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Summer is fast approaching as many organizations close out their club years and install new leadership.
General Federation of Women’s Club’s District 11, comprised of 13 clubs in the Miami-Dade County area, attended their state convention at Rosen Plaza in Orlando on the weekend of May 20. District 11 past district director Elizabeth Fisher won Volunteer of the Year for the state of Florida for her many efforts that could fill a book. A new state leadership team led by 2022-24 president Linda O’Toole was installed during the convention during which many of our local clubs took home awards.
In fact, a joint effort to make an outfit for a Friday night “Trashion Show” from recycled materials brought lots of laughs and teamwork. District 11’s entry took the “People Choice Award” as well as a first place competing against all the other districts in the state. Among the many contributing items they made for the outfit were Anita Jenkins, Virginia Yermoli, Linda Hartwell, Gloria Burns, Linda Joseph and Barbara Hassall. District 11 made a big statement with that entry as well as the Saturday night entertainment, a Motown group performing courtesy of The Miami Woman’s Club.
Spring has brought a full calendar of great activities with two awards events in the forefront. United Homecare Claude Pepper Awards Luncheon drew a sellout crowd on May 12 at the Pullman Hotel. This annual gala that had always been a dinner event became a luncheon that proved to be better for everyone if attendance is any indication. VIPs were everywhere and an upscale live and silent auctions brought in big money as guests enjoyed a pre-lunch reception with mimosas and/or coffee, passed hors d’oeuvres, cheese trays, and several vendor tables with good resource information and lots of giveaways.
The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame’s 52nd Induction Banquet was bigger than ever this year following breaks for pandemic. On Apr. 21, they combined Classes of 2020 and 2022, for the induction ceremony at the Doubletree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center.
The Class of 2020 inducted included Jay Brophy, Phillip Buchanon and Kevin Williams from football; Yasmani Grandal from baseball; basketball’s Johnny Hemsley; soccer’s Brittney Steinbruch; Laura Vallverdu from tennis, and former track and field coach Mike Ward.
Members of the Class of 2022 were Cleveland Gary and D.J. Williams from football; Jeff Alkire from baseball; Shenise Johnson and Jack McClinton from basketball; diver Brittany Viola Gonzalez; Conny Falk from tennis; volleyball player Lane Carico, plus T’erea Brown and Tim Harris from track and field.
In addition, a 2019 inductee, Scott Nicolas of football, unable to attend that banquet was recognized. For more information on the UM Sports Hall of Fame, call UMSHoF executive director, John Routh, at the Hall of Fame at 305-284-2775.
The Great Miami Festivals & Events Association held its ninth annual conference at Jungle Island on June 2 with keynote speaker Lee Schrager, of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Look for more on this in next issue.
In other nonprofit event news, a pre Mother’s Day Tea presented by the Coral Gables Woman’s Club raised about $17,000 for the club’s free children’s dental clinic.
Kudos to co-chairs Kristina Jackson and Iris Segui on an outstanding event that was a sellout. Proceeds from this affair will help provide healthy smiles for hundreds of children in need in throughout Miami Dade County.
Crystal Academy also held a event raising $9,000 for the non-profit school for children with autism this month. The event was hosted by Clutch Burger, whose owner Steven Bradley, recruited help from Threefold Café to accommodate a crowd of 70-plus guests supporting the affair. DJ Germain also was on hand to provide music.
There were lots of parents attending as well as women from the Coral Gables Woman’s Club whose children’s dental clinic works with Crystal Academy located across the street from their clubhouse and clinic.
On the cultural front, GableStage has a new production you won’t want to miss. Adapted from the book, Joan Didion’s powerful drama The Year of Magical Thinking runs Wednesday through Sundays through June 26. The book won the 2005 National Book Award for nonfiction and was a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography.
The GableStage Theatre, which always brings theatrical works of artistic excellence that confront today’s issues and ideas, is located on the east side of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables at 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134. To reserve tickets, call 305-445-1119
Finally, look for my interviews with some amazing people doing good work in our community. Most recently, pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Kunjana Mavunda, MD, MPH, DTM&H, who is vice president of Outpatient Clinical Trials at KIDZ Medical Service, and medical director of Pediatric Pulmonary Center and International Travel Clinic, was my guest with a most informative program on asthma. If you have asthma or know anyone who does, you will want to watch this show. You may view the program at www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=5023652774337429 or www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnboz1Q-zAc.
Until next time, keep making each day count and share an act of kindness every day.
