The Dan Marino Foundation is now part of the Community Foundation of Broward, thanks to a new endowment created by Dan and Claire Marino to carry on their mission to empower people with autism and other developmental disabilities to live life to the fullest.

During Dan Marino’s legendary career as quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, he and Claire’s second son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism. So, in 1992, he and Claire launched the Dan Marino Foundation, which for more than 30 years has invested in programs, partnerships and innovative approaches to help people with special needs overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

Now, by establishing the endowed Dan Marino Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation, the Marinos have enlisted the Community Foundation’s expert team to continue their strategic grantmaking, innovative fundraising and dynamic collaborations that elevate opportunities and shape brighter futures for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

This philanthropy partnership ensures ongoing, sustainable support to foster independent living, increase access to therapeutic services, bolster social connections, open doors to post-secondary education, invest in employment initiatives, research ways to improve quality of life, and much more.

“All the things we’ve done over the years to raise money started not only with seeing how Mike developed, but also with understanding how important it was to help others,” Dan Marino said. “By teaming up with the Community Foundation, Claire and I want to ensure that individuals with autism and their families continue to have access to the support and opportunities they need for generations to come.”

The Community Foundation will work closely with the Marino family to ensure that grantmaking support from their new fund invests in innovative opportunities to make a lasting difference. The Community Foundation will safeguard the Marinos’ endowed fund, helping it grow through careful investment, so the Marinos’ grantmaking impact continues for generations.

In addition, the public can continue to support the Marinos’ important mission by donating to their fund at the Community Foundation. For more information about the endowed fund, visit cfbroward.org/danmarinofoundation.

“We are honored to partner with Dan and Claire Marino to carry on the important mission of the Dan Marino Foundation through their endowed charitable fund at the Community Foundation,” said Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D. “For more than three decades, the Marinos have championed support for empowering people with autism to live life to the fullest. Now they have ensured permanent, sustainable support to uplift families and shape brighter futures for generations to come.”

With the establishment of the Dan Marino Foundation Fund, Dan and Claire join the Community Foundation’s “Community Builders” – visionary philanthropists who partner with the Community Foundation to transform lives and uplift our community by creating endowed charitable funds of $1 million or more.

The Dan Marino Foundation will be among the newest honorees recognized at the Community Foundation’s annual Community Builder Celebration, taking place at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The Community Foundation now has 72 Community Builders, whose collective gifts exceed $170 million, nearly half of the assets that fuel the Community Foundation’s grantmaking to local nonprofits.

The Community Builders include dedicated individuals, families and community organizations who support innovation and tackle Broward’s big challenges with grants from their endowed funds that uplift our community. Through the Community Foundation’s careful stewardship, the principal of their endowment is invested and grows over time, providing a continuous and permanent source of support for charitable causes important to our Community Builders. By partnering with the Community Foundation for their philanthropy, Community Builders amplify their impact today and create a legacy of community support that never ends.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE DAN MARINO FOUNDATION FUND WEBPAGE.

Contact the Community Foundation of Broward at info@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.