College launches giving period, reveals campus event dates and $1.66 million fundraising goal<\/p>\n
MIAMI, Fla. (August 14, 2026) \u2013 Miami Dade College (MDC) announced the return of its annual \u201cI AM MDC\u201d celebration, expanding this year\u2019s signature campaign into a month-long series of campus events, community activations, and fundraising initiatives in honor of the College\u2019s 66th anniversary.<\/p>\n
More than a celebration, \u201cI AM MDC\u201d is a movement that brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and community partners to celebrate the College\u2019s legacy while investing in its future. Every dollar raised helps remove financial barriers for students through scholarships and essential resources, ensuring more students have the opportunity to achieve their educational and career goals. That support includes MDC\u2019s Honors College, along with the Presidential and Rising Scholars programs.<\/p>\n
Following last year\u2019s record breaking \u201cI AM MDC\u201d day where more than $1 million was raised, MDC has set an equally ambitious goal for 2026: $1.66 million raised, a reflection of the College\u2019s 66 years of impact and its 2.5 million alumni community.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery student who walks through our doors carries a dream,\u201d said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. \u201cI AM MDC is a celebration of what MDC has always stood for: access, opportunity, and the belief that education can transform a life. It\u2019s one day. One College. And infinite impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI AM MDC\u201d celebrations will run from August 15 through September 30. At the center of \u201cI AM MDC\u201d month is \u201cI AM MDC\u201d day on Sunday, September 6, the anniversary of the day Miami Dade College first opened its doors. This year, the celebration will be held at Loan Depot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, for a one-of-a-kind community event bringing together MDC students, alumni, donors, and fans for a day of giving and recognition.<\/p>\n
Beyond September 6, \u201cI AM MDC\u201d month features free events at all eight campuses, each spotlighting the unique programs, students, and community that make that campus distinct:<\/p>\n
Saturday, August 15 \u2013 Hialeah Campus Kids and Family Festival (10 am \u2013 2 pm)
\nSaturday, August 29 \u2013 Padron Campus Celebrando Juntos (10 am \u2013 2 pm)
\nWednesday, September 2 \u2013 Wolfson Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)
\nThursday, September 3 \u2013 Medical Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)
\nSunday, September 6 \u2013 I AM MDC Day at Loan Depot Park (1:40pm)
\nWednesday, September 9 \u2013 North Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)
\nThursday, September 10 \u2013 Homestead Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)
\nWednesday, September 16 \u2013 West Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)
\nWednesday, September 23 \u2013 Kendall Campus (11:30am \u2013 1pm)<\/p>\n
Since its launch in 2016, \u201cI AM MDC\u201d has grown into Miami Dade College\u2019s signature celebration of philanthropy, pride, and community. More than an annual fundraising campaign, it is a powerful reflection of the College\u2019s enduring mission to open doors of opportunity, expand economic mobility, and transform lives through education. Every dollar raised supports student scholarships, emergency assistance, academic programs, and other initiatives that empower more than 125,000 students to persist, graduate, and achieve their dreams.<\/p>\n
\u201cI AM MDC\u201d honors the College\u2019s remarkable legacy while investing in its future. Over the past 66 years, MDC has grown from a single campus serving a few hundred students into the largest and one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in the nation, with more than 2.5 million alumni. What began with the College\u2019s first graduating class of approximately 200 students in 1962 has evolved into an institution that now celebrates more than 15,000 graduates annually. As Miami Dade College continues to transform lives across generations, \u201cI AM MDC\u201d serves as a rallying call for alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and the community to ensure today\u2019s students have the same life-changing opportunities for decades to come.<\/p>\n