Many wonderful events for charity on the fall calendar

Nancy Concepcion and Maria Martinez are pictured with Cristy Martinez-Paez, of the American Heart Association, during Seasons 52 event for charity
Nancy Concepcion and Maria Martinez are pictured with Cristy Martinez-Paez, of the American Heart Association, during Seasons 52 event for charity

Fall is here and charities have wonderful events that take advantage of South Florida’s year round great weather with walks and races almost every week.

The members of the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club have teams entered in three walks thus far and just completed the American Diabetes Association Walk, held Sept. 21. Next up for the club will be the American Heart Association Walk scheduled for the morning of Oct. 26 at Marlins Park. In an effort to raise additional funds for those first two walks, the club held a fundraiser at Seasons 52 on Miracle Mile on Sept. 17. Seasons 52 donated the party for approximately 40 supporters helping the club raise almost $700 to be divided among the two team fundraising goals.

CGWC president Mireya Kilmon and several club members were delighted with the support of Century Home Builders’ Sergio Pino, several members of the Doral Business Council as well as local Coral Gables Rotarians who attended the affair. Guests enjoyed drinks and lots of great flatbreads, a raffle, door prizes and great networking.

Among the many gathered for the affair were Pino, Debi Moore, Peter Azcue, Cathie Burns, Florence and Alex Laygre, Patty Hendon, Maria Martinez, Carlos Bolado, Nancy Concepcion, Martha Carter, Yolanda Woodbridge, Hank Langston, Kate Swain, Nathalia Bogani, and Lynn Bauer, to mention a few.

Speaking of walks — supporters of the Arthritis Foundation gathered for the Miami- Dade 2013 Arthritis Walk for the Cure kickoff luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables on Sept. 12. NBC 6 investigative and health reporter Diana Gonzalez emceed an informative program that featured the honorary medical chair Dr. Jeffrey A. Rick, DO, from the Miami Joint Restoration Center; Brad Koogler, Arthritis Foundation development manager; Armando Alvarado, Walk Leadership chair, and Darryl Gilbert, Music Masters Events.

The final speaker also was the youngest — Sofia Valencia, the Walk Child Honoree whose inspiring story touched everyone. One does not think of arthritis afflicting children and, when it does, it can be heartbreaking as well as a lesson in courage, as in the case with Sofia who received a standing ovation.

Save the date for this year’s walk will be Saturday, Nov. 16, at Amelia Earhart Park, 401 W. 65 St. in Hialeah. To register, visit <www.miamiwalk.kintera.org>.

The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame is busy again with its 21st Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22, at Miami International Links/ Melreese Country Club in Miami. Participants will get to play golf with some of the greatest athletes in the Hurricanes’ history. The event begins at noon with a shotgun start and ends with an awards ceremony including a silent auction at the clubhouse.

The UM Sports Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose sole purpose is to promote the University of Miami’s athletic programs and the accomplishments of its student-athletes and proceeds from this event will benefit the UMSHofF charitable fund for the maintenance and renovation of its on campus facility.

On Sept. 15, Susie Tilson held a shower in her Palmetto Bay home for new member Kara Corniel, whom she recently sponsored into the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club. Kara’s baby was due Sept. 22; so, the shower was none too soon. Among those enjoying an afternoon of good food, fun games and socializing were several CGWC members including Debi Moore, Mayra Dominguez, Mireya Kilmon, Robin Burr, Lori Dilan, Nathalie Bogani, Barbara Lapsley, Stella Suarez, Andy Young, and Nancy Desmangles, to mention a few. At a recent meeting Kara and fellow club member Jessie Francisco posed for a expectant mother photo op. By this printing, Kara will probably already have delivered.

Until next time, keep making each day count. If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to <gloriagalburns@aol.com>.

If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to <gloriagalburns@aol.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.