After a short trip to Poland, where he visited with Ukrainian refugees and saw the relief efforts first-hand, Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz has created a process by which county employees can have a direct impact on the lives that have been uprooted by the war.
It’s good to see electeds travel for a good cause rather than junkets.
Diaz sponsored a resolution Tuesday (passed 11-0) that lets Miami-Dade workers contribute the dollar value of accrued holiday and/or annual leave to the Global Empowerment Mission and World Central Kitchen for Ukrainian relief efforts.
“This County has always supported those who need help,” Diaz said in a statement. And it’s true. The “leave pool” donation system has been utilized before, after the Orlando Pulse tragedy, the earthquake last year in Haiti and almost every hurricane. The county donated $8,170.36 for Hurricane Iota relief to Central American countries (except Nicaragua) last year.
Diaz went to Poland last week — paid for through his district funds, his office says — arriving Wednesday and coming home Saturday, to see first-hand how organizations are helping Ukraine refugees in this massive humanitarian crisis and “ensure that the money is being properly used,” he said. More than 2.3 million refugees are in Poland and hundreds of thousands are in neighboring countries.
He also met with Miami Beach developer Michael Capponi, founder of the Doral-based Global Empowerment Mission, which has committed over $105 million in aid, delivered 376 tons of food, and relocated over 100,000 families affected by the crisis in Ukraine. Among the items they have to distribute were products from Goya, which is also based in Doral.
“I met with Dr. Ireneusz Bil, President & CEO of the Amicus Europae Foundation (@FAE_pl), and was saddened by our visit to a Ukrainian refugee assistance center in Warszawa,” Diaz tweeted April 15. “I witnessed thousands of displaced families in need of help due to this senseless war.”
He also met with Polish government officials and relief providers to discuss “how Miami-Dade County can better serve those who have lost everything.”
The Doral-based Global Empowerment Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Capponi as a first responder to global disasters. Earlier this week, the organization got a $10,000 donation from Unity on the Bay for its Ukrainian efforts.
World Central Kitchen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by world-renowned Chef José Andrés, to provide meals on the frontlines in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Together with local chefs in the region, they have served millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing their homes as well as to people remaining in the country.
From Miami-Dade to Ukraine: Jose ‘Pepe’ Diaz sets up ‘leave pool’ for relief added by Ladra on
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