The Raymond Bravo Foundation
Since 1967, The Miami Foundation has partnered with hundreds of generous individuals, families, and businesses to make a difference in our community through the power of collective philanthropy. With each unique situation, we help people establish personal, permanent, and powerful legacies through custom charitable funds that support a thriving Greater Miami.
Raymond Bravo was an alumnus of Miami High and the University of Miami, a lover of Mother Nature, black-and-white movies, and classic rock, a longtime employee of Miami-Dade County, and a best friend to many — including Joaquin Mendez, who earlier this year established The Raymond Bravo Fund at The Miami Foundation in Bravo’s honor.
Bravo, who passed away in 2022, “understood that it takes a certain amount of luck and a helping hand from others to set and achieve one’s goals,” explained Mendez, the fund’s director.
“Recognizing that we are all in this together and need to help each other in this journey through life played a major role in Raymond’s desire to give back to our community,” added Mendez. Bravo’s legacy of giving continues through his namesake fund, which has primarily supported student initiatives at Miami-Dade County Public Schools since its founding last spring.
“Some may call this ‘paying it forward’,” said Mendez. “Raymond just thought it was the right thing to do.”
Thanks to The Raymond Bravo Fund, a group of rising seniors at Miami Jackson Senior High School received guidance on completing college and scholarship applications through the 2024 Rising, Ready, and Resilient Bootcamp, offering them a head start on their path to gaining college acceptance. The fund also supported recent improvements to Coral Gables Senior High School’s student media center.
As the fund’s activity expands, Mendez hopes “that everyone who receives a grant from the Raymond Bravo Foundation will know how much it meant to Raymond to share his success with others and lend a helping hand.”
“I hope that everyone who receives a grant or knows someone who did will carry on the message that guided much of Raymond’s life.”
To contact Joaquin Mendez about available scholarship programs and other grant opportunities, please contact his fund representative at philanthropy@miamifoundation.org.
To learn more about carrying on your own message of generosity, contact Jessica Uzzell (Duhig), Director of Philanthropic Strategy, at juzzell@miamifoundation.org.
About Raymond Bravo
Raymond was born in New York and graduated from Miami Senior High in 1976. In the fall of 2022, he died of cancer at age 64, just when he was about to begin enjoying his retirement. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Cari Miranda.
While in high school, Raymond was active in sports and extra-curricular activities. Although he was not very big, he was scrappy and started as a wide receiver on the football team. He also belonged to Interact (Wheel) club and was active in student government. In addition, Raymond worked part-time while he was in school. Despite these many obligations and outside interests, Raymond maintained very good grades throughout high school.
After Miami High, Raymond graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in business administration and computer science, which was just emerging as a new field of study. He went on to have a long and distinguished career with the Miami Dade County Information Technology Department, responsible for maintaining the computer networks of 30,000 county employees, including teachers, police officers, and hospital workers. He would often work 24-hour shifts during hurricanes to keep all systems operating and everyone safe.
Raymond liked the Beatles, the Stones, and classic rock. He liked black-and-white movies, including the Thin Man films. He had a great sense of humor, personified by George Carlin and Richard Pryor. He liked Peroni beer and a cold, clean martini. For some reason, he also liked the Colts and the Orioles. Of course, he was also a big-time Hurricanes fan.
Raymond was a peace-loving man. He loved mother nature and animals of all kinds. He enjoyed camping trips across the United States and rescued a number of dogs and cats throughout his life. Sometimes his house seemed like a small zoo. He raised wonderful orchids as a hobby.
Raymond was also kind and generous towards others, which is why he wished to establish this charitable foundation upon his death. He wanted to share his success with the community in which he was raised. He wanted to help those in need. He wanted to help people overcome personal difficulties. He especially wanted to help others achieve their educational goals and professional dreams. He was an incredibly unselfish person. He loved his parents very much and always cared for them.
The Raymond Bravo Foundation and the awards it provides are made in loving memory of Raymond, who left us much too soon.