The Marilyn K. Gaylord Charitable Trust recently awarded two $25,000 grants to local community groups. Thanks to one of the grants received by the Merrick Festival our local Miami-Dade County school choirs participating in the Merrick Festival Caroling Competition will receive more prize money in 2018. This donation came as a surprise for Sally Baumgartner, Merrick Festival executive director.
Of the $25,000 grant, $15,000 will be placed in Merrick Festival’s endowment fund at the Coral Gables Community Foundation, offering annual support in perpetuity. The remaining $10,000 will be directed to general operating funds for the schools’ bus money, prize money, advertising, etc. for the coming year.
A second $25,000 grant was presented to the Rotary Club of Coral Gables for its Scholarship Foundation. Representing the Gaylord Trust, Charles Gomes was on hand at the club’s Jan. 11 lunch meeting to do the honors. Last year, this committee, chaired by Terry Long Gomes, awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to deserving students.
At that same meeting, the featured speakers were Actors’ Playhouse’s Barbara Stein and David Arisco who discussed the upcoming comedy, Noises Off, which runs through Feb. 4. This has been lauded as one of the funniest shows ever, so it is one you will want to see and the first of many great shows that will be running during the theater’s 30th anniversary season.
In other news, the Coral Gables Woman’s Club received a $1,000 check from the law firm of Mitchell & West as part of the funds the firm raised at the its annual holiday fun run in December. Club member Tiffany Perez, who works with the firm, was on hand to present the check to first vice president Arely Ruiz at the club’s Jan. 10 meeting.
In club news, the annual Coral Gables Woman’s Club Children’s Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. This is a free event that offers a variety on interactive experiences from an obstacle course set up for the fire department and a canine demonstration by the Gables Police to career and creative arts stations and more.
Event chair Kate Swain, who teaches at Coral Gables Elementary, knows well how to entertain and educate, so this is always a hit with the children.
Coming next for this busy group of women will be the annual gala on Mar. 24. Save the date.
If you or your business have not yet signed up for the Coral Gables Rotary Chili Cook Off on Feb. 25, do so now. Visit chilichillin.com for all the information or call me at 305-284-7379. Be a sponsor, a chef or just come to enjoy good music and food. It is a fun family day for all.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
