All-day gathering hosted grantees, foundation stakeholders and guest speakers to discuss Florida's philanthropic landscape and celebrate over $80 million gifted to date
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation just celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of philanthropic investment dedicated to building a thriving, engaged South Florida that serves as a model for major cities worldwide. Over the past ten years, the foundation has awarded more than $80 million in grants to advance sustainable, inclusive, and equitable communities, supporting over 160 local nonprofits in arts and culture, health and well-being, education, the environment and economic development.
The milestone was recognized at the foundation's inaugural Pérez Grantee Partners Summit & 10th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. The invite-only event convened past and present grantees, community stakeholders and civic leaders, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
"Private philanthropy is indispensable, particularly as county budgets can fluctuate from year to year. Sustained, strategic support ensures that arts, education, and other vital community programs not only survive, but thrive," said Jorge M. Pérez, internationally recognized philanthropist and founder of The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. "This summit was an important opportunity to reflect on the role that private giving plays in strengthening our community, highlighting how targeted philanthropic stewardship is a critical lifeline that enables our grantees to navigate uncertainty and continue delivering meaningful impact."
The foundation also announced the 2025 Pérez CreARTE grant recipients in conjunction with the summit. Established in 2019, the CreARTE program, made possible through a partnership with The Miami Foundation, has cultivated Miami's arts ecosystem by awarding more than $16 million in grants to date in the focus areas of Arts Access, Arts Education and Artist Residencies & Fellowships across South Florida. This new cycle of CreARTE grants will distribute over $5 million across 43 innovative projects over the next two years, advancing visual and performing arts, experimental programming and educational initiatives throughout Miami-Dade County.
Standout 2025 recipients, receiving grants up to $200,000 include Teeny Violini, an organization that delivers music education to early childhood learning centers; Karen Peterson and Dancers, whose in-school residency program, Everyone Dances, serves teens with special needs; and Brevo Theatre, which supports the development and community of underrepresented voices through innovative performances and storytelling.
"Ten years of bold giving, and they're not slowing down!" said Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation. "We're incredibly proud to partner so closely with the Pérez family as they live out their commitment to the Giving Pledge through bold investments in arts access, education, and artist opportunities. Their generosity has been and continues to be game-changing for Miami and beyond."
Closed to the public, the all-day summit brought together this year's CreARTE grantees in addition to nonprofits that have benefited from the Pérez Family Foundation's ongoing support over time, such as Americans for the Arts, Guitars Over Guns, Young Musicians Unite, Miami Music Project, The Motivational Edge, Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami Light Project, Fountainhead Arts, Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator, The Education Fund, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and Florida International University.
The gathering provided a platform for these groups to engage in meaningful discussions on Florida's nonprofit challenges and opportunities, sparking critical dialogue on fundraising, advocacy and the future of the arts ecosystem. Programming highlights included:
Panels and discussions on the vital role of private philanthropy in sustaining Miami's cultural community, including sessions like 'State of the Nonprofit Sector' and 'Challenges & Opportunities as a Collective.'
A fireside chat moderated by Anna Kaiser of Bloomberg, featuring Jorge M. Pérez, Kristina Newman-Scott (Knight Foundation) and Dianne Bailey (Bank of America).
A celebratory reception where attendees joined Pérez Family Foundation stakeholders and friends for cocktails, passed appetizers and live music by Young Musicians Unite.
"It is an honor to highlight the remarkable work of our grantees and invest in the future of Miami's arts ecosystem," said Darlene Pérez, co-founder of the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation. "This milestone affirms our mission to empower artists and organizations, and allows us to reflect on what we've accomplished together while guiding our vision for what's ahead."
For more information on the Pérez Family Foundation, and grant opportunities such as the CreARTE program, please visit jmperezfamilyfoundation.org/grant-opportunities.
About The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation
Founded in 2015, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation (the Pérez Family Foundation) fulfills the philanthropic vision of Jorge M. Pérez, Founding Executive Chairman of The Related Group, and his family to develop South Florida as an exemplary world-class urban center. Now more than a decade into its work, the Pérez Family Foundation promotes sustainable, inclusive and just communities by supporting programs and organizations focused on arts and culture, education, health and well-being, environment and economic development — with a particular preference for initiatives that can serve as models for other urban centers. In total, the Pérez family has committed over $100 million in support of over 160 non-profit organizations, both personally and through the Pérez Family Foundation. For more information, please visit www.jmperezfamilyfoundation.org.
About The Miami Foundation
The Miami Foundation is building a Greater Miami where everyone can thrive. Since 1967, The Foundation has invested over $772M to strengthen our community in partnership with more than 1,000 fundholders and 50,000 donors. By accelerating leadership, generosity, and a sense of belonging across Miami, we inspire people to become changemakers, and we create ways for donors, nonprofits, leaders, and locals to work together on solutions for our community. At The Miami Foundation, everyone has a role they can play in creating a thriving Greater Miami.
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