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Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will be honored as the first recipient of the Wil Blechman Award for her lifetime of work on behalf of children at Kiwanis Club of Northeast Miami-Dade’s (Kiwanisnemiamidade.org) 64th annual Night Under the Stars Gala, Oct. 20, at Florida International University’s Biscayne Campus Kovens Center, 3000 NE 151 St.
The outdoor gala on the terrace of the Kovens Center begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception, followed by a 6 p.m. dinner.
The award is named for Dr. Wil Blechman, former president of Kiwanis International and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Miami Dade. Blechman and his wife Rachel, lifetime advocates of early childhood development, introduced Young Children Priority One (YCPO) during his 1990-91 tenure at the helm of Kiwanis International and the program became one of Kiwanis’ guiding principles. Known worldwide as “Dr. Wil,” Blechman passed away in late September at the age of 89.
“There is no one we can think of that is more deserving to receive the initial Wil Blechman Award than Mayor Levine Cava,” said Steven Moll, president of the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Miami-Dade (KNEMD). “She has served as an advocate for South Florida children and families for more than 30 years.”
Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County’s first woman mayor in November 2020 following a 40-year career as a relentless advocate for South Florida families in public service and elected leadership. Levine Cava served special needs children, low-income families and immigrants at Legal Services of Greater Miami and represented children in foster care and adoption system as acting, associate and legal director for the Guardian Ad Litem Program. In 1996, Levine Cava founded Catalyst Miami to help low- and middle-income families through service, education, and advocacy. Catalyst helps approximately 5,000 people each year to become more self-sufficient and civically engaged.
At the gala, which will benefit a wide variety of KNEMD projects—including the expansion of the club’s reading corners in area laundromats and barbershops, service leadership programs with elementary, middle and high school students, and the organization’s signature event, the World’s Greatest Baby Shower — Mayor Levine Cava is expected to announce her vision for an early childhood agenda to help put an end to youth violence and poverty.
“The initiative we expect Mayor Levine Cava to announce will have a major, positive impact on early childhood development in our community and was very near and dear to Dr. Wil’s heart,” said Diana Ragbeer Murray, chair, early childhood committee, for KNEMD who worked closely with Blechman over the years. “This will become one of Dr. Wil’s crowning achievements.”
In addition to honoring Levine Cava with the Blechman Award, the Kiwanis club will honor Suecia Mendez Padilla of Sunshine Health with the Community Service Award and Manuel “Manny” Fermin, CEO of the Healthy Start Coalition, with the Healthy Start for Babies Award.
Tickets are $75 and a variety of sponsorship opportunities also are available. To purchase tickets or support the event as a sponsor, visit kiwanisnemiamidade.org or phone 305-785-6632.
