childrenstrust

With a mission to prevent blindness, our Florida Heiken Children's Vision program provides free eye exams and prescription glasses where needed to financially disadvantaged students in Pre-K through 12th grade throughout Florida. 👓 You can support this initiative by attending Music Under the Stars on May 13th, where we are celebrating the 34th anniversary of this incredible program! 🥂 Since 1992, our Heiken program has provided more than 238,000 comprehensive eye exams, and in the 2024–25 school year alone 16,494 students received exams and 10,829 received glasses! 👏 This is more than just screening vision; these exams detect serious medical conditions that can lead to permanent blindness if untreated. You can impact the continued success of this program, purchase your tickets to Music Under the Stars now! Ticket link ➜ miamilighthouse.org/2026MusicUnder… Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 👁️💙 #MiamiLighthouse @childrenstrust @CSCBroward @CollierCFFL @BaptistHealthSF @beaconcouncil @MiamiRotary @MarlinsImpact @lionsclubs @SFM_Services @ABBOPTICALGROUP #MusicUndertheStars #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #FloridaHeiken

Just Released! The Children's Trust has released several solicitations totaling up to $1.6 million in the coming weeks for: 💚 Thrive by 5 Quality Improvement System (QIS) Evaluation 💚 Health Connect in Our Schools (HCiOS) Evaluation 💚 Economic Impact Evaluation 🗓️ Pre-Application Deadline: April 30, 2026 by 5 p.m. 🗓️ Application Deadline: May 7, 2026 by 5 p.m. For more information, visit TheChildrensTrust.org/Grants #WeAreTCT

Dr. Steve Gallon III at @OGESeagles launching initiative representing a $2.5 million investment, made possible through the partnership between the U.S. Soccer Foundation and The Children’s Trust, with funding from Ken Griffin. @MDCPS @MDCPSNorth @childrenstrust @MayorDaniella

The Children’s Trust is pleased to announce the newly elected Executive Officers of our Board of Directors: ⭐️ Kenneth C. Hoffman, Chair ⭐️ Pamela Hollingsworth, Vice-Chair ⭐️ Hon. Norman S. Gerstein (Ret.), Treasurer ⭐️ Luis E. Suarez, J.D., Secretary  We are grateful for the experience and commitment they bring in advancing our mission of improving the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. 💚 #WeAreTCT

The Children’s Trust joins our community in recognizing Passover. May this time be marked by togetherness, treasured traditions, and moments that create lasting memories with family and friends. #WeAreTCT #Passover

The Children’s Trust was honored to join community partners at today’s news conference celebrating 25 new soccer pitches at Miami-Dade schools as part of the Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative. These fields will provide safe, accessible spaces for kids to play and grow. Thanks to @MiamiDadeCounty, @MDCPS, Griffin Catalyst, and the @ussoccerfndn for their support. @FIFAWorldCup #WeAreTCT #MiamiDadeSoccerInitiative #FIFAWorldCup2026

Exciting milestone today! We are proud to celebrate the opening of a new mini-pitch at Oak Grove Elementary, one of 25 coming to @MDCPS. These sites provide our students with safe, high-quality spaces to play and grow through @ussoccerfndn’s proven programming. Special thanks to Griffin Catalyst, @Childrenstrust, the Miami World Cup 2026™ Host Committee, and @MiamiDadeCounty for this incredible investment in our youth. These vital partnerships expand opportunities and ensure our students stay active, healthy, and engaged! #YourBestChoiceMDCPS

Proud of the Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative’s progress, adding 25 new soccer pitches at schools ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This partnership with Griffin Catalyst, @MiamiDadeCounty, @MDCPS, and the @ussoccerfndn expands access to safe play spaces for thousands of children. @FWC26Miami

Raising a child with disabilities can come with unique challenges, but families don’t have to navigate them alone. At The Children’s Trust, we are committed to nurturing greatness in every child. From early childhood services to family support and inclusive programs, we are here to help children with disabilities and their caregivers thrive. Learn how we support families across Miami-Dade County and connect them to the resources they need with the link below. thechildrenstrust.org/news/how-the-c… #WeAreTCT

Welcome back to another edition of #TrustTuesday! This week, we are highlighting Ms. Claudia’s Village Academy, an infant through kindergarten day school founded in 2007 in El Portal, FL. The academy also offers after-school programs through 5th grade, tutoring through 3rd grade, and a range of early childhood services. Ms. Claudia and her team have created an environment that fosters academic excellence, character development, and leadership from an early age. Through their mission, students are supported in building self-expression, confidence, and independent thinking. To learn more about Ms. Claudia's Village Academy, and the programs it offers visit msclaudias.com #WeAreTCT #TrustTuesday #MsClaudiaVillageAcademy

We thank Miami's Community Newspapers for shining a light on Miami Lighthouse for the Blind President & CEO Virginia Jacko and her recent accomplishment in being named the recipient of the 2026 Impact Advocate Award by Children's Week. 🏆👏 "The Impact Advocate Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advocating for public policy changes and programs that significantly improve the lives of children, teens, and families. Virginia Jacko, a blind CEO and former financial executive at Purdue University, has spent two decades transforming Miami Lighthouse into a national model for inclusive education and accessible healthcare." 🗞️ Read the rest of the article here ➜ communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/m… 📸 See more photos on the Children's Week website here ➜ childrensweek.org/childrens-week… Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight™! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #ThankYou @communitypapers @ChildrensWeek @JamesRHaj1 @childrenstrust #MiamiLeaders #MiamiCommunity #ImpactAdvocateAward #ChildrensWeek

