The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting started with an idea — that private foundations and the community would support investigative journalism in the Sunshine State.

This month, FCIR will reach the one-year mark. And FCIR has accomplished a lot in that year, with investigations in English and Spanish that examined Congressional lettermarking (en Español), for-profit virtual high schools, the immigration-enforcement program Secure Communities (en Español), extraditions (en Español), FBI informants, foreclosure density (en Español), even the effort to recall Gov. Rick Scott.

Along the way, we made some news ourselves. The Columbia Journalism Review called FCIR “a pioneer bilingual investigative nonprofit,” and FCIR’s journalism has won awards from the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Florida Society of News Editors.

In just one year, FCIR has partnered with some of Florida’s largest news media organizations, including Florida’s NPR affiliates, the Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times and Miami’s CBS4. And FCIR has also shared its journalism with the growing Spanish-language and ethnic media in the state and supported the work of student journalists. These partnerships give FCIR a potential audience of millions on multiple platforms as well as a statewide impact.

And there’s more to come in our second year. But in the meantime, let’s celebrate one year of nonprofit, bilingual journalism in Florida. Join us for drinks and meet some of FCIR’s staff, board members and supporters, as well as other Florida journalists, media types and lounge lizards:

WHERE: The News Lounge, 5580 NE 4th Ct., Miami
WHEN: Friday, September 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

This is a casual event — it’s Florida, after all! — and we encourage you to bring a guest. Attendees must purchase their own drinks. (Sorry — but we’re serious about putting all of our money behind our journalistic efforts.) In order for us to estimate the crowd size — something we journalists are notoriously bad at doing — we would appreciate your confirmation through Facebook. However, if you don’t confirm, you’re still welcome to attend.

While we hope to see you on Sept. 9, we also hope you will consider supporting FCIR’s brand of nonprofit, bilingual journalism. You can make a quick, easy donation online.