News

In Case You Missed It: Take a look at our monthly Li’l Abner News email newsletter! This edition features a Li’l Abner II resident sharing her story, highlights from a recent United Way report, the Li'l Abner Foundation’s first Kyudo class, and more. View our latest monthly newsletter here Sign up for the Li'l Abner News here

In Case You Missed It: Take a look at our monthly Li’l Abner News email newsletter! This edition features a Li’l Abner II resident sharing her story, highlights from a recent United Way report, the Li'l Abner Foundation’s first Kyudo class, and more. View our latest monthly newsletter here Sign up for the Li'l Abner News here

In Case You Missed It: Take a look at our monthly Li’l Abner News email newsletter! This edition features a Li’l Abner II resident sharing his story, a highlight of the Li'l Abner Foundation’s summer classes, and photos from our latest gathering for neighbors at Li’l Abner II. View our latest monthly newsletter here Sign up for the Li'l Abner News here

Florida Trend reports that CREI Holdings' Li'l Abner III has secured a $67 million loan from Centennial Bank to commence construction on a development aimed at Miami-Dade County's workforce. Located in the City of Sweetwater, the eight-story building will feature over 300 units and is set to open in mid-2026. Of these units, 40% are reserved for individuals earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI), while the remaining units are capped at 120% of the AMI. Additionally, 40% of the units will be designated for residents aged 55 and older. The previous phase, Li'l Abner II, completed last year, is nearly fully occupied. READ MORE

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida (RMHC) has named CREI Holdings managing member and Li’l Abner Foundation founder Raul Rodriguez a 2024 ‘12 Good Men Honoree.’ This year, local elected officials, philanthropists, and businessmen were recognized for their significant contributions to enhancing the South Florida community. “It’s an honor to receive the Twelve Good Men Award from the Ronald McDonald House,” Raul said. “I share this recognition with everyone involved in the Li’l Abner Foundation because our community work is a team effort. I’m grateful for their dedication, commitment to making a difference, and for embracing my vision to help children reach their full potential, regardless of their socio-economic background. Every child deserves the chance to thrive and live a productive life. This award motivates us to keep working hard to expand the Foundation’s work in our community. READ MORE

Seniors Housing Business reports CREI Holdings secured a $67 million construction loan from Centennial Bank to build the 8-story, 328-unit Li'l Abner III affordable/workforce housing project in Sweetwater, Florida, with construction starting in Q2 2024 and completion expected in Q2 2026. The project will have a mix of units aimed at households earning 80-120% of area median income, with nearly 40% reserved for residents aged 55 and older. READ MORE

The Real Deal reports CREI Holdings secured $67M in construction financing from Centennial Bank for a 326-unit multifamily project called Li'l Abner III in Sweetwater. The eight-story building will offer one- and two-bedroom workforce and affordable housing apartments with plans to break ground next quarter and completion expected in 2026. READ MORE

VIDEO: The Li'l Abner Foundation and its founder Raul Rodriguez took 50 low-income, medically fragile children to Disney World for a once-in-a-lifetime, magical experience! All 200+ kids, parents, nurses, and volunteers ventured on the three-day trip from Miami to Orlando to make this free journey happen for the seventh year. READ MORE

A record-high 50 low-income, medically fragile children from Miami-Dade and Broward counties embarked on a one-in-a-lifetime trip to Walt Disney World. The children, many of whom are in wheelchairs, and their family members and caretakers were transported in three buses with volunteers, nurses, and therapists. The trip was entirely free for the children and their families thanks to the generosity of the Li’l Abner Foundation, which coordinates “Disney on Wheels” each year. “I knew this would be challenging, but my whole team rallied together, and we were able to make history,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “We do it because of those children. When you see the joy on their faces when they arrive at the park, it is heartwarming. Seeing their experience changes you. Considering their conditions and that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to Disney, granting them this dream makes all the effort worthwhile.” READ MORE