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Summer is fast approaching and 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. A new state leadership team was installed at 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 team work. District 11’s entry took the “People’s Choice Award” as well as a 1st 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 events with two awards events in the forefront.
United Homecare Claude Pepper Awards Luncheon drew a record sellout crowd on May 12 at the Pullman Hotel. This annual gala that had always been a dinner gala became a luncheon that proved to be better for everyone if attendance is any indication. VIPs were everywhere and an upscale Live and Silent auction brought in big money as guests enjoyed a pre lunch reception enjoying mimosas and/or coffee, passed hors d’oeuvres, cheese trays, and several vendor tables with good resource information and lots of giveaways with resource information.
The University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame’s 52nd Induction Banquet was bigger than ever this year following breaks for the pandemic. On April 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 inductees 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. Meantime, the Class of 2022 inductees 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, volleyballer Lane Carico, and T’erea Brown and Tim Harris from track and field. In addition, a 2019 inductee unable to attend that banquet, Scott Nicolas of football, 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.
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 condcted a fundraiser raising $9,000 for the nonprofit 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 was also on hand to provide music. There were lots of parents attending as well as women from the Coral Gables Woman’s Club whose children dental clinic works with Crystal Academy located across the street from their clubhouse and clinic.
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 https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=5023652774337429 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnboz1Q-zAc
Until next time, keep making each day count and share an act of kindness every day.
