Branches

💙 Thank you to the Citi Foundation for bringing us together in Chicago for the Community Progress Makers Convening!

As a Community Progress Makers awardee, Branches was grateful for the opportunity to connect with fellow nonprofit leaders, exchange ideas and experiences, and explore new ways to strengthen our work in the communities we serve. 🤝🏽✨

We extend our deepest gratitude to Brandee McHale, Head of Community Investing and Development at Citi and President of the Citi Foundation, for her leadership and continued commitment to strengthening communities. We are incredibly grateful for the Citi Foundation’s investment in Branches and the families we serve. 💙👏🏽

A special thank you as well to Citi Foundation Program Officers Charlotte Gauthier, Kenya Bryant, Marco Chavarin, and Zebradedra Hunter, and to Mariana Furchi Sly, for their support, guidance, and for making this experience so meaningful.

Thank you, Citi Foundation, for continuing to believe in and invest in this important work. 💚✨

☀️🏆 We have some exciting news to share!

Branches’ Summer Shade Camp has received the New York Life Foundation Excellence in Summer Learning Award from the National Summer Learning Association! 🎉💚

This recognition celebrates summer programs that keep children and youth safe, engaged, and learning. Through Summer Shade Camp, our students continue building skills, exploring their interests, and creating lasting memories all summer long. 📚☀️✨

We’re incredibly proud of our students, camp guides, staff, families, volunteers, and partners who make it all possible! 👏🏽💚

Thank you to the National Summer Learning Association and New York Life Foundation for recognizing the impact of Summer Shade Camp! 🏆

💻✨ Helping small business owners work smarter and grow with technology!

Our Genesis Digital Transformation Program for Entrepreneurs brought local micro and small business owners together for hands-on learning focused on AI, digital tools, and practical strategies they can put to work in their businesses. 🚀📈

Participants gained access to technology, resources, and step-by-step guidance designed to help them strengthen their businesses and confidently navigate an increasingly digital world. 🤖💼

A special THANK YOU to JPMorganChase for making this workshop series possible and for investing in the growth and success of Miami-Dade’s small business community! 👏🏽💙

September was filled with opportunities to connect, learn, give back, and strengthen our community! 💚🌟 From supporting our students to connecting with nonprofit and business leaders across South Florida, here’s a look at some of this month’s highlights.

Junior League of Miami volunteers joined us at Branches South Miami to prepare 100 snack packs for our students, helping provide snacks for them while they participate in programs at Branches. 🍎💚

We joined The Coral Gables Chamber Of Commerce for its Trustee Pinning Ceremony, celebrating community leadership and connecting with fellow organizations and leaders from across our community. 🤝

Our team participated in The Miami Foundation’s SET Summit as we prepare for Give Miami Day! The day brought nonprofits together for workshops focused on fundraising strategy, donor engagement, communications, and campaign planning. 💡

Branches Board Member Jack Edwards visited Branches Florida City to share his firsthand experience of being in New York City on September 11, 2001, giving our Climb students an opportunity to hear his personal story and reflect on this important moment in our nation’s history. 🇺🇸

Our Micro-Business Program Director joined JPMorganChase’s Community Advisory Panel, contributing to a conversation about small business growth, entrepreneurship, emerging needs, and opportunities to better support entrepreneurs across South Florida. 💼

Members of our team also represented Branches at the Miami Marlins’ Women Empowerment Night, connecting with and hearing from women leaders from across South Florida during an inspiring pregame panel. ⚾️✨

We’re grateful for another month of meaningful connections and opportunities to learn, serve, and represent Branches throughout our community. Thank you to everyone who was part of it! 💚

A milestone worth celebrating! And we LOVE celebrating all of our Branches families milestones!!! 💚

When Judith began financial coaching with Branches in 2025, she had never had the opportunity to establish a credit history. Through consistent coaching and access to financial resources, she has now built her credit to 677 and was recently approved for her very first credit card! 🎉👏🏽

Judith continues to work with her Branches Financial Coach toward her goals of finding a better home for her family and eventually purchasing a better car. 🏡🚗

Her journey is a powerful example of how financial coaching can open doors to new opportunities and help families work toward long-term financial wellness.

A special thank you to United Way Miami for supporting Branches’ Financial Wellness programs and helping make stories like Judith’s possible.

💚 We are incredibly grateful to the Citi Foundation for a $500,000 grant to support Branches’ Build to Thrive program! 🎉👏🏽

Branches was selected as one of 70 community organizations across the U.S. to receive funding through the Citi Foundation’s 2026 Community Finance Initiative, supporting organizations helping families strengthen their financial resilience and pursue greater economic opportunity.

Through Build to Thrive, Branches will continue providing individuals and families with trusted financial coaching and practical tools to build savings, reduce debt, strengthen credit, access safe banking, and work toward long-term financial wellness. 💰📈🏦

Thank you, Citi Foundation, for this incredible investment in the families we serve and for helping us expand access to the tools and support that can make a lasting difference across generations. 💚✨

💚 THANK YOU to the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation for supporting Branches so together we can help children and families build brighter futures! 👏🏽✨

Your generous support is helping Branches accelerate the transformation of our organizational capacity by investing in technology, providing professional development for staff, and improving our organizational sustainability. 📚🎓💰 We are so grateful for your continued investment in our Miami community! 💚