Rotarians bring smiles to young and old alike

Rotarians bring smiles to young and old alike
Rotarians bring smiles to young and old alike
Past president of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables, Walter Alvarez, and wife, Annette, who is Executive Director of MCIV, show off their tip jar at Great Grove Bed Race where Rotarians sold beer and got to keep the tips for their veterans project.

The Be a Santa to a Senior, a project spearheaded over the last number of year by current South Miami Rotary President Gabriel De Armas, of Home Instead Care, now has 50 drop off locations for gifts to bring joy to seniors over the holidays. In fact, the City of Coral Gables recently presented him with a Proclamation acknowledging his good works.

In other good news, the Coral Gables Rotary Foundation increased its ongoing support for the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s free children’s dental clinic with a $5,000 grant. Several Rotarians were recognized at the Club’s Halloween Party which netted another $2,500 plus for the clinic that provides more than $225,000 in free dental care for children of the working poor. Speaking of the clinic, every year the CGWC provides Thanksgiving food baskets for the families of the dental clinic patients as well as $15 gift cards for the children. This is no small endeavor and outside donations are always welcomed.

In addition, Coral Gables Rotarian Lorraine Sheldon and her Community Service committee are helping furnish five apartments of formerly homeless veterans through cash and in-kind donations. The project kicked off on Nov. 10th when Lorraine, Yolanda Woodbridge, Water Alvarez and this writer, brought furnishings, kitchen appliances, television/ VCR, supplies and bedding to the apartment of the first veteran, Alfred Barron, on November 10th. Of course numerous businesses along with the Coral Gables Rotary Foundation carried the bulk of the load to pull off this amazing project.

Rotarians bring smiles to young and old alike
Vanilla Ice rides to victory in Great Grove Bed Race.

To help with additional underwriting for this program, more than a dozen Rotarians sold beer at the Great Grove Bed Race with more than $600 in tips going to that veterans’ project. Among the crowd helping sell Concrete Brewery’s craft beers were Bill Quesenberry, Deena Bell, Sophie Dumont, Keith Phillips, Sally Baumgartner, Walter and Annette Alvarez, and Andrew Dixon.

Speaking of the Great Grove Bed Race, Vanilla Ice and his crew rocked it on Nov. 8th. Beds this year were better than ever and Vanilla Ice interacted with each one all afternoon and also rode in his own winning bed. Major sponsor, Debt Warriors (Jacobs Keeley, PLLC), hammed it up with attorney Amida Frey in full warrior regalia on their awesome bed. All in all it was a picture perfect day that also served to benefit Little Smiles charity. Kudos to the many sponsors and to Bed Race Productions’ Daisy Lewis and Barbara Ferenzi on a great event.

In more outreach to children, Coral Gables Rotarians, dressed in costumes and bearing refreshments, visited the children at Ronald McDonald House near Jackson Memorial to throw a Halloween Party on Oct. 30th for the children following their Thursday weekly meeting at the Marriott on LeJeune and Navarre. It seems this club never stops with their community outreach efforts. Children and adults alike always love this party that the club throws every year to bring joy to the ill children at RMH undergoing treatment.

Rotarians bring smiles to young and old alike
Seen here at first of five apartments being furnished by Gables Rotary, this one for US Army Veteran Alfred Barron seated surrounded by (l to r): Lorraine Sheldon, Yolanda Woodbridge,Gloria Burns and Walter Alvarez.

Finally, on election day, Nov. 4, Chamber Trustees enjoyed a reception at Montica Jewelry on Miracle Mile before moving on for the parties watching results. John O’Rourke, always the gracious host, welcomed the crowd all of whom received a free drink token from John’s buddy Wayne Eldred from Tarpon Bend next store. That night it seems everyone was very excited the FIU issue passing and you can bet Dr. Rosenberg was surrounded by supporters celebrating.

Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via e-mail to gloriagalburns@aol.com.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.