Leila and David Centner, from Miami, are in the middle of a legal battle that if won, will hold the mainstream and legacy media accountable for lies, defamation and leaving a city devoid of a true gift.
The Centners are entrepreneurs and philanthropists committed to creating lasting impact. Together, they have contributed millions to charitable initiatives locally and globally, with a strong focus on empowering underserved women and children through sustainable programs in education, housing and job training. Their philanthropic and business efforts are guided by a shared mission; to uplift communities and enhance lives. Today the Centners oversee a diverse portfolio of ventures across sectors including education, hospitality, technology, health and wellness, fitness and retreats.
In September of this year, the Centners filed a defamation lawsuit against The Miami Herald. Before 2020, the Centners had been a celebrated couple for their philanthropic and charitable efforts not only in Miami but abroad. In fact, they had been celebrated by the media as “Miami’s Most Philanthropic Power Couple.” So how did this lawsuit come to be, you might ask?
The Centners allege that The Miami Herald and several of their reporters intentionally misrepresented the facts of a proposed $10 Million donation to the City of Miami for a Sports Park that would benefit the residents and visitors of the city.
In 2018, shortly after Leila and David moved their family to Miami, they co-founded Centner Academy, a school dedicated to the cultivation of emotional development and the overall well-being of the children. With seasoned teachers and an innovative curriculum that provides a strengths-based approach, the pre-school through high school students are also sent on a learning journey of the arts, mindfulness, entrepreneurship, languages, artificial intelligence, public speaking, and they also offer a robust STEM program.
Leila has been working as the CEO of the Academy, which opened its doors in 2019. Since its opening, the Academy has given out millions of dollars in scholarships and has received numerous awards and accolades as well as being globally recognized for its innovative curriculum.
The Academy had been reserving a neglected city park across the street for recreational sports events during the school year called Biscayne Park due to the proximity to the school. For decades the community had been concerned about the safety of the park, and the Centners also shared those concerns for potential risks to the students and others.
The Centners saw an opportunity to help by offering to revitalize the land into a $10M state-of-the-art recreational facility that would benefit the entire community. This would be a gift of love for David as he wanted to give back to the city that he was raised in, loved and shaped him to the man he is today.
In November of 2022, after addressing all concerns of the community and city commissioners, two agreements were drafted and signed to move forward with the project. The Donation Agreement made clear that the Centners sought to “donate” a “state of the art recreational facility worth no less than ten million dollars” in Biscayne Park, “for the benefit of the city, it’s residents and visitors.” While the License Agreement ensured that the Centner Academy could continue to reserve the park during school hours, the school’s use should be staggered resulting in continuous public access and use of unreserved program areas.
Hellbound and Down 
You must be logged in to post a comment.