HEAT Academy
Recognizing the need for children to receive extra exposure to academics, particularly math and reading, the Miami HEAT has embraced the importance of providing children with the opportunity to have quality after-school programs in South Florida.

Through a collaborative partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the HEAT Group corporate partners, the Miami HEAT has teamed up to facilitate HEAT Academy at three local inner city schools, Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, Little River Elementary, and Riverside Elementary.
At HEAT Academy students practice math and reading skills through a unique curriculum that introduces hands-on thematic lessons; get assistance with homework; have a safe place to be when their parents are not available; and most importantly, learn from positive role models who inspire kids to excel.

Our HEAT Academy corporate sponsors are as follows: Carnival Cruise Lines, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, and Lifetime Products.

Program Duration: Academic School Year

HEAT Scholarships
The Miami HEAT is offering $10,000.00 in scholarship funds to high school seniors attending Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach schools. Scholarship applications are available each school year and recipients are awarded in May. This year’s application deadline is April 5th. This will be the twelfth year that the Miami HEAT has offered scholarships. Scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and outstanding community service. Scholarships include the following:

Two (2) $2,500.00 HEAT Scholarships

One (1) $2,500.00 Dr. Jack Ramsay Scholarship (for students pursuing a career in broadcast journalism)

One (1) $2,500.00 Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship

Download or Print: Application

Read To Achieve
The Miami HEAT promotes the value of reading and encourages children and families to read regularly through the Read to Achieve program. Derived from the National Basketball Association, the Miami HEAT's local Read to Achieve program incorporates a combination of special monthly reading "time-outs", book giveaways, and the creation of designated reading locations - most recently in June, 2006 was the creation of a HEAT Reading and Learning Center at one of our three HEAT Academy locations, Little River Elementary.
Program Duration: Year-round

Miami HEAT FUN-raiser
(Available for Grades K-12)
The Miami HEAT realizes that fundraising is necessary for schools to keep programs properly funded. To help your school, we have created an opportunity for faculty, students and their families to enjoy the experience of a Miami HEAT game - LIVE, while simultaneously helping the school to meet its goals. In a fun and exciting alternative to a raffle or chocolate sell-off, etc., schools have the opportunity to receive money for every Miami HEAT ticket the school is able to sell through the Miami HEAT FUN-raiser program. For additional information on this program, please call 786-777-DUNK.
Program Duration: School Year

Miami HEAT Learn and Play Centers
The Miami HEAT along with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, have teamed up to create Learn and Play Centers throughout South Florida. As part of this incredible transformation, the HEAT renovates an existing room into a HEAT-themed area with fresh paint and then supplies it with new computers, furniture, books, audio/video equipment and games for children to enjoy & learn from. The concept behind the Miami HEAT Learn and Play Centers are to provide a safe place where children can spend some time reading a book, working on their homework, or just having a good time playing video or board games. To date, the HEAT has established Learn and Play Centers at four sites: Each of our three HEAT Academy schools - Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, Little River Elementary, and Riverside Elementary - and the Community Partnership for Homeless, a Miami based homeless shelter which helps men, women and children transition off the streets of Miami-Dade County and on their way to attaining greater stability and self-sufficiency in their lives.

To be considered for a Miami HEAT Learn and Play Center, all requests MUST meet the following criteria:

Submitted on Organization Letterhead,

Thorough description of the organization and its mission,

Thorough description of why your site should be considered for renovation,

Location of the site.

Please mail to:
Miami HEAT
Community Affairs Department / Learn and Play Center
601 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33132