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We closed November with Smartride, Alzheimer’s Walk and Thanksgiving, and jumped right into holiday festivities from the Merrick Festival Caroling Competition and Jingle Bells Run on Dec. 10 at Tropical Park for the Arthritis Foundation to the Junior Orange Bowl Parade on Dec. 11.
To begin with the end of November, the annual Smartride, took place on the weekend of Nov. 19. Smartride, a 501(c)(3) organization, supports several HIV/AIDS clinics in the state. Founded by Glen Wienzimer, Smartride, raised more than $1 million at this year’s event and will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. As always, Coral Gables Woman’s Club was on hand to host water/snack stops along this 165-mile ride over two days that starts in South Miami and ends in Key West.
Among the volunteers manning the pit stops were CGWC club member Carmen Suarez, Denise Valluerca, Arely Ruiz, Ruth Martinez, Barbara Lapsley, Dr. Iris Torres-Rivera, Donna Myrill and Carol Horkowitz. Other members of that same club joined the Rotary Club of Coral Gables for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Nov. 19 at FIU’s football stadium. Kudos to those clubs whose donations were matched by RCCG’s Foundation to donate $4,500 for their team for the event.
From Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, the Merrick Festival Caroling Competition was held in front of the 550 Biltmore Building in Coral Gables with outstanding performances by choirs from all over the county coordinated over decades by Sally Baumgartner.
On-site during the shows were members of the Coral Gables Senior High School Interact Club selling snacks and hot chocolate while another group of sophomores were selling their crocheted ornaments and other creations to raise funds for Kristi House and then different charities as they reach each goal.
More than $13,000 in cash prizes were awarded to winning choirs and soloists with the grand prizes of $900 each going to New World School of the Arts, Robert Morgan Senior High, Doral Academy Prep, Miami Arts Studio/Zerlda Glazer, Florida Christian and Miami Arts Charter, each for their respective categories. Doral Academy Prep also won the Coral Gables Rotary’s Award and Good Shepard won Grand Prize for Show Choir.
In other news, congratulations to local and now international celebrity Chef Chris Valdes whose philanthropic efforts during pandemic helped so many. He literally prepared thousands and thousands of meals for those in need in our community working with other nonprofits. Now, Chef Chris, whom has been seen many times on ABC’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, now goes international. Chef Chris, whose Cuban heritage is the inspiration for his Latin-inspired dishes, is hosting and judging ¡Que Delicioso!, the inaugural Spanish language original series streaming on the Roku Channel. ¡Que Delicioso! is a seven-episode competition which celebrates Latin cuisine and Chef Chris is hosting the series with Mexican-born Chef Marcela Valladolid. ¡Que Delicioso! started streaming on Roku Nov. 25 in the USA and Dec. 1 in Mexico. Big cash prizes are awarded to an internationally acclaimed chef from Latin America whose dish wins in each episode. For our bi-lingual South Florida community, this promises to be a fun watch.
In other good news, A Safe Haven for Newborns, a 501(c)(3) organization, has announced another baby saved from abandonment with the total as of this writing at 368 newborns. Kudos to Nick Silverio, founder and CEO of A Safe Haven for Newborns, who works 24/7 without ever taking a salary, and his amazing ambassadors for helping countless pregnant women and saving the lives of so many.
By the way, there is a drive to have A Safe Haven for Newborns license plate in Florida and there is a call out to sell 3,000 vouchers to make this happen. For information on how you can support this drive, email nick at safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com or visit the website at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com.
Until next time, keep making each day count, share an act of kindness and enjoy a happy holiday season.
To see more #Miaminews from #Aventura to #Coralgables to #SouthMiami, #Pinecrest, #Palmetto Bay and #Cutler Bay and all throughout #Miamidadecounty go to:
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