Sports and Festivals impact on South Florida in the billion$

Sports and Festivals impact on South Florida in the billion$
Sports and Festivals impact on South Florida in the billion$
Starting Line at Family Fun Day 5K race.

As the Junior Orange Bowl kicked off their festival season with a Pageant Ball on September 5 at The Biltmore Hotel, followed by their Queen’s Pageant on September 13, JOBC Executive Director Jessica Cerda recently served on a panel for the Doral Business Council Signature Breakfast. Cerda was joined by some other major players in the sports and festival industry including Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms; Miami Dolphins Sr. Vice President and General Counsel Myles Pistorius; Executive Director of the Miami Beach Bowl, Carlos Padilla; and Miami Heat Director of Ticket Sales, Kevin Duplaga. Festivals and sports are big business in South Florida and the JOBC alone accounts for more than $10 million in economic impact while the big boys count for numbers in the billions of dollars. As we move into the fall, look for more festival news including the JOBC Pageant results, Orange Bowl and Jr. Orange Bowl youth athletic and cultural events, and more.

Aside from numerous festival events, several other walks and special events should be added to everyone’s calendars.

A relatively new event for which you will want to save the date is the 2nd Annual Mitchell & West, LLC Holiday Family Fun Day 5K to be held December 5, 2015, 7:30 a.m., the morning after the famous tree lighting festival in Coral Gables The event, founded by Coral Gables attorneys P.J. Mitchell and Spencer West, serves as a fundraiser and opportunity to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association and Running with Danny, an organization that focuses on cystic fibrosis. The race will start and finish on Biltmore Way at the historic Coral Gables City Hall. Participants have the option to run or walk in either race and will have the opportunity to win cash and other prizes. More on this in coming issues but for those interested in early registration, visit www.familyfunday5k.com.

Sports and Festivals impact on South Florida in the billion$
P.J. Mitchell (left) and Spencer West, founders of December Family Fun Day 5K to benefit Autism.

In other news, Profit Inc., one of Miami Dade County’s oldest business clubs, came to South Miami for an Open House at Miami’s Community Newspapers. This dynamic group of business leaders meet every other Thursday for lunch at 94th Aero Squadron and visit an open house at a member’s place of business the alternate week. Among the many attending the affair were Robert Beans, Bay Plumbing; Profit President Stacy Alonso, of JS Alonso Accounting, Inc. and Jose Alonso; Bob Kemper, of Griswold Home Care; Elena Kemper, (EWM) The Elena Kemper Group; Hernando, Elizabeth and Valerie Valenzuela, of HV Designs; Donald and Maria Van Orsdel, Van Orsdel Chapels & Crematory; and Rosemary Guilfoyle, New York Life, to mention a few. Those interested in learning more about this friendmaking referral group are invited to visit <www.profitinc.org>. The UM Sports Hall of Fame reports that UMSHoF member Ted Hendricks was selected to the FIRST Team of the Football Writers Association of America’s 75th Anniversary All- America Team and that UMSHoF member Ed Reed was a SECOND Team selection.

Fall brings us for football, ‘tis the season. Go Gators, Canes, Panthers, Seminoles and, of course, Dolphins.

Finally, Jewish high holy days are upon us, blessings to all of the Jewish faith.

Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via e-mail 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.