Florence and Sheldon Anderson received the United Way of Miami-Dade’s prestigious Tocqueville Award for Outstanding Philanthropy during the Tocqueville Grand Reception on Apr. 30 at the Miami Beach home of Petra and Stephen Levin of Gold Coast Beverages.
The Tocqueville Grand Reception brought together 300 of Miami’s most generous givers who contribute $10,000 or more annually to better the community through United Way. Both Florence and Sheldon are longtime Miami residents with a passion for giving back to the community they love to call home.
“Florence and Sheldon believe in philanthropy and service to others. They have demonstrated it through their active involvement in their community,” said Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade. “Together, they provide a leadership example that we applaud and should aspire to emulate.”
Sheldon is a Miami native whose driving force is his passion and commitment to helping others. A community and business leader, Sheldon has made it his mission to make his hometown a better place for all to grow, live and learn. At United Way, he has served as board chair, chaired the nominating committee for two consecutive years, served as campaign co-chair, and spearheaded both the Tocqueville and Major Gifts cabinets.
In addition to his work with the United Way, Sheldon advocates for education and the arts in the community throughout a breadth of organizations: he is a member and former chair of the Miami Dade College Foundation; partners with the principal of Fulford Elementary as a member of the Executive Pass Partnership; vice chair of the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart; serves of the President’s Council of Florida International University; and is on the advisory board of the University of Miami. Moreover, he is actively involved with the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and is president of the board of Cleveland Orchestra/Miami Music Association; vice chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art, and serves on the board of the New World Symphony.
He also has served as chair of Miami- Dade County’s economic development organization, the Beacon Council, and is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee. Lastly, he sits on the board of Baptist Health Systems Governing Board and Bioheart Inc.
Although Sheldon retired in December 2012 from his position as chair and CEO of the Southeast Region at Northern Trust, he continues to support the company as a consultant. Previously, he was responsible for managing the company’s investment management, trust and estate planning, private and business banking, and financial consulting business in Florida and Georgia.
His wife, Florence, was one of the founding board members of Kristi House, and served for several years on the Red Cross Ball Committee. Like her husband, she is passionate about the arts, and is a former board member of the Gables Stage. Both husband and wife have been active volunteers with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. They have two sons, Matthew and John Alan.
The reception was underwritten by Van Cleef & Arpels, Ed Ansin and the Northern Trust Company, and featured Joselyn Rivera as entertainment. Joselyn competed on the NBC-hit, The Voice, and has since appeared at several local sporting events, including Monday Night Football, the Marlin’s Stadium Opening, and singing the National Anthem for the Miami Heat. The 735-member United Way Tocqueville Society contributed nearly $20 million to support the Miami-Dade community through United Way during its last campaign, which represents 40 percent of the overall annual campaign.
The society was named after a French immigrant who recognized, celebrated and immortalized the voluntary spirit he witnessed in America during the 1800s. Years later, United Way’s Tocqueville Society continues to honor those individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary sense of philanthropy with remarkably high levels of giving.
To learn more about United Way of Miami-Dade and the Tocqueville Society, visit www.unitedwaymiami.org/
