Media Contact Tony Thiessen, tony.theissen@rbbcommunications.com,

NEWS RELEASE | FOR PUBLICATION MONDAY MAY 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Coral Gables Community Foundation Awards Record $3.275 Million in Scholarships to Local Students

Donor-directed funds celebrate the academic excellence of 144 students across Miami-Dade County

CORAL GABLES, FL (May 5, 2025) – The Coral Gables Community Foundation has reached a powerful milestone in its 34-year history, awarding a record-breaking $3.275 million in college scholarships to 144 students through its 2025 Scholarship Program. These awards, made possible by the Foundation’s generous donors, are more than financial gifts—they are investments in the futures of students from Coral Gables and across Miami-Dade County.

At the Foundation’s annual Scholarship Awards Reception on May 5th at the University of Miami’s Shalala Student Activities Center, 207 scholarship awards were presented to students from 76 high schools, representing the Foundation’s most significant single-year distribution to date. These scholarships were made possible through 24 unique donor-directed scholarship funds, allowing contributors to support the causes and communities that matter most to them.

“This historic year for the Scholarship Program is a reminder of what’s possible when passionate donors come together to uplift the next generation,” said Michael Walsh, Chair of the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Board. “Every dollar awarded reflects someone’s belief in the power of education, and in these students’ potential to lead, give back, and change the world.”

The impact of the Foundation’s donors was especially felt this year through a transformational $2.88 million gift from the Stamps Family. The Stamps Family generously awarded $20,000 scholarships to the top two academic performers at each of Miami-Dade’s 64 public high schools and eight Catholic high schools. Each award is paid in four annual installments.

“We believe deeply in the power of education to transform lives, and we’re proud to support—in partnership with the Coral Gables Community Foundation—these exceptional students as they take the next step toward achieving their dreams,” said Mary Snow, Executive Director of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, who joined the Community Foundation in presenting the awards to students. Snow is the former President and CEO of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, where she served for 11 years.

More than 800 applications were submitted by students from schools in several states, a testament to the growing reputation and reach of the Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Since its founding in 1991, the Foundation has awarded a cumulative total of 694 scholarships with a total value of $6.28 million, supporting local students, community initiatives, and philanthropic causes.

“At the Coral Gables Community Foundation, we believe that investing in education is the most powerful way to shape a brighter future,” said Matthew Meehan, Chair of the Scholarship Committee and Board Member. “This year’s scholars represent the promise and potential of the next generation, and it is thanks to the generosity of our donors that they can move forward with purpose, confidence, and the tools to make a lasting impact on the world.”

This year’s 207 scholarship awards are made possible by the generosity of donors to 24 unique scholarship funds: 1980 Cavaliers Boys Soccer State Championship Scholarship in Memory of Team Captain Bruce Hayes; Coco Plum Woman’s Club Scholarship in Memory of Max Gruver; Coral Gables Bar Association Ernest Gonzalez Scholarship; Coral Gables Culinary Arts Scholarship; Grant and Bridget Daugherty Nursing Scholarship; Dr. Thomas E. Deal Scholarship; Garcia Perseverance Scholarship;  Erickson & Zoellers Engineering Scholarship; Robert & Marian Fewell Scholarship; High-Achieving Scholarship; Kerdyk Family Trust Music Scholarship; Ralph V. Moore Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence;  Julian Perez Memorial Scholarship; Dave Ragan Jr. Golf Scholarship; Rotary Club of Coral Gables Scholarship; Shine Bright Scholarship;  Jeannett Slesnick Community Spirit Scholarship; Stamps Family Scholarship; Luke Sturgill Memorial Scholarship; Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship; Walter & Alma Vogel Memorial Scholarship; Zubizarreta First-Generation Scholarship; and the Mitchell Zuñiga Scholarship. The Community Foundation’s flagship educational award is the Coral Gables Community Foundation Scholarship.

After the event, student names will published on the Community Foundation website.  For more information about the Scholarship Program and how to apply, visit www.GablesFoundation.org.

ABOUT THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Established in 1991, the Coral Gables Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization at the heart of charitable giving in Coral Gables. The Community Foundation is dedicated to driving impactful philanthropy that enhances the quality of life in the community. Investing over $20 million into the community for 34 years and currently managing over $15 million in assets, the Community Foundation is a trusted entity for delivering nimble and powerful philanthropy via partnerships and donor-advised funds.

 

The Coral Gables Community Foundation serves as a grantmaking charity, supporting local nonprofits that support issues within its focus areas: education, arts & culture, historic preservation and social & health services. Through its discretionary, donor-advised and scholarship funds, the Foundation has awarded over $20 million in scholarships and grants, including $5 million in 2024 alone.

 

To learn more about the many ways to partner with the Coral Gables Community Foundation and be a part of its nimble, powerful philanthropy, visit www.gablesfoundation.org.

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