VeigaMilton Family Style Philanthropy: The José Milton Field at Glades Middle School
Superintendent Jose Dotres, School Board Chair MariTere Rojas, and Billy the Marlin joined the Milton family for the ribbon-cutting of the new baseball field.
The Milton Family honored our family patriarch by providing funds to lay out a new baseball field at Glades Middle School, a Miami-Dade County Public School. The field – called The José Milton Field – is named for my father-in-law. Baseball permeates American culture and brings families together, which, I suspect, is why my father-in-law loved baseball. As an immigrant family, baseball made us feel more American. Many an afternoon or evening, the Milton Family, including girlfriends and friends, would gather at Bobby Maduro Miami Stadium – which was demolished in 1999, though today there is a historical marker where it once stood in Allapattah – for spring training games to experience live baseball.
When the Marlins came to town, my father-in-law could not contain his excitement and was among the first to secure a Box at the Marlins Stadium at LoanDepot Park. My family still thoroughly enjoys watching baseball with friends and colleagues from our Marlins Box and for very special community organizations we support, we donate the Box as part of a fundraising silent auction or to thank volunteers. Most recently, the Box served to thank American Red Cross Miami volunteers for their service to our community. Having Billy the Marlin and Alfie Mesa, Marlins VP of Public Affairs, attend the Dedication made the Ceremony even more special!
Superintendent Jose Dotres, School Board Chair MariTere Rojas, and Billy the Marlin joined the Milton Family, Glades Middle Principal, and Michael Bileca, CEO True North Classical Academy Charter School, to dedicate the Milton Field and celebrate with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony. My husband Cecil Milton threw out the first pitch of the inaugural game – right over Homeplate! Glades Park, including the José Milton Field, dugout areas with locker rooms, bleachers, and concessions space, is a joint project of True North Foundation, MDCPS, José Milton Foundation, and the Milton Family. Milton Field at Glades Park is home to the True North Titans and will provide student-athletes from MDCPS and visiting teams with a great playing experience in South Florida.
I grew up in Westchester and attended Southwest Miami High School along with many classmates who attended Glades Middle. I feel very connected to my hometown and have wonderful memories. Knowing that my family invests in the Westchester area and having the José Milton Field serve the student-athletes and families who live nearby and the visiting teams from all over fills me with pride and immense joy. Giving back to my hometown feels like coming home.
Ana VeigaMilton directs Corporate Social Responsibility for United Property Management, owners and managers of almost 9000 residential units in Florida. She also presides over the José Milton Foundation, striving to close the opportunity gap in South Florida, primarily through access to quality healthcare, research, and education opportunities. As co-founder of the Cecil & Ana Milton Family Foundation, she supports a healthy and clean environment through conservation efforts, our military, and first responders. Ana holds leadership positions and serves on various philanthropic boards, including Jackson Health Foundation (past-Chair), Red Cross Miami (Secretary), University of Miami Citizens Boards (past-President), Zoo Miami Foundation (past-Chair & emeritus director), and United Way Miami (Campaign co-chair). Most recently, Ana became a board member of Girl Scouts Tropical Florida. As an engineering and law alumna, she is incredibly proud and honored to serve as a University of Miami Trustee, working to accelerate UM’s impressive upward trajectory. Ana is passionate about encouraging women and minorities to enter STEM fields and provides scholarships to graduates of the 5000 Role Models and Girl Scout Gold Awardees who choose STEM majors. Ana and her family have been recognized for their philanthropy, community engagement, and volunteerism. She was recently tapped into Iron Arrow Honor Society, the highest honor attained at the University of Miami, was awarded the Power & Influencer Award by the Global Innovative Foundation and named the Latina Pioneer of the Year 2022 by Hispanic Women of Distinction. The community celebrated the first anniversary of the José Milton Memorial Hospital at Jackson West, Top 5 percent of all US hospitals. The Milton Family’s commitment to South Florida runs deep. Ana and her husband Cecil are blessed with three community-engaged adult children, Alec, Eric, and Diana. The Milton Family resides in Coral Gables.
