Coral Gables Rotary Club joined forces with the Miami Dadeland Pinecrest Rotary Club to orchestrate a great day of golf at the Biltmore course to raise money for Rotary scholarships.
After a morning of golf, players joined non players and visitors for a lunch meeting that included a silent auction as a way to raise additional funds. The day finished with yet another fundraiser, a Golf Ball Drop to benefit the Rotary International Foundation. Hundreds of numbered golf balls were dropped from a helicopter on the gold course, and you can imagine how much fun that was to see. Rotarians bought the balls for $25 with the hopes of having their numbered ball come close to the hole for some great prizes. Chairing the golf event for the two clubs were Joe Stevens and Chris Morrison.
The following day, Feb. 6, numerous activities provided families with several options from the Farmers Market and Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Tour of the Kitchens to the second annual Coral Gables Woman’s Club “Free” Children’s Festival at the clubhouse.
The Children’s Festival, now in its second year, attracted more than 100 children with parents for an educational fun day. Coral Gables Police and Firefighters certainly added to the fun for the children as did the many career, arts and educational programs offered by numerous volunteers.
These included event chair Ruth Martinezwith club members and friends: Mayra Dominguez, Nancy DesMangles, Eneida Rivera, Cindie Ruiz, Jessie Francisco, Linda Hartwell, Debi Moore and Dr. Iris Suarez.
Club member Robin Burr brought volunteers from the Venetian Aquatic Club to talk to kids and parents about water safety while another club member, Ivonne Perez Suarez, shared goodies from the Department of Agriculture such as information booklets on healthy eating and the importance of parents getting ID cards for their children.
New member Theresa Gilmore spoke to the children about acupuncture at the Career Corner while new members Valerie Valenzuela and Yvonne Elejalde painted faces. Photographer in training and son of club member Lisa Merheb, Gabriel, took a thousand photos of the day.
In preparation for the club’s participation in the Coral Gables Rotary Chili Cook Off on Feb. 21 at Ponce Circle Park, face painters Valerie and Yvonne and others ran from that event to a fitting for an upcoming Talbots Fashion Show for the club to a chili tasting to check out the recipe for the Cook Off.
Participation in the Cook Off is growing fast. In fact, Miami Christian School has elected to throw its recipe in the mix, apparently a great family recipe from the high school principal. It’s not too late to enter. For more information on how to particpate or get involved as a sponsor or vendor, visit www.chilichillin.com.
Free jazz concerts continue to entertain crowds at lunch time at the the Coral Gables Museum. Coral Gables Hospital, which helps sponsor the series and also will be at the Cook Off, was on hand to give out water and goodies for the appreciative crowd enjoying lunch. Elizabeth Silverman, Catering by Lovables, provided a great lunch option for those attending and enjoying the amazing artists performing every Wednesday in the Museum Plaza.
Until next time, keep making each day count!
