In its second year, Inspire305, powered by United Way of Miami-Dade, continues to support innovative nonprofits that propel change. After 5,600 community members submitted votes, Strong Girls Inc. won the $25,000 Grand Innovator Award and ICU baby won the $10,000 Trailblazer Award.
Strong Girls Inc. is a free after school program designed to break the cycle of poverty by providing young girls the skills and support they need to focus on learning. The program operates in Title 1 schools and trains teachers to implement its evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum during critical after school hours. Strong Girls Inc. is using the Inspire305 grant to expand SEL to two more Title 1 elementary schools.
ICU baby offers financial and emotional support to families of premature or critically ill babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Holtz Children’s Hospital at UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center and Baptist Health System’s South Miami Hospital. ICU baby’s transportation assistance program addresses the high cost of transportation for parents to the hospital, enabling families to regularly visit their child and participate in their infant’s NICU care. ICU baby is using the Inspire305 grant to provide transportation stipends to low income families with a baby in the NICU in the form of bus passes, parking vouchers, gas cards and Uber rides.
In addition to recognizing these winners, Inspire305 also celebrated this year’s other finalists:
Food Rescue US, a technology based, volunteer-driven platform that delivers fresh food from businesses with excess food to individuals who are struggling.
SEEK Foundation, a nonprofit that provides equal access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through mobile STEM programs in underserved communities.
Students Care, a nonprofit dedicated to matching pediatric patients with college student volunteers who provide fun, friendship and support throughout their hospital stays.
Inspire305 propels change in Miami-Dade by activating solutions for innovators, change makers and emerging philanthropic leaders.
For more information, visit inspire305.org.
