South Florida Progress Foundation

South Florida Progress Foundation


“For four decades, the South Florida Progress Foundation has focused its financial resources on the area’s most significant civic and economic development issues.”
Barry E. Johnson
President/CEO
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce

“Contributions to the South Florida Progress Foundation enable private foundations, local businesses and national corporations to make a difference for those who live and work in South Florida.”
Art Noriega
Executive Director
Miami Parking Authority and
Chairman, South Florida Progress Foundation



About South Florida Progress Foundation...

The South Florida Progress Foundation is a Florida-based corporation and has been registered as a not-for-profit charitable organization in the state since June 26, 1968. The Foundation’s board of directors is culturally and professionally balanced to not only reflect the marketplace, but to provide the Foundation with diverse viewpoints and strong leadership.



History

Roots of the South Florida Progress Foundation go back to 1968 when members of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce established the organization “to conduct projects, programs and studies deemed to be in the interest of providing the best possible urban environment for all citizens.” The foundation was redirected in 2006 to proactively address issues considered paramount to the area’s progress and performance as the sixth largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the nation and reputation as a gateway for international trade and commerce.

For nearly four decades, the foundation has had programming for projects concerning improving race relations, cooperation among local higher education institutions, hurricane recovery, the immersion future leaders in South Florida topical issues, intervention programs for at-risk youth, the identification of future high paying jobs and the corresponding educational preparation needed for career entry into these fields, and the establishment of scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in business, law or government. These initiatives have included:


  • Cultural Summit & E-Pass 
  • Education Summit
  • Goals Conference
  • Good Life Youth Mentor Program
  • Haitian Business Scholarship Fund
  • Jeanne Bellamy Scholarship
  • Maloof Family Scholarship 
  • Leadership Miami
  • One Community One Goal®
  • South Florida Consortium for Higher Education
  • Transportation Summit
  • Youth Leadership Miami


Mission

The Foundation works to leverage its relationship with South Florida professionals and civic leaders to identify top issues, prioritize them through consensus and then develop and implement solutions through programmatic activity, all funded by member donations, endowments and grants.

Through strategic partnerships with local organizations committed to the betterment of South Florida, the effectiveness of and need for the Foundation's various initiatives are reviewed and prioritized annually. These initiatives include:


1. South Florida quality of life issues:

  • Education
  • Transportation 
  • Expansion and enhancement of cultural offerings
  • Environmental issues
  • Hurricane preparedness and recovery 

    2. Diversity issues

    3. College scholarships for students interested in pursing careers in business, law or government 



    Why invest in the South Florida Progress Foundation?

    Given the stewardship by members of the multicultural business community of the seventh largest MSA in the nation, the foundation has the ability to access the area’s largely entrepreneurial and international workforce for some of the most innovative solutions to South Florida urban concerns. The South Florida marketplace is often referred to as a laboratory for sociolological trends for the country. Combined with a unique, sub-tropical environment and the world’s only Everglades, the area offers the opportunity for investment in cutting edge social, urban, cultural, and future trend issues.



    Contributions & Endowments

    Make a foundation contribution or establish an endowment in your name that will leave a legacy that is synonymous with the results-driven civic leadership associated with Miami and South Florida:


    • Contribute to finding solutions to South Florida quality of life concerns, i.e., education, transportation, healthcare, creative industries or environmental issues
    • Endow Leadership Miami, Youth Leadership Miami or underwrite minority participation in these legacy programs
    • Establish a scholarship in your name, as was done by Jeanne Bellamy, the first female chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and board member Al Maloof


    Make donations payable to:
    South Florida Progress Foundation
    1601 Biscayne Boulevard, Ballroom level
    Miami, FL 33132-1260

    For more information, please contact Cornelia Pereira, Executive Director at 305.577.5432.

    The South Florida Progress Foundation is a 501 ( c ) 3. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided for by law. The federal tax identification number is 59-6216592. The corporation is registered in Florida as 714837.

    To view the South Florida Progress Foundation brochure click here.



    SOUTH FLORIDA PROGRESS FOUNDATION
    2010-2011 BOARD MEMBERS

    Deborah R. Mayo
    Chairman
    Fowler White Burnett, P.A.
    Espirito Santo Plaza
    1395 Brickell Ave, 14th Fl
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.789.9284
    305.343.0597 Cell 

    Kathy Deutsch
    Vice Chairman
    Broad and Cassel
    One North Clematis Street,
    Ste. 500
    West Palm Beach, FL 33401
    561.366.5320
    305.798.0600 Cell 

    Albert Lopez
    Treasurer     
    BDO USA LLP
    1111 Brickell Avenue,
    Ste. 2801
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.381.8000
    305.793.8113

    Ronda A. Vangates
    Secretary
    742 NE 90th St.
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.756.0377
    786.389.9979 Cell

    Jane Gilbert
    Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company
    200 S. Biscayne Blvd. 15th Fl
    FL 6207
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.789.4823

    Al Maloof 
    Genovese Joblove & Battista P.A.
    100 SE 2nd St., Ste. 4400
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.349.2300
    305.519.4399 Cell

    Art Noriega
    Miami Parking Authority
    40 NW 3rd St., Ste. 1103
    Miami, FL 33128
    305.589.4910
    305.494.9445 Cell

    Matthew Schwartz
    City of N. Bay Village
    1666 Kennedy Causeway, Ste. 700
    305.256.4130
    305.527.4516 Cell

    H. Ruben Weisson, CFM, CFP
    Merrill Lynch
    200 S. Biscayne Blvd., 45th floor
    Miami, FL 33131
    305.416.6440

    GMCC STAFF

    Cornelia Pereira, Executive Director
    South Florida Progress Foundation
    1601 Biscayne Blvd., Ballroom Level
    Miami, FL 33132
    305.577.5432

  • Note: 1-yr term for officers

    •