Hundreds of families across Miami-Dade County Received Packaged Meals at a Drive-Up Food Distribution Event at
Florida Technical College South Miami Campus in Cutler Bay
Miami, Florida – March 12, 2021 – To commemorate the launch of Florida Technical College (FTC) new Culinary Arts Program located at its South Miami Campus in Cutler Bay, FTC joined forces with the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program to host a drive-up food distribution on March 11, 2021, for hundreds of families in need.
With one thousand meals prepared by local minority-owned business Mike & Jackie’s Catering and packaged by FTC students, this collaboration with the Food Relief Program is assisting to alleviate the food insecurity and stress experienced by families in Miami-Dade County while generating jobs and revenue for local minority owned restaurants in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing economic impact.
Hot meals consisting of barbecue chicken and pulled pork in addition to sides of coleslaw, baked beans and dinner rolls, were offered free of charge via the partnership of 11 local non-profit organizations.
“This partnership was the perfect way to help formally mark our launch of the South Miami campus’s new Culinary Arts Program,” said Dr. James Michael Burkett – President of Florida Technical College. “Our students gained practical hands-on experience, and hundreds of families in need benefited as our community continues to forge a path forward to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fall-out.”
Florida Technical College have made the commitment of a multi-year partnership where FTC is the “Official Culinary School of the Miami Dolphins” and together, they will collaborate in multiple initiatives to provide relief to the most affected local communities
“The Miami Dolphins recognize food insecurity is an ongoing issue faced by our community in the wake of COVID-19,” said Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins. “Through our partnership with FTC, we are able to continue finding ways to come together and be part of the solution to help feed our neighbors.”
Florida Technical College’s 12-month Culinary Arts Diploma program, available at the South Miami campus, offers student hands-on opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in the culinary industry, including a range of management, supervisory, and cooking positions. The FTC South Campus will also be adding a restaurant inspired professional kitchen in the near future.
The Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC) recently named Florida Technical College the 2020 Institution of the Year. FTC offers diploma, associate and bachelor’s degree programs in a range of professions, including Healthcare, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Beauty, Information Technology and Business. FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, DeLand, Pembroke Pines, South Miami and Tampa. Program availability varies by campus.
About Florida Technical College:
Founded in 1982 to provide private, post-secondary education in specialized fields, Florida Technical College is an academic unit of NUC University (NUC), which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) www.msche.org. NUC’s Florida Technical College (FTC), and The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (The DAVE School) are included in this accreditation. The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). FTC offers diploma, associate and bachelor’s degree programs in a range of professions, including Healthcare, Construction Trades, Hospitality, Beauty, Information Technology and Business. FTC campuses are located in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, DeLand, Pembroke Pines, Cutler Bay and Tampa. Program availability varies by campus.
About Miami Dolphins Foundation Relief Program:
With South Florida facing record unemployment and food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19, Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel launched the Miami Dolphins Foundation Relief Program. The year-long multimillion-dollar commitment provides 1,000 meals each day in Miami Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium and the most food-insecure zip codes throughout South Florida. Meals are prepared by local minority restaurants impacted by COVID-19 and Centerplate, the team’s food, beverage, and retail partner. As part of this program, more than $1 million has gone towards directly supporting minority-owned restaurants. This intentional effort to support minority-owned businesses allows them to not lay off staff and receive the most needed funds during the pandemic while simultaneously impacting the community in which they live.
