|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Rotary Club of Miami is reaching out to help Grand Bahama Island. This island is the 4th largest island in the Bahamas with its 530 square miles. It has only one hospital to serve its some 50,000 citizens plus those in Bimini and Abaco. Hurricane Dorian damaged and flooded the facility and while they are recovering, there is critical need for basic and vital medical equipment that still needs to be replaced. The Rotary Club of Miami, through its Foundation, has pledged to match any and all contributions up to $125,000 to buy necessary medical supplies for Rand Hospital. They have asked other Rotary clubs in our area for donations; however, the community can also lend its support by making a donation earmarked to Project GBI Rx to the Rotary Club of Miami, a gift that they will match to help purchase medical equipment for Grand Bahama Island. Mail gifts to Rotary Club of Miami Foundation (Reference GBI Rx), P.O. Box 43-1466, Miami, FL 33243.
The Rotary Club of Coral Gables (RCCG) has done much the same over the last year helping Ecoworks with various projects in Haiti with their International Committee chaired by Henryka Manes. In fact, Manes’ committee even got thousands of face masks that will be sent to Haiti thanks to a donation from former RCCG member Bruce Siddens, who seems to help the club and others at every turn. RCCG’s International Committee also received some funding from Coral Gables Woman’s Club for a Goat project that they raised with one of CGWC’s monthly Gringo Bingo games at Clutch Burger.
Coral Gables Woman’s Club, many of whose members live in Pinecrest, is one of many in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs FL (GFWC FL) District 11 who recently honored Elisabeth Kourtesis Fisher, outgoing District 11 Director 2018-2020 and president of the Miami Springs Woman’s Club. The celebration took place with a Zoom party that included her board and several club presidents from all over South Florida. Despite not being able to meet in person, as her Membership Chair this writer enjoyed the online gathering to sing Elizabeth’s praises and thank her for being such a hard act to follow. To give you an idea of her leadership and that of former District 11 Director Lynda Randolph, both Past Presidents as well of Miami Springs Woman’s Club, last year they presented Domestic Violence Shelters Safe Space Charities with $3,100 to restore their damaged playground equipment and this was but one of numerous initiatives and programs they either created or supported.
In other news, United Homecare, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to serving older and disabled adults at home, is in the midst of planning for their annual Claude Pepper Awards Dinner to take place on May 20th, at Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom. Last month honorees were announced and include Carlos R. Fernandez Guzman , Dr. Ranjan Duara, MD, Lilliam M. Lopez, Leadership Miami ALL IN MIAMI # 41, Pascal J. Goldschmidt-Clermont, MD, Jesus Quintero, Gary Press, Irina Vilarino, Barbara E Sanchez, Remedios Diaz-Oliver and Michael Finney. To help support United Homecare in its mission and celebrate these amazing individuals, become an event sponsor or purchase tickets by calling 305-716-0764.
Finally, the Jr. Orange Bowl Golf Invitational at The Biltmore Golf Course after the first of the year, was one to remember. Texan Sebastian Moss finished off 2-over-par 73 that included a quadruple bogey two holes from the finish line and became the first US born winner of the tournament in a decade. It seems Moss broke the tournament scoring record with Sunday’s opening 62, completed four rounds at 12-under 272 in a wire-to-wire performance over Matthew Doyle (68). But for one hole, Moss would have been the first player since 2012 to record four rounds in the 60s. As for the girls, after 17 months without a win, Canadian Emily Zhu held off Chile’s Antonia Matte for the second consecutive day to end her winless drought.
Kudos to the members of the JOBC Golf Invitational Committee including Tournament Chair Steven Gonzalez and Tournament Director JR Steinbauer for meeting the challenge of the pandemic to make this tournament happen. Actually, Steven Gonzalez is now President of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and was my guest recently on Gloria’s Gab LIVE held Mondays, at 10 a.m. To see Steven’s show, visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPO_cDUR1sM&feature=youtu.be and learn more about the many ways the Jr. Orange Bowl showcases our youth.
Until next time, keep making each day count, be kind and stay safe.