This past week, our team attended Miami-Dade’s Infants & Toddlers Conference to share information about ElevatEd. ElevatEd is an online learning platform and professional workforce registry designed to support early learning educators through expert-led courses, scholarships, financial awards, and clear career pathways. ElevatEd is a local collaboration between the @ELCMDM and The Children’s Trust, working to strengthen and elevate the early childhood workforce. #WeAreTCT

Discover a supportive community through our Parent Club Pass! 🎫 💚 This rewards initiative recognizes and celebrates parents and caregivers who actively participate in the FREE Parent Club workshops. The Pass provides access to exclusive giveaways, local community and sporting events, concerts, movies, and park passes! 🎶 🏟️ 🎡 Parents or caregivers are eligible for a non-transferable pass upon completing three workshops, with the opportunity to earn up to four passes per participant per year. Each workshop attended earns a participant one credit (one credit per topic). Once they've attended three workshops and completed a survey, they will qualify for the pass. Families must reside in Miami-Dade County. 🏠 🤝 For more information and to register for a workshop near you, visit: TheChildrensTrust.org/ParentClub #WeAreTCT #ParentClubPass #MiamiDadeFamilies

Miami Lighthouse Academy is one-of-a-kind, offering a variety of accredited programs for children from preschool to 3rd grade- 🍎 Free VPK for children who are sighted 🍎 Inclusive preschool for students with visual impairments 🍎 Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade for students who are visually impaired 🏆 Our Academy is an APPLE accredited, Gold Seal Quality Care Program provider. Learn more, register your child, or book an Academy tour here! ➜ MiamiLighthouseAcademy.org Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙🏫 #MiamiLighthouseAcademy Our Academy is made possible with support from: @childrenstrust @ELCMDM @MDCPS @educationfl 🙏 #AccessibilityforAll #InclusiveSchool #VisualImpairment #MiamiLeaders

Swimming and water safety are not extracurricular activities in South Florida, they are foundational life skills. Florida Politics @Fla_Pol recently highlighted the impact EDU Foundation is making in our community through Zero Drownings Miami‑Dade, a countywide initiative dedicated to saving children's lives through water‑safety swim lessons and education. Thanks to strong partnerships, this initiative is helping move Miami‑Dade closer to a future with zero child drownings. Read the full article with the link below: floridapolitics.com/archives/78745… #WeAreTCT #JoinTheZeroChallenge #WaterSafety #EDUFoundation

From tragedy to hope: Edu Foundation and The @ChildrensTrust work toward a community with zero child drownings #FlaPol floridapolitics.com/archives/78745…

To honor Autism Awareness Day, we hope you and your children will join us in an autism-friendly playgroup that is inclusive of all children: 🧩Sensory Movement & Motion Event🧩 next week! 📅 March 30th, 2026, 10am-12pm at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind (601 SW 8th Ave) Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight™! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #TheChildrensTrust @childrenstrust Transportation is available, please contact Amarilis San Pedro 📞 786-362-7484 #CommunityLeaders #Inclusivity #AutismAwarenessDay

The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County’s investment helped 6,000 families access parenting and behavioral health programs, reducing long-term public spending and improving stability in homes. For more information, visit TheChildrensTrust.org/AboutUs #WeAreTCT

Another edition of #TrustTuesday is here! In celebration of #YouthArtMonth, we’re spotlighting All Kids Included, Accessible Arts Experiences for Kids (AKI). This Trust-funded program helps ensure kids of all abilities and their families can fully enjoy inclusive arts and cultural events in schools and the community. Celebrate creativity and inclusion with AKI in Miami-Dade County! For more information about AKI and their events, visit: miamidadearts.org/arts-education… #TrustTuesday #WeAreTCT #YouthArtMonth #AllKidsIncluded #InclusiveArts

Miami Lighthouse Academy students had a blast during our inclusive Beeping Easter Egg Hunt! 🥚🧺🐰🥕 This egg-citing yearly event is created especially for our students who are blind and visually impaired, where the South Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad team up to assemble colorful beeping eggs that our students can find by listening. 👂 To add to the fun, officers also brought a police robot for our students to "meet" for a hands-on opportunity to explore law enforcement technology. 🤖🤝 We thank the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies for their assistance in making this event one to remember. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouseAcademy 🍎 Miami Lighthouse Academy offers APPLE accredited free VPK for children who are sighted and inclusive preschool for students with visual impairments, as well as Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade for students who are visually impaired! 🏆 Our Academy is a fully accredited Gold Seal Quality Care Program provider, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Learn more, register your child, or book an Academy tour here ➜ MiamiLighthouseAcademy.org 📸 To see our photo album from the event, visit facebook.com/share/v/18Njx8… Our Academy is made possible with support from: @thechildrenstrust @elcmdm @miamischools @eseoutreach @mdcps_ese @educationfl 🙏 @SouthFloridaPBA @miamidadepd @mdcps @ELCMDM @EducationFL @childrenstrust @MiamiDade_SO #AccessibilityforAll #Inclusive #VisualImpairment #MiamiLeaders ALT: Photo slideshow featuring moments from the Miami Lighthouse Academy beeping Easter egg hunt: students searching for Easter eggs with the help of their teachers, the Easter Bunny, and visiting officers, as well as photos of students interacting with a robot.