CORAL GABLES — McDonald’s owners and operators across the state of Florida and South Georgia selected 28 deserving educators and individuals who represent programs and organizations that fuel the imagination, education and growth of students, as recipients of a Golden Grant. $110,000 is being allocated to various teachers and organizations to positively impact the lives of thousands of students.

“The hard work of teachers and community leaders on behalf of our students is immensely appreciated. The Golden Grants program is a great opportunity to support educators that impact our next generation of leaders,” said Angel Veliz, president of the South Florida Co-Op. “Our youth are vital to the pulse of our communities and we recognize the importance of supporting education in our neighborhoods.”

Wendy Reister, of Okeechobee High School, was awarded $10,000 from McDonald’s owner, Amanda Nisbet.  Reister plans to use her grant to fund her End the Hunger Backpack Program which provides meals for students over the weekend when they are not at school. This program helps struggling families and provides food for their children on the weekends during the school year. The Backpack Program is run solely by high school students and the goal is not only to help feed the children but to inspire them and others to support the local community.

This year, seven Golden Grants will be awarded based on creativity, innovation, need and hands-on application of projects in South Florida. The Winners are:

• $10,000 - Wendy Reister, End the Hunger Backpack Program, Okeechobee High School;

• $5,000 – Adam Bernstein, Making a Makerspace, MAST@FIU Biscayne Bay Campus;

• $1,000 – Peter Melton, Cutler Bay Senior High School;

• $1,000 – Kinyatta Sims, Childish Learning Academy, Margate Elementary;

• $1,000 – Joshua Argueta, Modern Band Program, Sweetwater Elementary School;

• $1,000 – Marvin Brown, Mentally Fit, Mentally Fit Inc. ;

• $1,000 – Laura Zerbo & Jasmin Deboo, Mentoring Men, Olympic Heights Community High School.

Activities that qualified for a Golden Grant include arts and crafts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service outreach, sporting programs, technology and COVID-19 relief efforts.