MIAMI, May 22, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Cristo Rey Miami High School, South Florida's only college-and-career
preparatory high school exclusively serving students from families
with limited economic resources, is thrilled to announce a
significant stride towards completing its campus expansion. With
the generous
support of South Florida's philanthropic leaders, the school is celebrating a major milestone in its "Built
for the Future" capital campaign, reaching 90% of its $16 million goal.
"As we celebrate meeting this significant goal in our capital
campaign, we extend our deepest gratitude to our donors, partners,
and the entire South Florida
community," said Amelie Ferro, President and CEO,
Cristo Rey Miami High School.
Continuing its trajectory of growth and excellence, Cristo Rey
Miami High School is proud to announce a transformative gift of
$2.1 million from Griffin Catalyst,
the civic engagement initiative of Citadel Founder and CEO
Kenneth C. Griffin. This generous donation supports the
construction of a 38,000 square-foot academic building necessary to
accommodate a full student body of approximately 425 students and
lays the groundwork for future strategic endeavors.
Griffin Catalyst's donation serves as a testament to the success
of Cristo Rey's education model.
With students attending college
at higher rates than any other socio-demographic group and graduating from
college at two times the rate of their peer group, Cristo Rey
schools equip students from low-income backgrounds to excel in
college and beyond.
"By providing high-quality, college-preparatory education,
particularly for underserved communities, Cristo
Rey Miami High School is changing lives,"
said Griffin. "I am honored
to support its innovative integration of
academics with work experience to empower students with the skills
they need to be successful."
The success of Cristo Rey Miami capital campaign would not be
possible without the generous support of South Florida's donor community. Key
supporters such as the Miguel B. Fernandez Family Foundation, the
Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, and the Smith and Shay families have
played a pivotal role in realizing the school's vision,
demonstrating a shared commitment to empowering future generations
through education. "Together, we are building a brighter future for
our students, empowering them to realize their full potential and
become leaders of tomorrow." said Amelie Ferro.
For
more information on Cristo Rey Miami High School, please
visit www.cristoreymiami.org.
About Cristo Rey Miami
In July 2022, Cristo Rey Miami High
School opened in North Miami and
will serve over 400 students by 2025 across 9th-12th grades. Cristo
Rey Miami is the 39th member of a nationwide network of private,
Catholic schools utilizing an innovative educational model that
combines rigorous academics with professional work experience. It
is the only college-and-career preparatory high school in
Miami exclusively providing
hard-working students from families with limited resources a clear
pathway through education to economic success. For the 2023-24
school year, Cristo Rey Miami welcomed a second class, increasing
to 146 total enrollment across the 9th and 10th grades.
Cristo Rey Miami prepares students to enter and graduate
from college by providing transformative learning opportunities
both in the classroom and in corporate offices across Miami. A key element to the curriculum is the
four-year, integrated Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP).
Beginning freshman year, every student takes a full load of college
preparatory coursework while also working five days each month in a
professional office setting. The CWSP enables students to earn and
pay for more than half of their tuition, gain professional work
experience, cultivate a strong network of relationships, and
realize the relevance of higher education to career goals.
The Cristo Rey model has proven highly successful, graduating 25,800 students
nationwide. Cristo Rey students enroll in college at
higher rates than high- and low-income populations and earn a
bachelor's degree at twice the rate of their peers.
About Griffin Catalyst
Griffin Catalyst is the civic
engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, encompassing his philanthropic and
community impact efforts. Tackling the world's greatest challenges
in innovative, action-oriented, and evidence-driven ways,
Griffin Catalyst is dedicated to expanding opportunity and
improving lives across six areas of focus: Education, Science &
Medicine, Upward Mobility, Freedom & Democracy, Enterprise
& Innovation, and Communities. For more information,
visit griffincatalyst.org.
Contact Information:
Katherine Connell, Director of
Development
Cristo Rey Miami High School
kconnell@cristoreymiami.org; 786-708-2015
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SOURCE Cristo Rey Miami High School