Considered one of the biggest annual giving events in the Southeastern U.S., Give Miami Day is held on November 21—for 24 hours—and is a day where anyone can be a philanthropist. With the focus on donations and breaking records, Give Miami Day allows all funds donated to a participating organization to be used for specific programs or general operating support—anywhere that makes the biggest impact.

The best part about Give Miami Day, besides uplifting vital causes? There is the opportunity for nonprofits to break records of donations with the Bonus Pool percentage match, where dollars the community donates can be stretched. This is donated when the day is over by the hosting organization, The Miami Foundation. Another level of excitement for these nonprofits is the prize opportunities where your favorite organization can win additional funds for receiving record donations during specific times.

For decades, Aventura Mall has been deeply committed to fostering a sense of community and giving back to those in need, making philanthropy a cornerstone of our mission. This Give Miami Day, we’re honored to champion the efforts of four incredible organizations: Achieve Miami, Best Buddies, Humane Society of Greater Miami, and Voices for Children.

Their unwavering dedication and impact do not go unnoticed, and we’re proud to amplify their voices and causes. We recently connected with each organization to learn more about how Give Miami Day fuels their missions—and how your generosity can directly transform the lives of community members.

Since 2015, Achieve Miami has made a positive impact in the lives of more than 10,000 students across 17 South Florida communities thanks to generous donors. Click here to donate via the Achieve Miami Give Miami Day page.

Mission: Achieve Miami seeks to close opportunity gaps for students throughout Miami-Dade by providing meaningful educational and enrichment programs that demonstrate the power of students learning with and from each other. We attract, develop, connect, and mobilize talented leaders of all ages and backgrounds to serve students in a way that creates social change.

What is one thing you wish people knew about Achieve Miami?
Achieve Miami (AM): Achieve Miami is more than just programs—we’re a community. We bring together students from all backgrounds and give them the tools, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed, not just academically, but in life. The bonds formed here between students, educators, and volunteers are truly powerful.

Why should people donate to Achieve Miami?
AM: People should donate to Achieve Miami because their support directly transforms the lives of students all across Miami. Every donation helps close opportunity gaps, provides critical resources, and creates meaningful opportunities for students who need them most. Every contribution ensures that we can continue offering life-changing programs that equip students with the skills and confidence to achieve in their futures.

What impact have you made with Aventura Mall’s support?
AM: Aventura Mall’s partnership has been instrumental in helping us reach more supporters and donors, significantly amplifying our impact. With their support, we’ve been able to connect with a broader community of advocates by hosting events like our “Fashion and Philanthropy” luncheon. Additionally, Aventura Mall has helped us provide our Achieve Scholars with the fantastic “Best Look Forward” event every summer for the past 7 years. This event not only equips our students with professional attire, but also prepares them for success in their academic and professional interviews, making a lasting impact on their confidence and future opportunities.

Your goal for Give Miami Day 2024 is $750,000. What will those donations be used for? What impact will be made with this amount?
AM: The $750,000 we aim to raise will directly support our year-round programs, including Achieve Saturdays, Achieve Scholars, Achieve Music, and our Achieve Summer program. These funds will allow us to expand our reach to serve more students, offer additional educational resources, and provide mentorship and leadership development opportunities. With this amount, we can expand our programs to more communities, creating more equitable educational experiences across Miami to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the chance to thrive.

For nearly 90 years, the Humane Society of Greater Miami has been helping homeless animals in Miami-Dade County through its efforts to educate, inform, and inspire people to care responsibly for their pets and treat them with the kindness they deserve. Click here to donate via the Humane Society of Greater Miami Give Miami Day page.

Mission: The Humane Society of Greater Miami is a limited admit, adoption guarantee facility dedicated to placing every dog and cat in our care into a loving home, and to promoting responsible pet ownership and spay/neuter programs. Adoption guarantee means that every animal that is admitted to our shelter is free from the threat of euthanasia due to time, space, or treatable medical issues. We provide shelter, food, veterinary care, and plenty of TLC while the dogs and cats wait for their permanent home, no matter how long it takes.

What is one thing you wish people knew about the Humane Society of Greater Miami?
Humane Society of Greater Miami (HSGM): We are not affiliated with the Humane Society of the U.S. We do not receive any funding from them and are a completely separate entity. They do lobbying; we do local work. All the money we raise goes directly to animals, from donations, grants, events, and more. We take in an animal and we look at it in a holistic approach. If a dog gets adopted and then returned, what do they need mental health-wise? Do they need enrichment or behavior training? We help them the most while they’re with us. They never run out of time and have as long as they need with us. We put so much into the animals; it’s not only about telling people their stories, but we know them and what they do well with and what they don’t. It’s important to us that they leave better than they came in.

