Close to 650 guests joined event chair Karelia Martinez Carbonell and chapter president Patrick Morris as they hosted the 28th annual National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon at Jungle Island.
In 1985, the Miami chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals initiated the nation’s first National Philanthropy Day event. Today, more than 50,000 people in 130 countries around the world participate in National Philanthropy Day celebrations. The luncheon pays tribute to Miami’s philanthropic community.
This year, trust company TIAA-CREF joined in honoring Miami philanthropists as the event’s Diamond Partner. TIAA-CREF Trust Company, founded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, provides estate planning and fiduciary services for individuals, families, foundations and other institutions.
The event garnered one of the largest crowds in event history. Guests mingled and visited among pop artist Romero Britto’s whimsical centerpieces that spelled out words such as “Dream,” “Joy,” and “Hope.”
Cynthia Demos, CBS4 news anchor, served as emcee and helped honor this year’s award winners: Roe and Penny Stamps, Lifetime Achievement Award; Bruce and Tracey Berkowitz, Outstanding Philanthropist Award; Jorge Luis and Marile Lopez, Outstanding Volunteer Award; Barbara L. Romani, regional director for Community Development, accepted the Julia Tuttle Award for Community Involvement and Corporate Citizenship on behalf of the Citi Foundation; Michael Spring, director, accepted the Outstanding Grant Maker Award on behalf of the Miami-Dade Department of Cultural Affairs. Sallie Byrd, chapter past president presented the Joyce Galya Scholarship to Mary Morgan Radcliff.
The event also featured a dynamic video produced by Aaron Glickman with clips from community leaders (representing the nominating organizations) including University of Miami president Donna Shalala; Barry University president Sr. Linda Bevilacqua; Northern Trust South Florida Region president Edward Joyce; Miami Marlins Foundation executive director Alfred Mesa; The Education Fund president Linda Lecht, and Adrienne Arsht Center president John Richard.
Platinum sponsors for the event included: Baptist Health South Florida, Comcast, FIU, Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Penny and Roe Stamps, The Miami Foundation, and WPBT2. For more information about National Philanthropy Day and AFP Miami, visit www.afpmiami.org.
