City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado toured the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education on Monday, March 28, 2011. He spoke with parents and teachers, and had a chance to take part in some of the learning activities that go on every day at the Center's Demonstration School, Educare of Miami-Dade. | READ MORE

The 16th annual United Way Miami Wine and Food Festival attracted a record-breaking crowd of more than 3,000 wine and food enthusiasts.  Presented by American Express, the new four-day festival featured first-time beer and spirits events, and a Best in Glass Wine Challenge, along with its popular wine-tasting and interactive dinner.  The festival netted almost $300,000 in proceeds to support United Way of Miami-Dade’s work in the areas of education, income and health. | READ MORE

" For Once in My Life" is an award-winning documentary that shatters preconceived notions about what people with disabilities are capable of... revealing the humor, hope, and greatness within us all. Now you can own your copy. | READ MORE

Quality early education funding up in federal budget

Advocating for quality early education is a top priority for our United Way. Six weeks ago, more than $1 billion in federal funding for early education programs was at risk. This month, despite major cuts to health and human services, Congress voted to not only preserve that funding, but in fact increased its investment in early education. Included in the FY2011 Continuing Resolution budget is:

An increase of $100 million over FY2010 levels for the Child Care and Development Block Grant -- allowing states to maintain most child care services and to continue quality early education improvements;

An increase of $340 million over FY2010 levels for the Head Start program, which, according to Health and Human Services projections, is sufficient to sustain services for all currently enrolled children;

Support for a new initiative within the federal education reform program, 'Race to the Top', focused on improving state early learning systems.

We are grateful to all who have joined us in trips to Washington DC, who have sent emails to their U. S. Representatives and Senators and have spoken out in support of early education. Your advocacy over the past year appears not only to have successfully protected the futures of at least 218,000 young children across the country but to be building momentum for the years ahead.

United Way Rocks for Education

Bring your family and friends and join David Henrie, star of Emmy-winning series “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and some of his celebrity friends, including Drake Bell of “Drake and Josh” and his band, for a fun-filled evening of entertainment, music and comedy as we raise funds and awareness for the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education.

United Way of Miami-Dade 3250 Southwest Third Avenue, Miami, FL 33129