Why should people give to the Humane Society of Greater Miami?
HSGM: The work that we do and the passion that the staff puts into this work is truly evident. We are a community resource. We’re not just here for the animals; we’re here for people that love animals, too. We have services like a low-cost clinic, a community pantry that you can get supplies for your pet, a community pet support program with boarding services, and more. The goal is always to keep people with their animals, so we try to be a resource for people as well.

What impact have you made with Aventura Mall’s support?
HSGM: Aventura Mall’s support has been incredible for us. When people hear the word outreach, that’s what emergency organizations do. It’s not so much about adoption, but the exposure we receive. The Aventura Mall team has created a permanent pop-up where we get a lot of adoptions… the community expects us to be there now. Maybe we take a dog to one of these events and someone will call us a few days later asking about the dog. When guests are in the mall shopping, they can even come and spend time with the dogs, adopt them, or just spread the word in the community. The way Aventura Mall has supported us is very thoughtful, keeping us in mind every step of the way. Getting animals adopted is a priority for them as well.

Your goal for Give Miami Day 2024 is $150,000. What will those donations be used for? What impact will be made with this amount?
HSGM: The amazing thing about Give Miami Day is that they don’t restrict where donations go. We’ll be using these donations for operating dollars—that means it goes wherever we need help to cover everything from training to equipment for the medical team to vet care and upkeep of our building. Being able to bring these dollars in allows us to put them where the need is greatest, and that is constantly changing.

Miami is in a crisis right now. We have way more animals than adopters. Not that there are no people, but times are tough financially. Whether it’s from us or somebody else, adopt. Foster. Or donate! Spread the word. Every single step a person takes for an animal organization is saving the lives of two animals—the one you save and the one that’s coming in.

Voices of Children has provided advocacy, essential needs, and positive experiences to more than 45,000 children in the foster care system since 1984. Click here to donate via the Voices of Children Give Miami Day page.

Mission: Voices For Children Foundation, Inc. is a beacon of hope for abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth in the Miami-Dade County foster care system. We do this by providing critical support for advocacy, essential needs and positive experiences.

What is one thing you wish people knew about Voices for Children?
Voices For Children (VFC): We provide vital support to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Miami-Dade County foster care by connecting them with Guardians ad Litem and essential resources. Our organization also provides children with access to essential resources, such as clothing, food, and positive experiences. We believe that every child deserves to have a safe and supportive environment, and we are committed to providing them with the resources they need to thrive.

Why should people give to Voices for Children?
VFC: People should give to Voices for Children because their donations directly support our mission to provide critical support for advocacy, essential needs, and positive experiences for children in foster care. By giving, you’re investing in the lives of vulnerable children and helping to create a brighter future for them.

What impact have you made with Aventura Mall’s support?
VFC: Aventura Mall’s generous support has been instrumental in helping us expand our services and reach more children in need. The proceeds from their annual Gift Wrap Station that started in 2021 along with the gifts donated through the Angel Tree Program have granted the wishes and dreams of hundreds of children in foster care during the holiday season. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership.

Your goal for Give Miami Day 2024 is $65,000. What will those donations be used for? What impact will be made with this amount?
VFC: Donations received on Give Miami Day will be used to support and fund our programs and efforts that promote positive experiences and development. With this $65,000, we can help ensure that more children have access to basic needs like hygiene products, dignity items like new school uniforms and braces, and have positive experiences to help them thrive.

Best Buddies in Florida has impacted more than 111,600 lives across 30 counties in the state with its programming and support, including friendships, employment and leadership development opportunities, and its inclusive living program. Click here to donate via the Best Buddies Give Miami Day page.

Mission: Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What is one thing you wish people knew about Best Buddies in Florida?
Best Buddies (BB): We wish people knew that we provide free support to families and that we serve individuals with intellectual and developmental needs.

Why should people give to Best Buddies in Florida?
BB: The monies that are donated to Best Buddies support all of our program pillars locally, and afford us the opportunity to provide the services for free to families in need.

What impact have you made with Aventura Mall’s support?
BB: Throughout the years, Aventura Mall has not only helped us share our mission with so many individuals, but they’ve also fundraised in excess of $150,000+. The partnership with Aventura Mall has allowed us to serve more than 50 schools in Miami-Dade County and develop more than 100 individuals with special needs annually to be ready to go into the workforce.

Your goal for Give Miami Day 2024 is $50,000. What will those donations be used for? What impact will be made with this amount?
BB: These funds will go strictly to our programs in South Florida. It will go to where needed most overall!