Major Projects
Jackson Health Foundation
In 1991, Rolando Rodriguez was recruited to launch the Jackson Health Foundation as Jackson Memorial Hospital’s private philanthropic arm. JMF grew into one of the most respected public hospital foundations in the country, raising over $200 million in private philanthropy, $70 million in grants, and over $250 million in international patient revenue.
Ryder Trauma Center
In the early 1990’s, Jackson Memorial Hospital became the only South Florida Hospital willing to treat trauma victims. Rolando was asked to manage a $28 million campaign to construct the Ryder Trauma Center. An extensive campaign was launched including a new half-penny Miami-Dade County sales tax.
International Kids Fund
In 2002, Rolando Rodriguez founded the International Kids Fund (IKF), dedicated to providing care to children from all over the world who needed live-saving care. The IKF rapidly grew into an internationally recognized program responsible for the oversight, management and fundraising for children in need of life-saving or life-changing medical care from all over the world.
Holtz Children's Hospital
In 1994, Rolando Rodriguez championed the identification, development and marketing of Holtz Children’s Hospital in response to the overwhelming need to enhance specialized services for the children of South Florida. Rolando led and developed the concept for a centralized children's hospital at Jackson, originally named Jackson Children’s Hospital.
Guardian Angels
As Holtz Children’s Hospital grew, Rolando helped create an exciting new group of donors and volunteer supporters. Started in 1997 with only five dedicated women, the Guardian Angels now number in the hundreds, composed of dedicated supporters who give and raise money through private events and generous annual donations.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami
From late 2013 through 2017, Rolando helped launch the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation with dynamic new major gift and branding strategies, a prestigious board of directors and other programs seeking to double the amount of private funds raised by the agency.
Plaza Health Network
In 2016/17, we helped launch the Plaza Health Network Foundation in Miami, dedicated to raising funds for the largest elderly care nursing network in South Florida. The Plaza Health Network Foundation plays a critical role for the seven outstanding, award-winning rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers of the Plaza Health Network, as well as for the South Florida community.
Friendship Circle of Miami
The Friendship Circle has been dedicated to helping children with special needs since 2004 and now serves over 140 children and adults living with special needs. In 2018, Rolando began shaping a full development effort, including the creation of a board of directors, developing a formal grant program, hiring development staff and launching other organized fundraising initiatives. Rolando is now guiding a $9 million campaign to develop a 20,000 sq. ft. Community Center for children with special needs.
Breakthrough Collaborative
Based in San Francisco, Breakthrough closes the opportunity gap with a students-teaching-students model, implemented through 24 affiliates throughout the United States. In 2018, Rolando began leading the expansion of Breakthrough's national development office, including hiring staff, launching a new grants program, expanding events, and developing a major $15 million national fundraising campaign.
Give Back for Special Equestrians
GBSE is an all-volunteer organization, which provides scholarships for therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted therapy for children and veterans with physical and emotional disabilities, while also nurturing young equestrians in the value of giving back. We began expanding GBSE’s fundraising capacity in 2020, beginning with an online fundraising campaign and guiding board growth and strategic planning.
Epilepsy Florida
Epilepsy Florida (EFL) is the principal agency for epilepsy programs and services sponsored by the State of Florida. EFL serves as the lead advocate for the rights and needs of people with epilepsy and seizures at the local, county, state and national level. In 2020 and 2021, we guided the expansion of its development programs statewide, helped revamp its staffing and worked to expand and enhance the board of directors.
Ronald McDonald House of South Florida
The Ronald McDonald House offers families a place to call home while their child is receiving critical medical treatment in nearby hospitals. For 36 years, South Florida's Ronald McDonald House has provided a “home-away-from-home” for 28,500 pediatric families in need of comfort and care during a challenging time. We are currently guiding an $18 million campaign for a new 7-story house on the grounds of Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Coral Gables Community Foundation
Since 1991, the Foundation has been bringing together beneficiaries and benefactors to fund programs with the greatest impact and benefit to “The City Beautiful.” Through its discretionary, donor-advised and scholarships funds, has provided grants to local nonprofits, scholarships to deserving students. We are currently guiding a strategic planning and development process aimed at growing and focusing the foundation's future work.
Patches
PATCHES provides health care professionals who are expertly trained in the care of children with both sub-acute and chronic conditions. The center serves children who require the support of ventilators, tracheotomies, oxygen therapy, and feeding tubes, or who have other special medical needs. We are currently engaged in developing a complete development program, new foundation board, and preparing for a capital expansion on 5 acres in Florida City.