Achieve Miami teamed up with Amazon to host a special holiday edition event as part of the nonprofit’s revamped ongoing weekend program for low-income students across Miami-Dade County. The education nonprofit’s Achieve SPARK (Succeeding with Purpose, Athletics, Reading, and Kindness), is a bi-weekly weekend enrichment program for low-income elementary students from Title 1 schools across the county. Formerly known as Achieve Saturdays, the initiative launched this fall as a reimagined version of the nonprofit’s long-standing weekend program. The refreshed model expands on original programming by incorporating wellness, athletics, themed enrichment days, and mentorship from high school volunteers known as “Big Buddies.” Now operating at five school sites across Miami-Dade County, the biweekly program creates structured learning experiences geared to help students build confidence and stay engaged throughout the school year. By bringing together students, educators, and community partners – like Amazon – the nonprofit continues to break down barriers to educational equity and expand access to meaningful learning experiences, said Rachel Saiontz Geary, Achieve Miami’s director of philanthropy. “Moments like these remind students that their community is behind them,” she said. “The holidays can be a tough time for many families, and we aim to help equalize opportunities wherever we can, both in the classroom and in the experiences that shape a child’s sense of belonging. Support from organizations like Amazon allows us to continue expanding these opportunities for students across Miami-Dade.” Miami Gardens’ Brentwood Elementary School was transformed into a North Pole celebration complete with holiday-themed activities, enrichment experiences, and mentorship sessions. At the conclusion of the event, Amazon sponsored a gift distribution for participating students. In addition to fulfilling Achieve Miami’s holiday wish list, Amazon contributed $25,000 in support of Achieve SPARK programming, which will help expand access to learning opportunities for students throughout the school year. Since its founding in 2015, Achieve Miami has served more than 15,000 students through weekend, summer and year-round enrichment programs. The nonprofit partners with schools across Miami-Dade, offering onsite services to thousands of students from marginalized backgrounds in low-income neighborhoods. Over the past ten years, the organization has grown from a small initiative to reach thousands of students every year across 18 program sites or neighborhoods. “Education and community investment are core priorities for Amazon, and organizations like Achieve Miami are doing remarkable work to equalize opportunities for students across Miami-Dade County,” said Giovanni Castro, head of public policy for Amazon in Florida. The post Achieve Miami partners with Amazon on weekend program appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less