MIAMI, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernesto Perez Jr., President & CEO and co-founder of Dade Medical College, last week announced a $250,000 donation to Miami Children's Hospital Foundation to support the organization's leading efforts to improve children's health care in our community.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/FL76778 )

The gift was announced at a March 25 reception hosted by Dade Medical College honoring U.S. Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey.

"Miami Children's Hospital is one of our community's most valuable resources and we are committed to investing in this superior pediatric medical institution that helps so many needy families help make their children better," said Perez. "Many of our students receive their on-site training at Miami Children's and they graduate with the skills necessary to be successful and productive members of society."

Through this donation, Dade Medical College becomes a member of the Corporate Leader Program, a group of esteemed businesses that support Miami Children's philanthropically in order to improve the economic sustainability of the community by ensuring healthy children and a healthy future workforce.  

"Children's health care should be everyone's business and this donation by Dade Medical College is a prime example of how businesses in our community are stepping up to support Miami Children's," said Lucy Morillo-Agnetti, President & CEO, Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. "This type of support is essential to help us grow in order to meet the needs of not only the children of our community, but children across the globe."

About Miami Children's Hospital Foundation

Miami Children's Hospital Foundation is a not-for profit 501 (C) (3) established to create a world-class pediatric hospital so no child need leave South Florida for superior medical care.  "Funding World-Class Care" and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care with no financial boundaries, the Foundation helped 289-bed Miami Children's Hospital become a leader in pediatric health care with more than 40 subspecialties, the largest pediatric neurology center in the United States, a top provider of cardiology and neonatology services, and a Research Institute conducting in excess of 200 clinical trials and protocols.

Miami Children's Hospital is one of 170 pediatric hospitals in North America affiliated with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® and South Florida's only freestanding Hospital dedicated exclusively to children.  To learn more about the Foundation and offer support, visit www.mchf.org, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MCHFoundation, or call 305.666.2889 (toll free: 800.987.8701).

About Dade Medical College

With more than 300 full-time employees staffing Dade Medical College's four area campuses and corporate office, the school features a fully-licensed and certified faculty whose commitment to excellence in education are unmatched by other area colleges and institutions.  A majority of the faculty and administrative staff originates locally, with many having been educated at prestigious local and national institutions.  The college offers diploma and / or Associate of Science degrees in programs such as nursing, radiology, health care management, medical billing and coding and more. Classes start every four weeks; next one occurs April 18, 2011. For more, visit www.DadeMedical.edu.

SOURCE Dade Medical College