Just a few people in the world or in history embody a city. For example, Frank Sinatra was New York, Aretha Franklin was Detroit, Elvis Presley was Las Vegas, Édith Piaf was Paris. Well, Jorge M. Pérez is Miami.
As the founder and CEO of Related Group, Pérez is known for his integral role in reshaping Miami through his real estate efforts. But that’s not why we’ve decided to award him as a member of 2023’s Worthy 100.
We have nominated him for his work as an active philanthropist and for involvement within the art, Latinx, and wider Miami community. Current initiatives include ensuring internet connectivity, racial equity, music access, support for local businesses, safety and wellbeing for the LGBTQIA+ community, promoting Biscayne Bay Recovery, and more.
In March, through the Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, combined with personal donations from himself and his wife, Darlene, Pérez has given more than $214 million to organizations focused on arts and culture, health and wellbeing, education, the environment, and economic development.
Just in the following month, the launch of the third edition of the Pérez CreARTE Grants Program (Pérez CreARTE) was announced. From 2023-2025, they have pledged to invest over $3.5 million in Miami-Dade organizations focused on creating a globally recognized arts ecosystem within the county. But this initiative just emphasizes Pérez’s commitment to the arts, as in 2012, his $40 million pledge to the Miami Art Museum led to its renaming as the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).
