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If your calendar is as filled, it is no wonder. There are so many great ways to be entertained while also helping others.
It seems everywhere we turn there are people like Steven Bradley of Clutch Burger making a difference. After hosting the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s monthly Gringo Bingo on May 3, Clutch Burger will host yet another fundraiser for autism and the kids at Crystal Academy. That event will start at 6 p.m., on May 12, with DJ Germain once again donating music and Steven emceeing. Tickets are $50 and include food and drinks. There will also an auction.
Orchestrating the event is Nicholas Varner whose child attends the academy with some support from academy founder and president Mary Palacio. Coincidentally, Crystal Academy and CGWC work together through CGWC’s free children’s dental clinic located across the street. CGWC helped Crystal Academy’s autistic spectrum children acclimate to getting dental work done by visiting the clinic and CGWC Dental Clinic Director Dr. Iris Torres has even provided some of the children with services.
Yet another club member, Theresa Gilmore, and others have spent time with the Crystal Academy children educating them on healthy eating and planting healthy choices. This is a great partnership is so many ways. For more information on Crystal Academy visit www.crystalacademycg.com and for the Coral Gables Woman’s Club visit www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org.
Speaking of collaborations, the Rotary Club of Coral Gables has made T. Willard Fair, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami Inc., an honorary member. The honor was bestowed after his presentation on the Urban League of Greater Miami’s work and impressive success achieved in Liberty City.
In fact, on Apr. 23, Rotarians took a bus tour of Liberty City with other stake holders and were impressed with what they saw, especially at The Villages Miami. The Villages is part of the Urban League of Miami’s We Rise Educational Village, an initiative spanning several blocks in Liberty City and involving multiple local organizations, including Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
This development is energy efficient, features a security gate, private clubhouse, a pool veranda, a state-of-the-art exercise complex and Wi-Fi. In the future, Gables Rotarians will be working with Fair on various programs and are heartened by the work already completed.
Coming up on May 13, A Safe Haven for Newborns will hold its annual golf tournament at Trump Resort. Good news for all, the event is back to a shotgun start and promises to be a great afternoon of golf for all on the Red Tiger Course with lunch, beverages and contest on course followed by a barbecue, reception, raffle and more to end the day. Tee off at 1 p.m. Join the fun and support an organization led by founder and CEP Nick Silverio, a non-profit that to date has saved the lives of 360 babies from abandonment and possible death. For more information, visit https://asafehavenfornewborns.com/.
Yet another great event is held on a golf course, but instead of golf guests will be transported to Bollywood. When you think of Bollywood, you envision dancing, colorful costumes, over-the-top entertainment, food and an altogether great experience.
On May 21, Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami will bring that and more to Crandon Park Golf Course, 6700 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. The fun begins at 7 p.m. and will honor longtime Lori Brener Scholarship Fund supporter, Norma Jean Abraham.
This year’s event, which will benefit the scholarship fund, is co-chaired by Betty Barrios, Sonia Gibson, Neyda Raola, and Miriam Salazar (mother of Lori Brener for whom the scholarship fund was named). Tickets are $220 per person and includes premium open bar, international food stations, celebrity deejay, raffle and silent auction. To reserve your place for this fabulous affair, contact Anneleise Sanchez at asanchez@bbbsmiami.org or call 305-644-7064, ext. 5936.
Kudos to The Women’s Fund on another successful Power of the Purse Luncheon held at the Hilton Downtown. Event co-chairs — Norma Jean Abraham, Ann Machado, DeAnne Connolly Graham — as well as the host committee, staff and board of directors are to be congratulated on an amazing afternoon that raised $230,000 to support the many efforts of
The Women’s Fund.
They truly “raised the roof” applauding the confirmation of Miami’s own Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court with Miami Mayor Danielle Levine Cava on hand to address the sellout crowd of some 700 people. Guests also enjoyed performances by Juliette Valle and Lee-Yahna Lawson and a testimonial by (Ladies Empowerment Action Program) LEAP graduate, Angelena Jackson. For more information on the organization, visit https://womensfundmiami.org/.
Speaking of LEAP, that non-profit recently held a huge “more than a fashion show” fundraiser where “fun, sustainable fashion and social justice converge.” UM’s Frost School of Music’s Stamps Jazz Trio entertained guests at the event that honored Florida State Sen. Lauren Book as well as LEAP mentor and advocate Michelle Shindell.
Originally scheduled for an outdoor event at a beautiful Coral Gables home on Apr. 28, the venue was moved indoors to Coral Gables Congregational Church because of predicted rainstorms.
LEAP’s executive director Mahli Lindquist welcomed what appeared to be a sellout crowd that enjoyed hearing from LEAP graduates Angelena Jackson and Nancy DeNike whose stories touched everyone’s heart as they were helped by LEAP after incarceration and moved on to success. Both started with a job at Dragonfly, an upscale thrift store that is looking for a new location.
To learn more about the organization, check out my interview with Mahli at www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=768699110788116 or www.youtube.com/watch?v=V54uMqrGFoM.
Coral Gables Woman’s Club held its High Pre Mother’s Day Tea on May 7 with a sellout crowd enjoying food by R Catering (Rita Tennyson), with a Bacardi Bar, tea and an auction with such great prizes as weekend stays at the Westin Washington, DC, Center; Intercontinental Doral with breakfast for two; brunch for four at The Biltmore; wine basket from Cana Wines, to mention a few items. With a Breakfast in Tiffany’s theme, most all ladies carried it out with black dress, pearls and hats. Kudos to Kristina Jackson and Iris Segui, co- chairs for the affair, who were guests on my Gloria Gab LIVE show recently. To view that show, visit YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPVIk1t6L9k or Facebook at https://fb.watch/ctcjiiotg/.
Until next time, keep making each day count and share an act of kindness every day.
