“For nearly 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 concerned citizens of greater Miami and 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 higher education institutions, hurricane recovery, the immersion of 7,000  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 an endowment for young women interested in pursuing a career in business.  These initiatives have included:

• Black Business Grant Program
• Carlos Arboleya Award
• Cultural Summit & E-Pass
• Education Summit
• Goals Conference
• Good Life Youth Mentor Program
• Haitian Business Scholarship Fund
• Jeanne Bellamy Endowment Scholarship Fund
• Leadership Miami

• Military Affairs Council Programs
• National Youth Leadership
• 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 strategize solutions through programmatic activity, all funded by member donations, endowments and grants. 

Through strategic partnerships with local organizations committed to the betterment of greater Miami, initiatives are annually validated and prioritized.  They include:

1. Leadership Americas (program for international business leaders interested in doing business in South Florida and vice versa)
2. Future Executives (business introduction and mentor program for South Florida youth)
3. College scholarships for young women interested in pursing a career in business
4. Black Business Initiative (Minority Business Development)
5. South Florida quality of life issues:
   • Transportation
   • Workforce Housing
   • Expansion and enhancement of cultural offerings
   • Environmental issues
   • Hurricane preparedness and recover

Why invest in the South Florida Progress Foundation?

Given the stewardship by members of the multicultural business community of the sixth 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:

• Establish a scholarship in your name, as was done by Jeanne Bellamy, the first female chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
• Endow Leadership Miami, Youth Leadership Miami, College Leadership Miami, or underwrite minority participation in these legacy programs
• Underwrite Leadership Americas
• Underwrite the participation of at-risk youth in the Future Executive program
• Contribute to finding solutions to South Florida quality of life concerns, i.e., education, transportation or cultural
• Direct monies to an environmental project

 

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.

 

2007-2008 Board

Arthur Noriega, Chairman
Larry Gautier, Vice-Chairman
Jacqueline Marques Fernandez, Secretary/Treasurer
Luis Ajamil

Marta Armas

Chris Steilberg

Ronda A. Vangates

Al Lopez

Kathleen Deutsch

Cornelia Pereira, Executive Director