February charity events focus on women’s issues

Dressed in ’60s attire at Beach Colony affair are Barbara Reese and Robin Shelley.

February is the month for hearts and flowers and, of course, heart health. Go Red For Women Executive Leadership Breakfast at Grove Isle used that theme for their event attracting civic leaders and several local celebs including CBS4 reporter Natali Zea, who emceed the breakfast, and Univision’s on air talent and author Albert Sardinias.

Tenet physician Dr. Miguel Diaz, a heart specialist, addressed the crowd stressing the importance of not smoking among other ways to decrease your risk of heart disease. Also, featured was personal trainer Marta Montenegro whose father’s death from a stroke inspired her to take better care of herself by improving her diet and regular exercise routine.

Among the many faces in the crowd that morning enjoying a healthy breakfast were Tenet’s Vilma Medio, Miami International Mall’s Jessie Mendoza, Tenet’s Jennifer Beard Evans, Sushi Maki’s Jenny Larson, and Halo Branded Solutions’ Norris Perez, to mention a few.

Lots of great charity events are scheduled even before the craziness of the annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities begin. On Saturday, Mar. 3, the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club is holding its annual Casino Night fundraiser with a silent auction. This is definitely one of the most fun events in town and certainly the best deal with tickets priced at $25 per person.

Past president Barbara Lapsley is chairing this year’s affair that has a Hollywood theme for those who like to come in costume. Lapsley and her hardworking committee, including silent auction chair Carmen Suarez, are dedicated to raising enough funds to extend the hours and days of operation for the club’s May Van Sickle Children’s Dental Clinic that provides more than $170,000 in free dental care annually to disadvantaged children.

For tickets or more information on the dental clinic, call Dr. Iris Torres at 305 446-1047.

Save those Hollywood costumes for Friday, Mar. 9, and join Coral Gables Rotarians for the club’s Annual Gala, “A Night on the Red Carpet,” at the Coral Gables Country Club. Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill will be on hand that night to entertain and serve as emcee a fun-filled awards program. Club president Deborah Swain and gala chair Margarita Tonkinson promise guests great food, lively entertainment, dancing and an auction to benefit Citizens for a Better South Florida and the Rotary Foundation.

Single tickets are $150 per person. The club is also selling raffle tickets for $125 for a 1 in 300 chance to win $20,000 or a new car of boat. For more information on the event and the raffle, visit www.coralgablesrotary.org.

The Beach Colony Club (BCC) celebrated its third party of the season with the theme “Jersey Boys” at the Coral Reef Yacht Club on Jan. 28. The host committee was Dan and Trish Bell, Bob and Manya Lowman, and John and Jane Noppenberg. It was an enjoyable evening of ’60s fun music and dancing according to BCC president Rick Tonkinson.

At the event, BCC past president Robert J. Shelley III and Cotillion Club president Barbara Reese, announced the first joint party in the history of both clubs on Mar. 31 aboard the yacht Biscayne Lady.

Finally, on Monday, Feb. 27, you can bowl with some of your favorite former Hurricanes at the 2012 University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Bowling Tournament at Splitsville in Sunset Place. Look for chance to win a 2001 Hurricanes National Championship Ring in a live auction. Teams of four bowlers are $400; individual bowlers are $125.

Call 305-284-2775 or go to UMSportsHallofFame.com for more information. Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloria@communitynewspapers.com.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.