For 23 years, the Changemakers Student Fund, created by the University of Miami’s Citizens Board, has continued to support innovative projects across the University that propel change and engage the community in meaningful ways.
Each year, individual Citizens Board members make donations to support its Changemakers Student Fund, formerly known as the Select Projects Fund. This year, the Citizens Board Committee reviewed 11 projects and narrowed the field to its top three finalists.
After raising more than $11,000 during the U’s Giving Day, and garnering Citizens Board members’ votes, the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science’s Rescue a Reef project won the $25,000 Citizens Board Sebastian Hero Award.
Rescue a Reef is the University’s citizen science program designed to build community and coastal resilience through coral reef research, restoration, and education. It brings together restoration scientists, students, and U.S. military veterans to restore our depleted reefs, foster student engagement, develop leadership skills, and provide experiential learning opportunities. Student fellows and veterans serve as essential role models for youth interest in STEM by teaming up to engage local school groups in marine science through hands-on and virtual presentations and workshops.
The winners of the two $10,000 Citizens Board ’Cane Crusader Awards were the Lowe Art Museum’s AMPLIFY project and the School of Nursing and Health Studies’ Do you see what I see? Recognizing human trafficking project.
Established in 1946, the Citizens Board is comprised of more than 270 South Florida business and civic leaders who actively support the University’s philanthropic and programmatic priorities while also serving as University ambassadors to the community. Since its inception, the Citizens Board has raised an estimated $454 million for the University of Miami.
