Miami Dade College’s annual I AM MDC Day campaign turned College pride into more than $1 million in philanthropic support this September, drawing about 2,000 unique gifts from alumni, employees, students, community partners and friends. The monthlong effort, held in recognition of MDC’s Sept. 6 birthday, recorded a significant increase in individual giving over the previous year and demonstrated the reach of a community committed to keeping higher education accessible.
“I AM MDC Day is a celebration of our College’s legacy and a call to invest in its future,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “Every gift, no matter the size, helps us continue to ensure that more students can achieve their dreams.”
That support reaches students in several ways. Each year, more than $27 million in scholarships assists participants in programs such as the Honors College, American Dream Scholarship, Presidential Scholars and Rising Scholars. Donations also help meet immediate needs that can determine whether students stay on track, including bus passes, emergency aid, food pantry access and career closet resources.
A Collegewide Impact
Beyond scholarships and emergency assistance, donor support strengthens faculty innovation, academic programs, student services and cultural institutions including the Miami Book Fair and Miami Film Festival.
“MDC’s impact has always been powered by those who believe in its mission,” said Jorge A. Plasencia, chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation Board of Directors. “The opportunities we create for students would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and the broader community. I encourage everyone who believes in the power of education, including our more than two million alumni, to make a gift of any size and help keep the promise of MDC within reach for the next generation.”
Support Across the Campuses
Campus contributions included an endowed scholarship at Kendall Campus named for Ambassador Kevin Cabrera and a $75,000 gift from Amazon for aviation related efforts at Homestead Campus.
At North Campus, EdFed Credit Union contributed $10,000. The Venezuelan American Chamber Foundation gave $15,000 at West Campus, while Lego Construction, Torr Construction and the City of Miami Gardens each contributed $5,000.
Campus celebrations and a gathering at a Miami Marlins game brought students, employees, alumni and community supporters together during the campaign.
For Lydia Nelson, an Honors College student studying music, that support carries a personal meaning. “To me, I AM MDC Day means being part of a community that creates opportunities for students like me where people believe in you, root for you and open doors you may not have imagined for yourself.”
The Miami Dade College Foundation extends that support throughout the year. It fuels opportunity for more than 18,000 students annually through $37 million in support, including $25 million invested in student success and $12 million invested in College programs. These investments help cover tuition, books, fees, supplies and other essential support while strengthening academic programs, student services, faculty innovation, arts and cultural initiatives and emergency aid across MDC.
