In addition, the National Basketball Association's Miami Heat Charitable Fund donated a $350,000 Miami Heat Big Fitness Room to the facility to promote health and wellness to BBBS participants.
The Carnival Center for Excellence will house more than 50 BBBS staff members, as well an array of new tools and services. These include a 'You Media' creative area for music, video and creative digital learning; a computer lab; space for homework and tutoring; and life-skill classes.
Further services will be phased in, and tutoring and family classes will be introduced during the first year of operation in collaboration with several corporate and nonprofit partners.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and news conference took place at the facility at 550 NW LeJeune Road in Miami on Monday. The event featured executives of Carnival, BBBS and the Miami Heat as well as local elected officials and student essay contest scholarship winners.
'Carnival Corporation has been a longtime supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami through Carnival Foundation and our Scholarship and Mentoring Program, and we are proud that the Carnival Center for Excellence bears our name,' Carnival ceo Arnold Donald said. He added the facility will help BBBS of Miami to have a 'profound and positive impact on the lives of young people in South Florida for decades to come.'
The center 'marks a new era for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, enabling us to provide more facilities, services and assistance to local children and families than ever before,' said Lydia Muniz, president and ceo of the Miami BBBS chapter. She called the center an 'inspired hub of mentoring and innovative creative services.'
At the ceremony Carnival Foundation executive director Linda Coll announced the winners of an essay contest asking students to describe how mentors have impacted their lives. A total of $30,000 was awarded in scholarships and educational resources on behalf of Carnival Foundation to three high school and two middle school students. The winners also received laptop computers.
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