History

Helping children get off to their best possible start in life has always been a priority of United Way of Miami-Dade. Beginning with its founding years, United Way has invested significant resources to children’s services, ranging from prenatal programs to child care programs to health and nutrition programs. United Way elevated its commitment to children in the early 1990s with its Success By 6 program. In the late 1990s, United Way took its vision to the next level when the idea of a national United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education was first born. The dream was for a state-of-the-art best practices teaching and learning facility that would change how we deliver early care and education in Miami-Dade and beyond.

The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education officially opened its doors for Miami-Dade children on January 8, 2007. Today, the Center serves as a national model for adult learners—parents, educators, business leaders and researchers who are committed to elevating the quality of early education. Each month, hundreds of adults pass through the doors of the Center, observing and learning and taking with them best practices to implement in their own communities. At the same time, approximately 130 children ages six weeks to five years are receiving the best available care and education.

1999:

United Way conceives the idea of an onsite childcare center focusing on early care and education, and where adults can be taught best practices for teaching young children how to learn
United Way President and CEO Harve Mogul and Board Member David Lawrence, plus others, travel to Paris to explore its childcare system. Upon their return, the idea for the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education is born.

1999/2000:

An RFP is distributed for the Center’s design and construction.

2000-2001:

A management company and contractor are hired, and planning begins for design and construction.

2002:

A task force is assembled to develop the Center’s best practices for adult learners, including the vision for the Resource Library and Training Center.
Board votes to begin construction once pledges cover 80% of the construction and start-up costs.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida pledges $1 million to the Center’s health program.

2003:

City of Miami zoning board gives Center approval, and City of Miami Commission approves its revised site plan.

2004:

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises donate $2.5 million as the naming sponsor of the Demonstration School building.
Batchelor Foundation pledges a total of $6 million to the United Way campus, and makes its first payment of $2.5 million to the project.
The Soffer Family donates $1 million to the Center.
With a $5 million donation, Gerry and Bennett LeBow provide the seed money to create a $50 million endowment for the Center.

2005:

A national advisory board of experts in early care and education is recruited.
United Way receives a $1.5 million gift for the Children’s Advocacy Complex from Miguel “Mike” Fernandez.
February 15: Groundbreaking celebration for the Center takes place.
Construction begins in June.

2007:

January 8: United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education opens.