Click here to view additional photos from the event
MIAMI, Fla. – On November 3, 2016, the Miami Bayside Foundation (MBF) hosted its annual WE ARE MIAMI® event at the Historic Alfred I. duPont Building in Miami, Florida.
Close to 300 individuals attended the event including MBF’s sponsors, supporters, partners, small business workshop graduates and loan and scholarship recipients. City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, City of Miami Commissioners Willy Gort, and the former NFL player Christopher Chambers were among many Miami leaders that joined the celebration. The event raised more than $60,000 in support of City of Miami minority businesses and education.
Amongst those in attendance were seventeen 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 and Noa Catering, Inc.; sweets by Mundo Cafe By Magic City Chefs, to bracelets making using 3D printing techniques with Moonlighter; bike rides by Sound of Fun 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, Hispanic Initiative Business Fund, 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 DaFlo.
Students from Florida International University’s Golden Scholars Program, the recently launched 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.
Click here to view the WE ARE MIAMI® 2016 Booklet
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 700 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 fifty-two loans to minority-owned businesses that have helped create more than 300 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