The Rotary Club of Miami Dadeland Pinecrest’s meeting on March 13 will feature a talk by former State Representative and former Chair of the Dade Democratic Party, Mike Abrams. Abrams’s topic will be the 2018 Florida Legislative Session. Following the last week of that session, this promises to be a most interesting presentation and visiting Rotarians are always welcomed. The Rotary Club of Miami Dadeland-Pinecrest meets for breakfast on the second Tuesday morning every month, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Dadeland Marriott Hotel, 9090 S. Dadeland Boulevard. Those interested in learning more about the club should contact Eric Gressman, 786-239-0701, ekg@miamidade.gov, or Ron Lieberman, 305-613-6744, miamilawyr@gmail.com.
In other Rotary news, Rotarians from Pinecrest, South Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell and well beyond from Rotary International’s District 6990 recently raised more than $75,000 for Rotary Foundation Annual Giving. Clubs sold numbered tickets at $25 a pop. Each number had a golf ball with the number and those sold were dropped from a helicopter en masse on February 1 at The Biltmore Gold Course. Several Rotarians gathered for lunch at the 19th Hole before the big drop. The golf balls falling closest to the hole won some amazing prizes: a one week’s stay with plane tickets to a Vermont Resort; several two night stays including one at the Marriott Beachside in Key West, the Hyatt Place in Marathon and the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale. Also in the list was a brunch for two at The Biltmore Hotel. The event was coordinated by RCCG Past President and Assistant District Governor Yolanda Woodbridge assisted by RCCG Rotarian Carol Alexander. This year’s event was renamed after a beloved Rotarian, Chris Morrison, who died well before his time this past year.
On Saturday March 24 the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Annual Gala promises to be its best ever with an Oscar theme, great entertainment, contests, silent auction, open bar, gourmet dinner by celebrity Chef Chris Valdes. At $75 per person for early bird reservations this will be the best deal in town and all proceeds will help the club’s free children’s dental clinic that provides more than $220,000 in free care annually to the children of the working poor. For tickets, email Gala Chair Arely Ruiz at arely@arelypr.com.
Women interested in joining this dynamic woman’s club do not have to live in the Coral Gables area. In fact, many club members live in the Pinecrest / Palmetto Bay area and all over Miami Dade, and some even live in Broward County. The club meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at their clubhouse located at 1001-9 East Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables. For information visit www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org.
One of the many non profits the Coral Gables Woman’s Club likes to support is A Safe Haven for Newborns (ASHFN). ASHFN has been busy having just added four more babies saved from abandonment in the last month or so. Nick Silverio, founder of the organization that counts saving more than 274 babies in the last 10 years, works night and day in his unpaid position as head of this nonprofit. Safe Haven’s volunteers are many and help Nick with funding with several fundraisers during the year. Community Newspapers is happy to support them all. Up next will be their annual 5K Walk at Amelia Earhart Park, on March 10. Registration is only $20. To register visit www.asafehavenfornewborns.org.
Among the many steadfast people involved in this nonprofit include Norris Perez, Marti Bueso, Gina Perez, Charlie Smith, Rosa Albert, Susan Longo, Alina Barrios, Odalys Quesada, Mariangelica Alvarado, Pete de le Torre, and even such notables as Sen. Rene Garcia and Miami Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr. Among the Walk sponsors are Mount Sinai Medical Center as well as Sam’s Club, Mercantil Bank, UPS, Palm Medical Centers and Community, to mention some of the larger ones.
Finally, March 10 is also the date for the Jr. Orange Bowl’s Annual Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel downtown. This is typically sold out and always a fun night out with lots of auction items you may view online. For information, call 305-662-1210.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
