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The Education Fund marked four decades of impact with its annual “For the Love of Art” Charity Auction & Honoree Celebration presented by Ocean Bank (Member-FDIC) on May 20 at Jungle Island.
The event brought together business leaders, educators, and art enthusiasts to support arts education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Guests bid on original artwork created by students and teachers using repurposed materials from The Education Fund Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials, which has donated more than $28 million worth of supplies to local classrooms.
Attendees also participated in hands-on art experiences led by public school art teachers, including tote bag screen printing, yarn weaving, and painting a community mural. The evening’s festivities highlighted the creative talents of Miami-Dade’s public school students and teachers, while honoring the donors and alums who have shaped The Education Fund’s legacy.
“We are so grateful to all our donors who made this 40-year milestone possible,” said Linda Lecht, president of The Education Fund. “It is the donor community that ensures The Education Fund innovates to help public school students succeed. From installing Food Forests in schoolyards and using them as outdoor learning labs, to providing students with the power to get to college, to starting the first center that distributed companies’ excess supplies to meet students’ classroom needs, we continue to bridge the gap between public schools and private sector resources. These partnerships empower students with the tools and experiences they need to thrive academically and beyond.”
The auction featured two themed categories sponsored by the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation: “Celebrating 40 Years of Miami,” honoring the city’s culture through art, and “We Love Yarn,” which invited artists to create textured pieces using yarn in creative formats.
“What began as an emergency response to Hurricane Andrew has evolved into a 33-year partnership that Ocean Bank is incredibly proud of,” said Jeanelle Boscan, senior vice president and head of human resources and marketing at Ocean Bank. “We’ve helped distribute donated resources to more than 4 million students across Miami-Dade County Public Schools and remain committed to making educational excellence accessible to all.”
The Education Fund’s For the Love of Art 40th Anniversary Celebration was presented by Ocean Bank, with additional major support from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Amazon, Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation, The Kirk Foundation, Peacock Foundation, and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
