 

Click here to view additional photos from the event

MIAMI, Fla. – On Janurary 18th 2018, the Miami Bayside Foundation (MBF) hosted its annual WE ARE MIAMI® event at the Historic Alfred I. duPont Building in Miami, Florida.

Over 300 individuals attended the event including MBF’s sponsors, supporters, partners, small business workshop graduates and loan and scholarship recipients.  City of Miami Commissioners Willy Gort and Ken Russell, Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, Dean of FIU’s School of Business and Jonel Hein the Deputy District Director for the Small Business Administration were among many Miami leaders that joined the celebration. The event raised resources in support of City of Miami minority businesses and education.

Amongst those in attendance were eighteen City of Miami small business owners, who have received loans and technical assistance from MBF and many small business workshop graduates and scholarship recipients. The small business owners showcased their companies and offered the attendees everything from savory bacon treats by Miami Smokers; healthy gourmet foods by Lunchology; sweets by Bunny Cakes; coffee by Panther Coffee Roasters., to 3D printing techniques with Moonlighter; customized t-shirts from The Cool and mini facials by MedAesthetics Miami.

In attendance were also representatives from MBF’s partners Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, D.A. Dorsey Technical College,SBDC at FIU, SCORE, Breakthrough Miami, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Little Haiti Optimist Club, St. Alban’s Child Enrichment Center, Miami MBDA Business Center, and Education Fund Miami. They showcased their important work at display tables throughout the space.

While mingling with MBF’s awardees, partners, and sponsors, the attendees enjoyed exotic hors d’oeuvre by MBF’s caterer and sponsor Bee Flat.

Students from Florida International University’s Golden Scholars Program, the Marine Service Technology Academy at Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, and MBF/Commissioner Willy Gort Scholarship Program at Miami Dade College moved the audience with their speeches about how their scholarships from MBF have helped them in pursuing their education and goals.

A City of Miami-based nonprofit established in 1986, MBF seeks to advance Miami’s growth by supporting minority businesses and education. The funds raised at the event will be allocated to provide additional loans to small businesses and scholarship opportunities for City of Miami students in 2017.

In the last six years, MBF has awarded close to 400 scholarships to City of Miami minority students attending Miami Dade College, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade Public High Schools, and technical colleges including D.A. Dorsey, Lindsey Hopkins, and George T. Baker Aviation. In the last six years is has also awarded sixty-eight loans to minority-owned businesses that have helped create more than 350 jobs in the City of Miami, and created partnerships that have helped train more than 200 City of Miami minority business owners.

For more information on the MBF, please call (305) 379-7070, email info@miamibaysidefoundation.org visit www.miamibaysidefoundation.org or follow us on Twitter @MiamiBaysideFo and Facebook

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