In July, The Miami Foundation, Health Foundation of South Florida, Florida Blue Foundation distributed almost 70,000 units of personal protection equipment to essential and nonprofit workers. The PPE was purchased through the Miami Foundation’s Community Recovery Fund, which has invested more than $2.8 million in pandemic relief. The drive, held in Miami, gave out masks, thermometers, hand sanitizer by the gallon, disinfecting wipes, face shields and gowns to more than 40 small nonprofits that deliver basic human need services (image above as well as featured image).

United Way of Broward County’s MISSION UNITED partnered with The Castle Group and Miami Dolphins Foundation earlier this month to distribute more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies and meals to military and veteran families in Broward County. The drive-through event gave out backpacks with an assortment of school supplies donated by the community and The Castle Group. The Miami Dolphins Foundation sponsored to-go dinners, catered by S & J Catering.

Pictured: Callie Newbanks and Keshawn Fraser; Photo courtesy of Downtown Photo

Junior Achievement of South Florida in Coconut Creek hosted its Books, Bucks and Backpacks initiative in July and August, distributing nearly 2,000 backpacks filled with age-appropriate financial education materials, books, healthcare information, snacks and other relevant items for children ages 3-11. JA partnered with several area nonprofits that serve families in need. The events took place at JA’s World Huizenga Center at the Lillian S. Wells Pavilion, where Farm Share, Inc., provided fresh fruit to families.

Recently, Boca West Children’s Foundation gave a grant of $20,000 to the YMCA of South Palm Beach County, which will be split between a day camp for children of first responders and YMCA’s drowning prevention program for children with special needs. The amount adds to the $800,000 that Boca West Children’s Foundation has distributed to local charities such as  Florence Fuller Child Development Center, American Association for Caregiving Youth, JAFCO, Place of Hope, SOS Children’s Village and the Faulk Center for Counseling.

Pictured: Richard Zenger (Boca West Children’s Foundation), Jason Hagensick (YMCA president & CEO), Joel Macher (BWCF)

This month, Broward Health Medical Center medical staff awarded $10,000 in scholarships to 10 local high school students planning to enter the medical field. Each student received $1,000 in a drive-through ceremony at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale along with a gift bag with a special message of encouragement from Broward Health physicians. Students included Dillard High School graduates Shatasia Daniels, majoring in nursing at Florida State University, and Stephanie Gamble, a pre-med / biology student at Bethune-Cookman University.

Pictured: Aldo Calvo, D.O., Georgia Keyser-Gomez, Nadia Cumberbatch, M.D., Neil Miransky, D.O., Sunil Kumar, M.D., Joel Scinto, Heather Havericak, CEO, Sydnee Comer and Mina Amini