On May 18, The Education Fund will host an art auction where every item was created by a Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) student or teacher for this event.
The Education Fund’s For the Love of Art Charity Auction and Honoree Celebration, presented by Ocean Bank, will bring the community together for an evening of original artwork, live music, an open bar, and recognition of successful alumni of Miami-Dade Public Schools.
All proceeds benefit arts education and The Education Fund Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials, which has provided more than $32 million in free supplies to public school classrooms since 1993.
“Every resource we bring to Miami-Dade County Public Schools starts with a private-sector commitment to public education,” said Linda Lecht, President of The Education Fund.
“Businesses donate supplies, teachers and students create extraordinary art, and the proceeds go right back into the classroom.”
“The Art of Found Objects program is a remarkable example of what happens when the community invests in public school students,” said Dr. Jose L. Dotres, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Because Ocean Bank’s longstanding support of The Education Fund, our teachers have access to free supplies, and our students have the opportunity to develop as artists. That kind of investment changes what is possible in a Miami-Dade classroom.”
For the Love of Art is presented by Ocean Bank (Member FDIC), with major support from Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Amazon, The Kirk Foundation, Peacock Foundation, Inc., Knight Foundation, Ken O’Keefe and Jason Stephens, South Florida Business Journal, and Miami Herald.
The evening will also celebrate outstanding graduates of Miami-Dade public schools. The 2026 Public School Alumni Achievement Honorees are:
● Hector Aguililla, Principal, Baker Tilly
● Dr. Dawn M. Baglos, Chief Human Capital Officer, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
● Farah Bridges, Director of Litigation, Cleveland Clinic
● Ana Marie Cain, CRA Specialist, Bradesco Bank
● David J. Clark, SVP of Operations, Broward Health
● Dr. Carmen Concepcion, Dean, School of Education, Miami Dade College
● Curtis J. Crider, President & CEO, Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association
● Karen Shosfy, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, Paramount
● Lawrence Kaplan, Former President, Lawrence Factor Inc.
● Yara Klukas, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida
● Alex Mena, Executive Editor, Miami Herald / el Nuevo Herald
● Grant Miller, Owner and Publisher, Miami’s Community Newspapers
● Yolanda Nader, CEO/CFO, Dosal Tobacco Corporation
● Ken O’Keefe, Founder, Hudson Randolph LLC
● Emma Pacetti, Executive Vice President, Grove Bank & Trust
● Jose Sirven, Partner, Holland & Knight
● Randall Vitale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vitale Partners
Sponsorships are available through May 11. Tickets at educationfund.org/artauction.
The Education Fund’s For the Love of Art Charity Auction and Honoree Celebration will take place on Monday, May 18, at 5:00 p.m., at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, FL 33132.
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