MIAMI, FL.- Miami Art Museum Director Thom Collins announced today that the Museum received a $5 million contribution to the capital campaign for its new, Herzog & de Meuron-designed facility, opening as Pérez Art Museum Miami in December 2013. The gift from Constance and Miguel B. Mike Fernandez and family, Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners, brings the total private donations raised to $75.5 million, exceeding the campaigns bricks-and-mortar goal by over $3 million.
On behalf of the Museum and the public we serve, I want to express our gratitude to Mike Fernandez for his incredible generosity, said Collins. This community is so fortunate to have great leaders like Mike Fernandez who believe in the transformative role that a museum can play in the life of our city and who are willing to step up and invest to make this public resource a reality. With the funds for bricks and mortar raised, we are now focused on building the endowment for the Museums growing collection and programming.
We are blessed to be in a position to contribute to this beautiful art facility and to the role it will play in Miami towards the development of art education for our children, the community at large and for those most in need, said Miguel B. Mike Fernandez. I have fond memories as a child in New York developing an early appreciation for the arts by visiting its iconic art landmarks. I want others less fortunate to enjoy the same feeling when they visit Miamis emerging art institutions as well.
Miguel B. Mike Fernandez currently serves as Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a private equity firm with committed capital in excess of $500 million located in Coral Gables, Florida. The firm invests in numerous healthcare services companies nationwide including Simply Healthcare Plans and Navarro Discount Pharmacy. He currently serves on the board of directors of MEDNAX, Inc. (NYSE: MD). His community service endeavors include serving on the boards of the United Way of Miami-Dade County and the University of Miami. He is also Vice Chairman of the University of Miami Medical Affairs Committee. Fernandez has been honored frequently in recognition of his business acumen and community service.
Opening in December 2013 as Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the new facility features 32,000 square feet of galleries and 200,000 square feet of programmable space, a waterfront restaurant, outdoor plaza, education complex and more. The project is being realized through a public/private partnership: a dramatic location on Biscayne Bay has been provided by the City of Miami; the voters of Miami-Dade County have approved $100 million in bond funding; and private donors including corporations, foundations and individuals have provided $75.5 million to date in additional support for the building and institutional endowment. Miami Art Museum will reopen as Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) in recognition of developer and long-time museum trustee and supporter Jorge M. Pérez now $40 million gift of cash and art. The value of the gift, first announced late last year, increased from $35 million as a result of the value of the art chosen by MAMs curators for the Museums permanent collection.