What is Add $1?  

Add $1 is a new Miami HEAT charity program that will allow guests at Kaseya Center concession stands and all HEAT retail locations (as well as MiamiHEATStore.com) to donate $1 to their purchase at the point of sale. 100% of the donation will be donated to the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund at the Miami Foundation in benefit of a local HEAT-designated charity for the entirety of the 2023-24 NBA season to maximize impact and support the community that supports us. Proceeds from this inaugural season of the Add $1 program will benefit Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP) to help address the teacher shortage in Miami-Dade County. 

What is the Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP)?  

TAP is an educational initiative operated by Achieve Miami, a local education non-profit that offers a variety of educational enrichment programs to help put students on a path to success. TAP provides college seniors and graduates with a path to a career in education, and then goes on to train them, ensure they are certified, and place them in a classroom to make sure every student has a talented, dedicated teacher. 

Specifically, TAP empowers college seniors not enrolled in an education-related area of study to enter the teaching profession upon graduation. Beginning at TAP-partnered universities, TAP participants will take a one-semester undergraduate course focused on education foundations and teacher certification. Participants will then transition to a paid summer internship in which they’ll teach at Miami-Dade County Public Schools before landing a full-time teaching position. They’ll also receive ongoing mentorship throughout their first year of teaching to support their professional development. 

To learn more, please visit www.teacheraccelerator.org 

Why is a program like TAP important to support?  

Florida, like the rest of the country, is facing a teacher shortage crisis. Teachers are leaving the classroom at an alarming rate and over the last decades, fewer and fewer students have entered traditional schools of education, creating a steep decline in the amount of newly certified teachers in the state. At the start of the 2023-24 school year there were more than 5,000 vacant teaching positions in Florida— including hundreds in Miami-Dade—meaning an estimated 450,000 Florida students started the school year without a teacher in their classroom. Couple those statistics with a reported 55% of teachers indicating they’ll be leaving education sooner than planned, and the need to fill the void with capable, talented teachers becomes more important than ever. 

Why is the Miami HEAT supporting the Teacher Accelerator Program?  

From its HEAT Academy program (set to enter its 25th season), to a lengthy array of scholarships, programs and initiatives, the Miami HEAT has continually invested in the community’s educational well-being—and teachers are at the heart of it all, profoundly inspiring, motivating and impacting our students on a daily basis. Supporting TAP and using its platform to bring attention to the larger teacher shortage crisis continues that long-standing mission. 

Can I donate more than $1? 

Yes, you are welcome to visit www.teacheraccelerator.org/add1 and donate any amount outside of the Add $1 program directly with TAP. 

Where will my Add $1 donation be going to?  

100% of your Add $1 donation will go to Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program.  

Is my Add $1 donation tax deductible?  

Yes, your Add $1 donation can be tax deductible. Make sure to keep your receipt for your tax records and consult your tax advisor for compliance. 

Is my Add $1 donation refundable?  

No. All Add $1 donations are non-refundable.  

Who do I contact if I have any questions specifically about the Add $1 donation program?  

Please contact us at add1@heat.com. 

Who can I contact if I have questions or wish to learn more about the Teacher Accelerator Program (TAP)?  

Please contact info@teacheraccelerator.org. 

THE MIAMI HEAT CHARITABLE FUND AT THE MIAMI FOUNDATION (REGISTRATION NUMBER: CH4939) IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. LEARN MORE BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-495-7352 OR AT WWW.FDACS.GOV.