Ocean Bank received the United Negro College Fund “MASKED Award” for expanding higher education opportunities for students of color, presented in 15 major U.S. cities and generating $6 million in annual contributions from corporate sponsors and individuals for scholarships.
MASKED is an acronym for “Mankind Assisting Students Kindle Educational Dreams.”
The award was created by national visual artist Brenda Singletary. The award was presented in October to Ocean Bank President and CEO A. Alfonso Macedo at the UNCF Miami Masked Ball at the Miami Hyatt Regency. In a letter to Macedo, UNCF Regional Development Director Edith Pearson wrote:
“In Miami there are no other philanthropists who have done more to highlight the needs of children or given more time and personal resources to support their development. Your record of generous support has provided for financial aid for college students and for special programs at UNCF member Florida Memorial University.”
Based in Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is the only South Florida institution among the 37 historically-black colleges and universities in the UNCF network.
