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The Junior League of Miami is celebrating its impending 2026 Centennial Celebration with the return of its community grant program, which will award $216,000 in grants to deserving non-profits across Miami.
The grants aim to address some of the most persistent challenges facing at-risk women and children in Miami-Dade County including food insecurity, education, homelessness and literacy.
After receiving more than 30 applications, the following organizations were awarded up to $25,000 each for their programming: Buddy System MIA, Camillus House, Chapman Partnership, Health Information Project, Health in the Hood, Project Ready for School, Seeking Shelter, Uplift Literacy and Village (FREE)dge.
These grants will go directly to programming focused on initiatives like urban farming and wellness; food distribution for families facing food insecurity and experiencing homelessness; peer-to-peer mentoring for high school students; a weekend backpack food program at a local elementary school; infrastructure for community fridges and food distribution sites; mentoring programs for children in emergency homeless shelters; essential items such as tents, shoes and hygiene items for people experiencing homelessness, and a book distribution program to encourage literacy and learning year-round.
The grants were awarded at the Junior League’s annual meeting in May attended by key members of all recipients’ organizations.
The Junior League of Miami has committed to using all money raised on Give Miami Day to fund community grants, along with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Junior League of Miami’s Foundation, doubling the impact in the community. The League anticipates funding at least $100,000 in grants each year going forward.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to fund some of these amazing programs benefiting our Miami community, specifically with our added focus area on food insecurity,” said Laura Van Gorden, president of the Junior League of Miami. “More than one in 10 people experience food insecurity in Miami-Dade County, and that has only gotten worse since the pandemic
“Our partnership with Food Rescue US has allowed Junior League members to contribute to reducing food insecurity through individual food rescues from area grocery stores and restaurants, and food distribution events in underserved neighborhoods. The addition of grant-giving to our community programming has allowed us to expand our reach and create a larger impact in our community,” Van Gorden added.
About the Junior League of Miami
The Junior League of Miami Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. For more information, contact the Junior League office at 305-443-0160 or visit www.jlmiami.org.
The next community grant cycle opens in September. For more information or to get on the mailing list, contact programdevelopment@jlmiami.org.
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