Centro Mater Child Care Services Celebrates Back-to-School with $5 Million Matching Funds Milestone and Backpack Donation at East Campus

MIAMI, FL – August 14, 2025 – Laughter, hugs, and the buzz of excitement filled the hallways as children returned to Centro Mater for the first day of school. Families gathered early, teachers welcomed students back into classrooms, and the school year began with both renewed energy and extraordinary community support.

At the East Campus, Miami District 3 Commissioner Joe Carollo made the day even brighter by donating more than 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, ensuring that every child stepped into the new year prepared for success. Smiles stretched across the faces of students as they proudly wore their new backpacks, a visible reminder of the community’s investment in their future.

The celebration of learning also coincided with a major milestone: Commissioner Carollo’s leadership in securing $5 million in matching funds for a new, state-of-the-art facility in East Little Havana. The project will create expanded childcare space for infants and toddlers currently on a waiting list, reflecting the growing demand for Centro Mater’s trusted programs.

“This is a defining moment for Centro Mater and the extremely vulnerable families we serve,” said Madelyn Rodriguez Llanes, Executive Director of Centro Mater Child Care Services. “We’re overjoyed and deeply grateful to Commissioner Carollo and the City Commission for believing in our mission that meets the growing needs of the youngest members of our community.”

Across five Miami-Dade campuses, Centro Mater serves more than 1,600 children annually, from 6 weeks to 12 years old. With daycare, preschool, after-school, and summer programs, the organization provides a nurturing and supportive environment for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children.

As the school year begins, the backpacks at Centro Mater East mark a joyful first day of school, while the new East Little Havana facility represents an investment in brighter tomorrows for generations of families.