The Annual Safe Haven for Newborns Annual 5K on March 10 was another success bringing in more than $45,000 all to benefit the programs of A Safe Haven for Newborns, founded by Nick Silverio. Participation came from all over Miami-Dade and Broward County for this annual event held at Amelia Earhart Park on a beautiful day. If you have been to any hospital in South Miami or any other in the state of Florida, you will have seen A Safe Haven for Newborns signs, letting new moms know they can leave their infants with no questions asked. During the warm up, presentations and announcements before the Walk, Nick announced that to date, the organization had saved 279 babies from abandonment and helped so many more mothers-to-be in times of need with a hot line, prenatal services accessibility and care. For more information on how to support this nonprofit that helps mothers and babies, visit asafehavenfornewborns.org.
In other news, the Rotary Club of Miami Dadeland Pinecrest’s April 10 breakfast meeting welcomed guest speaker Pinecrest Mayor Joe Corradino who addressed Miami-Dade County’s Traffic Problems while South Dade’s representative on the Miami-Dade County Commission, Daniella Levine Cava, educated the group on the Miami-Dade Traffic Solutions Action Plan. This Rotary Club is now conducting a Spring Membership Drive and has several open classifications including Journalist, Dentist, Veterinarian, Optometrist, Chiropractor, Psychologist, Publicist, Computer Technician, Plumber, Printer, Architect and several Physician and Lawyer sub classifications. The Rotary Club of Miami Dadeland-Pinecrest meets for breakfast every month on the second Tuesday morning of each month, 7:30-8:30, and the fourth Tuesday afternoon, 7-9 p.m., at the Dadeland Marriott Hotel, 9090 S. Dadeland Boulevard, to discuss international and community service projects and to hear interesting speakers. For further information, contact Eric Gressman, 786-239-0701, egressman@kelleykronenberg.com, or Ron Lieberman, 305-613-6744, miamilawyr@gmail.com.
Speaking of Rotarians, two of this writer’s fellow Coral Gables Rotarians, Pinecrest residents Margarita and Rick Tonkinson, recently held a Spring Musicale Benefit Concert at their home benefiting current music students at Florida International University. On April 8, guests of the event enjoyed refreshments, a performance by FIU’s artists-in-residence, the celebrated Amernet String Quartet, followed by a wine and cheese bar. The Tonkinsons are to be applauded for their history of supporting the FIU’s music programs and so many other charitable organizations and causes.
Finally, another great couple doing good work are Melissa and Marc Barbier. The couple founded the Marc Jaiden Foundation which is best described in their own words, “a community movement that transforms lives by engaging eye care specialists, sponsors, supporters and individuals with one goal in mind – to provide VISION WITH HEART. No one should ever be limited by poor vision, and that is why we provide vision care to the community in need, locally and globally. Together, we help restore eyesight, provide eyewear and prevent vision loss.” The Foundation will hold its annual gala at the Eden Roc on May 19. Save the date. For information and tickets visit
www.marcjaiden.com/copy-of-gala-2017.
The Rotary Club of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Woman’s Club have both taken this couple’s vision to heart and started collecting used glasses which are cleaned and prepared for distribution and other organizations are welcomed to join in the effort. Contact for information is 305-741-5853.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
