Students from Lenora B. Smith Elementary School to receive dental screenings today;students from Miami Senior High School to receive eye screenings on Friday
Marlins Ayudan will provide dental and eye screenings for students at three Marlins Ayudan Partner Schools this week. Students at Lenora B. Smith Elementary School (4700 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33127) will receive dental screenings today, while ninth-grade students at Miami Senior High School (2450 SW 1st St, Miami, FL, 33135) will receive eye screenings on Friday, September 25. In addition, all students at Booker T. Washington Senior High School received eye screenings yesterday.
Miami Senior is in its fourth year of being a Marlins Ayudan Partner school, while Booker T. Washington and Lenora B. Smith are in the midst of their second year. Through the Marlins Ayudan School Partnership Program (MASPP) initiative, Marlins Ayudan directly impacts the lives and education of the youth in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The program’s goals are to work with partner schools in identifying areas of greatest need, develop a measurable game plan to address those needs, implement the game plan by utilizing Marlins Ayudan teams’ individual and collective strengths and leave a lasting legacy at each partner school.
The Marlins partnered with the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired to provide the free eye screenings, and with Spodak Dental Group for the free dental screenings. In addition, charitable contributions by three-time All-Star Giancarlo Stanton made the dental screenings possible. The goal of the screenings is to help improve the overall health of the students, increasing regular school attendance and school success. The iAttend Miami-Dade County Public Schools Initiative found that 5.7 percent of students, more than 20,000, are absent from school on any given day. The initiative aims to inform parents and students of the correlation between regular attendance and school success.
About Marlins Ayudan
Marlins Ayudan (Spanish for “help”) is the signature outreach initiative of the Miami Marlins. The purpose of Marlins Ayudan is to provide a sustainable corps of volunteers willing and ready to effectuate positive change in the South Florida community. It is the fabric of the Club’s corporate culture and engages every front office employee with schools and charities throughout South Florida. The goal of Marlins Ayudan is to leave a lasting legacy through impactful service activities that tackle the community’s most pressing needs. The three-tier Ayudan methodology consists of organizational service days, team events and individual volunteer opportunities. Since its inception in 2010, Marlins Ayudan has contributed over 30,000 hours of service and established partnerships and traditions of giving that inspire employees to pursue their passions and contribute their time and talents year-round.
About Marlins Foundation
The Marlins Foundation supports the Charity Partners of the Miami Marlins through philanthropy and service. The Foundation is committed to improving the lives of our youth through education, the arts and baseball, with a focus on children with special needs. The funds raised by the Foundation provide unique experiences for kids in our schools, parks and on the water. The Foundation community partnerships and outreach efforts demonstrate the Marlins’ leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility and civic engagement. For additional information please visit www.marlinsfoundation.com.
About Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
Established in 1931, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the oldest and largest private agency in Florida to serve people of all ages who are blind and visually impaired. It has earned seven consecutive 4-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from Charity Navigator placing the organization among the top 2% of non-profits for fiscal responsibility in the U.S. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves over 12,000 program participants annually; 24-times as many since 2004. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired strived to enforce its slogan that – it’s possible to see without sight™.
