HDS Foundation was selected by The Miami Foundation to participate in Give Miami Day for the Second Consecutive Year
HDS Foundation was selected by The Miami Foundation to participate in Give Miami Day for the Second Consecutive Year
Each year, The Miami Foundation hosts Give Miami Day to encourage individuals to become philanthropists for a 24-hour period. Give Miami Day has become one of the largest annual giving events in the United States. Through online giving, this movement brings together nonprofits of all sizes to celebrate and increase generosity in Greater Miami. The HDS Foundation is honored to have been chosen to participate in this incredible day of giving for the second consecutive year. Our selection confirms the vital role our programs serve and motivates the community to donate in support of our mission.
HDS Companies founder CEO Cristina Miranda Gilson confirms the Corporation’s financial commitment to generously match ALL donations made to the HDS Foundation (HDSF) through Give Miami Day, on Thursday, November 17, 2022. The dollar-for-dollar match will further support the HDSF’s flagship programs, which directly impact the lives of high school students who are part of the South Florida Autism community.
The HDS Foundation offers programs and service opportunities that promote independent and semi-independent living for teens and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder or related abilities. Structured as grants, our programs support the development of work and daily living skills and socio-educational transitional experiences through specific school-based partnerships. Our goal is to help this growing population with diverse abilities to bridge the gap and support their post-secondary journey, strengthening their chances for meaningful, long-term employment and self-sufficiency. The HDS Foundation is poised to help educate and provide information related to available, safe, and affordable housing options that can further the possibilities of attaining independent or semi-independent housing. To learn more, visit hdsfoundation.org/about.
Save the Date for Give Miami Day
Thursday, November 17, 2022
37TH Annual Main Street Festival of Lights
37TH Annual Main Street Festival of Lights,
Brought to you by The Graham Companies and the Main Street Merchants
“Benefiting Neighbors 4 Neighbors and Giving Gators”
Miami, Florida – The 37th Annual Main Street Festival of Lights, brought to you by The Graham Companies and the Main Street Merchants, kicks off the holiday season in Downtown Miami Lakes. Bring your family, friends, and loved ones to Main Street on Saturday, November 19th, and enjoy complimentary parking and admission at this historic holiday tradition.
The Main Street Merchants and The Graham Companies will transform Downtown Miami Lakes into a shimmering interactive winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights aglow. Locals and visitors from surrounding communities return yearly to witness the Main Street Oak Tree Lighting, including a special appearance by Santa, local DJs, and live performances by Miami Lakes schools. In addition, children will enjoy holiday characters, face painting, glitter tattoos, shaved ice, cotton candy, popcorn, arts and crafts, pictures with Santa, and many more complimentary activities courtesy of presenting sponsors; The Graham Companies and Main Street Merchants, as well as supporting sponsor HDS Companies. Renowned journalist and TV/Radio personality GiGi Diaz will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Media partners include The Miami Laker, Clear Channel Outdoor, Dimelo305, and 93.9 Mia.
Main Street has been the ultimate shopping, dining, and entertainment destination for over 40 years, attracting generations of distinguished locals and travelers to its enchanting setting. Eventgoers who arrive early will have the opportunity to get their holiday shopping done before as they discover local Main Street Merchants and experience the Miami Lakes Farmers Market located at the intersection of Main Street and New Barn Road.
The Graham Companies has a long history of giving back to the South Florida communities. This year, they have once again teamed up with Neighbors 4 Neighbors to collect unwrapped toys for local Miami Lakes children served by Giving Gators during the holiday season. In addition, the Neighbors 4 Neighbors event booth will host onsite toy collections. Everyone is encouraged to visit the Santa House; proceeds from all photos with Santa will benefit the Miami Lakes Boy Scout Troop 247. During the event, participants will also have the opportunity to connect, adopt and fall in love with a shelter pet from Miami-Dade County Animal Services at the HOPE Express Mobile Adoption unit.
“Year after year, we’ve seen firsthand the impact that a simple gift can have on the lives of children in our community,” said Andrea Graham Rechichi, Vice President of Corporate Relations at The Graham Companies. “It’s an honor to collaborate with Neighbors 4 Neighbors and Giving Gators this holiday season to increase our impact by hosting our 2nd annual toy drive in conjunction with our Festival of Lights. With each toy donation, we are coming together to share holiday joy and put a smile on the faces of hundreds of children through acts of kindness.”
- WHAT: 37th Annual Main Street Festival of Lights, Downtown Miami Lakes: Guests are encouraged to celebrate the season of giving by bringing a new toy for the children.
- WHEN: Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 3:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M, the Lighting Ceremony to take place on the Main Stage at 6:30 P.M.
