Philanthropy
William Deering and his heirs left a legacy of philanthropy that Miami Alternatives, LLC has sustained and built on over generations.
Florida’s Natural Lands and Wild Places. Miami’s sponsorship support and donations to the following organizations and initiatives support preservation of Florida’s natural lands and wildlife: Brevard Nature Alliance; River of Lakes Heritage Corridor; Florida Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (Maitland, Florida); Florida Ranches Calendar; Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival; and West Volusia Audubon.
Education. We support organizations that promote agricultural and environmental education to our youth. We provide sponsorship and other financial support to organizations such as: the Boys & Girls Club of Volusia/Flagler Counties; Brevard County Farm Bureau, Crosswinds Youth Services; and the Florida Forestry Association. Our college scholarship program awards individual students who excelled in agriculture and/or environmental education while attending the following high schools: Deltona, Pine Ridge, DeLand, University, New Smyrna Beach, Titusville and Astronaut.
Enhancing Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation. Arts and culture provide many positive benefits, both tangible and intangible, and are an essential part of our quality of life. Similarly, historic preservation improves communities and provides a legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational and economic benefits for present and future generations to enjoy. Part of our current regional commitment in Florida has been support of the annual Daytona Blues Festival.
Lands in Conservation. One of the most significant philanthropic gifts has been the acres of land that have been placed in permanent conservation. This gift maintains the natural beauty of the property. The profound future benefits include preserving the environment for wildlife and native flora, water and air quality improvements, and the physical and spiritual health of generations to come.
Miami Alternatives, LLC has placed 41,000 acres under perpetual conservation easement, both in and out of the mitigation bank. The conservation lands outside of the mitigation bank are managed in accordance with Conservation Management Plans that were crafted by a group of stakeholders, including the counties, the landowner, Florida Audubon, the State of Florida, and a panel of experts in conservation management. Annual reviews by Volusia County, Brevard County, Florida Audubon and the St. Johns River Water Management District ensure compliance with the management plans.
Miami Alternatives, LLC has donated the approximately 1,400-acre environmental gem known as the Deering Preserve at Deep Creek to Volusia County. This most scenic and fragile portion of Farmton’s conservation lands surrounding Deep Creek, near where it meets the St. Johns River, is now part of the public trust. To further protect this environmental gem, Florida Audubon received a conservation easement over the land from the county and a large portion of the Deering Preserve at Deep Creek remains subject to the strict provisions of the Farmton Mitigation Bank permit.
Looking to the future, Farmton will continue its philanthropy with the following focus:
- Sustaining Florida’s agricultural heritage by cultivating and educating tomorrow’s leaders
- Environmental stewardship and conservation
- Promoting and enhancing arts and culture and historic preservation
