Miami Bayside Foundation

Today, we are proud to highlight Marie Bastien, a 2026 recipient of our Pam Weller/M-DCPS Scholarship. Marie Bastien, will attend Florida International University to pursue a degree in Biological Science.

MBF awarded 28 scholarships to 28 high school students from the City of Miami in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Each recipient will receive $1,000 to support their post-secondary education and is eligible for an additional $1,000 scholarship annually for up to four years.

Read what Marie Bastien has to say about the impact our scholarship has had on her educational journey:
"Receiving the Miami Bayside Foundation Scholarship brings me one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a dentist and creating a future that once felt out of reach. This support will not only ease the financial burden of college but also reminds me that my hard work, resilience, and passion for helping others are recognized and valued."

We wish Marie Bastien the best of luck in her educational pursuits!

Learn more about MBF scholarship programs, visit:
https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/scholarships/

Looking to grow your business but need capital to make it happen?

The MBF Loan Program offers businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties up to $250,000 at 6% interest with 5-year terms. To help you launch, expand, or stabilize your business.

Learn more about MBF's loan program here www.miamibaysidefoundation.org

Today we are proud to highlight Alech Consultants LLC.

They are a marketing firm specializing in marketing management services to small businesses in the legal, financial, and leadership coaching industries. They aim to provide exceptional marketing services and educational resources that empower small businesses to achieve their marketing goals and drive business growth.

MBF’s loan program aims to stimulate economic development in South Florida through the support of small businesses growth and education. Through the MBF Small Business Loan Program, we have disbursed over $19.6 million in loans and aided in the creation of more than 500 jobs. MBF remains steadfast in its commitment to offer small businesses access to capital.

To learn more about this program, please visit https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/loan-programs/.

At MBF, we encourage small businesses to use email marketing strategically to strengthen customer relationships, improve communication, and support long-term growth.

We spoke with Macarena Zilveti, owner of Zilveti Communications, for insight and 5 simple email marketing tips that you can implement TODAY to help move the needle for your business.

1. Write Better Subject Lines: Keep subject lines short, clear, personalized, and focused on your audience.

2. Improve Your List Segmentation: Group your audience by categories, interests, or customer needs to send more relevant emails.

3. Deliver What Your Subject Line Promised: Make sure the content inside your email matches the message in your subject line.

4. Write a Strong Call-To-Action: Clearly tell your audience what action to take and create urgency when appropriate.

5. Focus on Good Content: Keep your email focused on one message, avoid excessive CAPITALIZATION, and personalize when possible.

Following these simple and concise tips can change your email marketing game for the better.

If you're looking for more insights, reach out to connect with Macarena for expert advice.

Today we highlight one of our borrowers, Hat Attack, Inc. - D.B.A. "I Luv Miami."

Established in Miami in 1995, Hat Attack Inc. offers a diverse selection of sports-themed baseball caps, straw hats, and novelty hats. The business was rebranded to "I Luv Miami" after broadening its services to incorporate customized Miami hats and souvenirs. It has been transformed into a souvenir shop that carries an all-inclusive collection of MIAMI apparel and souvenirs, all while offering rentals of exotic and slingshot cars.

MBF’s loan program aims to stimulate economic development in South Florida through the support of small businesses growth and education. Through the MBF Small Business Loan Program, we have disbursed over $19.6 million in loans and aided in the creation of more than 500 jobs. MBF remains steadfast in its commitment to offer small businesses access to capital.

To learn more about this program, please visit https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/loan-programs/.

MBF is proud to have supported the Little Haiti Optimist Club for the last 10 years. The Little Haiti Optimist Club provides programs to the youth of Little Haiti to promote academic and life excellence. Their mission is to make a difference in the lives of youth by providing education, mentorship, athletics, and arts and cultural programming.

MBF is proud to support The Little Haiti Optimist Club Summer Camp. The camp provides a safe and nurturing environment for 45 children aged 6 to 12 through eight weeks of high-quality summer education. The Little Haiti Optimist Club’s Summer Camp focuses on keeping kids’ skills sharp, friendships strong, and bodies moving.

For more information about Little Haiti Optimist Club, visit http://www.littlehaitioptimist.org/.

Today we highlight Concierge Auto Transport LLC from our MBF Loan Program.

In 2017, MBF was proud to fund the first of two loans to Concierge Auto Transport LLC. Here is what Evan Leaphart, owner, had to say about the impact of our support.

“MBF is one of Miami’s top programs for small business owners. I have operated an auto transport business for years, and it was MBF that provided the capital and mentorship I needed to take my business to profitability.” -

MBF advances economic development in South Florida by providing support to minority-owned businesses and education. Through the MBF Small Business Loan Program, we have disbursed over $19.2 million in loans and aided in the creation of more than 500 jobs. MBF remains steadfast in its commitment to offer minority-owned businesses access to capital.

To learn more about this program, please visit https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/loan-programs/.

Today, we are proud to highlight the 2026 recipients of our Pam Weller/M-DCPS Scholarship. MBF awarded scholarships to 28 students in the City of Miami from seven local high schools in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Each recipient will receive $1,000 to support their post-secondary education. Additionally, recipients are eligible for an additional $1,000 scholarship annually for up to four years.

This scholarship program, established by the Miami Bayside Foundation, has been supporting students for thirteen years.

The scholarship recipients represent the following schools - Booker T. Washington Senior High School, Coral Gables Senior High School, Miami Edison Senior High School, Miami Jackson Senior High School, New World School of the Arts, School for Advanced Studies – Wolfson campus, and Young Women's Prep.

We wish all our recipients the best of luck in their educational pursuits!

A mother’s love, wisdom, and compassion are among life’s most valuable treasures.

Today, MBF honors all the mothers whose care and perseverance uplift generations.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms!

Tag a mother or women-owned business you admire so we can celebrate them together.

48 Hour Deadline Alert!

Now accepting applications for our 27th session, this program has graduated over 1,200 small business owners from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties, helping them build stronger and more sustainable businesses.

Participants will work virtually with experienced instructors to:

Develop a structured business plan.
Gain in-depth knowledge of sales and marketing.
Strengthen financial and operational knowledge.
Create a path to access capital

Learn more and apply:
https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/workshops

Do not miss this opportunity to gain expert guidance and practical knowledge to grow your business.

For more information, contact Joshua Numa at [email protected] or 239-298-9987