- WHERE: Main Street, 6700 Main Street | Miami Lakes, FL 33014
- WHO: The Graham Companies, the Main Street Merchants, Neighbors 4 Neighbors, Giving Gators, Miami-Dade County Animal Services, Boys Scouts Troop 247, and Girls Scouts Troop 456
“Neighbors 4 Neighbors is so excited to be once again part of the Annual Main Street Festival of Lights! Last year we collected toys for our Adopt A Family 4 the Holidays Program, which has served needy families in South Florida for the past 30 years. This year we look to collect even more toys and make this season the best yet!” said Katy Meagher, President, and CEO of Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
Live Trucks are welcome to transmit live from Main Street; we ask those interested in advising us to make the proper arrangements ahead of time. Please contact Rixys Alfonso at 305.558.8877 or via email at rixys@causemomarketing.com.
ABOUT THE GRAHAM COMPANIES:
A family tradition of service since 1932, The Graham Companies is best known for the creation and development of Miami Lakes, a 3,000-acre master-planned community. Today, The Graham Companies maintains being the largest landowner in the Town of Miami Lakes through apartment, office, industrial, retail, and hospitality holdings. Keeping to our roots, The Graham Companies continues to be involved in the agriculture business with dairy, beef, and pecan orchard farming located in Moore Haven, Florida, and Southwest Georgia. Further information about The Graham Companies is available at miamilakes.com.
ABOUT MAIN STREET:
Main Street, the social hub for Miami Lakes and the surrounding community, is comprised of restaurants, retail shops, apartments, offices, Miami Lakes Hotel on Main, CMX Cinemas Miami Lakes 13, and civic facilities, including the Town of Miami Lakes’ Government Center. Developed by The Graham Companies, Main Street has been recognized in many national publications, including both academic writings and business articles, for being at the forefront of mix-use development. For more information on Main Street, please visit mainstreetmiamilakes.com.
ABOUT NEIGHBORS 4 NEIGHBORS:
Our mission is to connect those in need with those who can help, and this event kicks off the holiday season full of unique connections. It’s an honor to partner with Main Street and The Graham Companies to spread joy to so many families through Giving Gators. For more ways to help, visit www.Neighbors4Neighbors.org/adopt.”
Contact:
Rixys Alfonso
305.558.8877
Two of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students, Miguel and Kate, have thrived in their post-secondary journey!
When you support our Foundation through Give Miami Day, your donations will fund our programs and initiatives that help Teens and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum achieve meaningful and independent lives. Please consider pledging your support at https://myhds.co/3SbkLHb today! #GiveMiamiDay
Two of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students, Miguel and Kate, have thrived in their post-secondary journey!
Congratulations Dr. Rowe Tara Rowe on this distinction
Congratulations
Dr. Rowe Tara Rowe on this distinction. Your commitment and leadership has provided our community with great mentorship! Thank you for your passion!
HDS Foundation Highlights Students’ Post-Secondary Achievements
Miguel Sanchez and Kate Gilson-Miranda, former participants of the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program at Cypress Bay High School, understand the importance of developing social skills that will help them throughout their lifetime. Both students completed their High School education and graduated from Cypress Bay.
Miguel, who graduated in 2015, immersed himself in post-secondary programs such as the S.T.E.P.S. Into Employment Program at The Dan Marino Foundation and the employment path programs at Marino Campus. These programs helped Miguel achieve gainful employment at HDS Companies, where he was employed in the ASDY-TECH (Autism Spectrum Disorder Young Adults Technicians) Employment Training and Mentoring Program, a micro-enterprise entity of the HDS Foundation. Miguel served as a Digital Tech for a large-scale project to convert paper files to digital documents. While working on this project, Miguel simultaneously worked as a part-time stock associate at a Nautica retail store at a local Simon Mall Property. Today, Miguel is gainfully employed as a team member at Publix Super Markets.
Kate graduated in 2016 and pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. She graduated in the Spring of 2022 Cum Laude from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood Development and a minor in Disability Services. At UNF, she participated in the THRIVE Program, which supports degree-seeking students on the Autism Spectrum with mentoring and skill-building activities. Kate started her teaching career in the Fall of 2022 and looks forward to bringing her own experiences as she embarks on her career path.
Kate and Miguel are aware of the advantages of enhancing social skills and the significance of inclusion in school and the workplace. Even though they are both very busy with work, they make time to participate in peer groups and get together with friends, mentors, and other networks as active young adults to broaden their horizons. Although they currently live in different cities hundreds of miles away, they always make time to catch up and build on their friendship which has lasted over a decade.
Focusing on particular abilities and transitional skills throughout high school and beyond can drastically alter the outcomes for people on the autism spectrum. The best examples we have to showcase how this is possible are Kate and Miguel. Both view their neurodiversity as an asset, and the team at HDS Foundation is incredibly proud of their accomplishments and successes.
The HDS Foundation’s Give Miami Fundraiser aims to continue supporting the work that we are doing in partnership with local high schools to carry out the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Programs. Please visit the HDS Foundation website at hdsfoundation.org to make your pledge today, or donate on Give Miami Day this November 17, 2022, at givemiamiday.org/hdsfoundation.
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