Miami has plenty of reasons to be proud of its people — and this week, United Way Miami made sure five of them got their flowers. The organization honored five Miami-Dade community leaders at its 2026 Celebration of Impact Awards on September 25, recognizing their outstanding contributions to volunteerism, health care access, human services and youth development.
This year’s honorees represent the very best of Miami’s giving spirit: Dr. Alison Thompson, founder of Third Wave Volunteers; Erin N. Kobetz, Ph.D., MPH, the University of Miami’s vice president for health promotion and chief wellbeing officer; State Representative Mike Redondo; Miriam Singer, president and CEO of Jewish Community Services of South Florida; and Sophia Chen, a 2026 graduate of Cutler Bay Senior High School.
The celebration brought together nonprofit, business, education and community leaders — including Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. José L. Dotres, highlighting the 65-year partnership between United Way Miami and M-DCPS.
From lifelong volunteers to a high school graduate already making a difference, these honorees show what Miami does best: lifting each other up. Congratulations to all five — and here’s to many more years of impact.
