Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Presents $20,500 to Support Elementary School Visual Arts Programs and Unveils Winners of Kids Tag Art Contest

Miami, FL – May 22, 2025 – Today, Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez presented a check in the amount of $20,500 to benefit the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) visual arts programs across public elementary schools. The funds were raised through the 2025 Kids Tag Art competition, a statewide initiative that encourages 5th grade students to design creative versions of a Florida license plate supported by Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez.

“Today is all about the kids of our community,” said Tax Collector Fernandez this morning at a well-attended ceremony. “We received incredibly talented submissions, and our children exceeded all expectations. This program is a reminder of what we can achieve when our community comes together for education.” 

The Tax Collector presented the check to MDCPS and unveiled the winners of the 2025 Kids Tag Art competition. The event brought together school board members, local elected officials, business leaders, and families to honor the young artists and celebrate their contributions.

The top three winning designs, chosen from 69 submissions, were selected by a committee of community stakeholders whose generosity made the fundraising possible.
Entries were judged on originality, age appropriateness, and their reflection of Florida’s lifestyle. The first-place winner was Bryan Diaz from Wesley Matthews Elementary. Second place was awarded to Ashley Rodriguez from Gloria Floyd Elementary, and third place went to Maxim Rivero from Spanish Lakes Elementary. Each winner was presented with a gift basket of art supplies and complimentary admission family tickets generously donated by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Zoo Miami, the Miami Marlins, and the Miami Children’s Museum. The $20,500 in funds will be directed to art teachers in elementary public schools, reinforcing the Tax Collector's  commitment to nurturing creativity and education in our community. 

Family members, friends, and supporters of the Kids Tag Art program can continue to sponsor the cause by ordering the student-designed license plates as custom vanity tags. The three winning license plate designs will be on display year-round at the Tax Collector’s Main Office in Downtown Miami, to honor the young artistic skills and as a reminder of the power of transformation when the community works together. 
For more information about the Kids Tag Art program visit: our website at mdctaxcollector.gov/kid-tag-art-kta-project

2025 Kids Tag Art Winners and Check Presentation to MDCPS

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