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Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s May 3 Gringo Bingo fundraiser hosted by Clutch Burger was another successful night raising more than $1,600 that the club will share this month with the Afghan refugee effort through RAA.
Hundreds of Afghan refugees who worked with our government as translators, etc., after being held in camps for a few months for clearance, are helped by the government for 90 days and then on their own. That’s when the non-profit Refugee Assistance Alliance (RAA) steps in and gets groups to adopt a family to help them acclimate, get children in school, deal with healthcare, finances etc.
Coral Gables Woman’s Club member Henryka Manes also is a member of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables. Manes works with the non-profit Ecoworks and has experience needed to spearhead an effort for CGWC to adopt a family with members taking on specific needs based on their skill sets. Certainly, since CGWC owns and operates a free children’s dental clinic, helping refugee children needing that service ties in well.
A shout out to this month’s event sponsors: Law Offices of Jerome Kavulich, EZ Title Services and 1st Empire Elite Financial as well as regular donations from Lynn Bauer and Dr. Hal Wanless.
Just off a successful bingo event, CGWC members also held their major fundraiser on May 7, a pre Mother’s Day Tea that was a sellout. After having to limit the number of attendees last year, everyone was excited to open it up to the largest attendance ever for the event co-chaired by Iris Segui and Kristina Jackson with Kayla Blake chairing the auction part of the affair.
Guests enjoyed live music, a Bacardi bar with specialty mojito and unlimited bubbly, and R Catering’s yummy tea sandwiches and desserts while bidding on some great hotel packages donated by the Westin Washington, DC, City Center; Thesis Hotel in Coral Gables; Intercontinental Hotel in Doral, as well as gift baskets, jewelry, parties at Season’s 52, brunch at The Biltmore and more.
Proceeds from this event benefit the club’s free children’s dental clinic that over the years has provided more than $220,000 in free dental services annually to the children of the working poor. Dental Clinic director Iris Torres also has been working with autistic children from Crystal Academy, located across the street from the clinic and clubhouse.
Speaking of Crystal Academy, on May 12 they held a fundraiser at Clutch Burger that drew a nice crowd enjoying food and drink and music, once again, donated by DJ Germain who has been volunteering his services every month to Gringo Bingo and will be providing music for Coral Gables Woman’s Club upcoming President’s Reception honoring Club President Ruth Martinez.
Coral Gables Rotarians celebrated Fifth Friday in April with a lovely party at the Ocean Bank Building on LeJeune Road where several members have their offices. Cana Wines provided a wine tasting that certainly made the event. Cana Wines director Maria Claudia Di Guida is a remarkable and amazingly wine savvy young woman who educated guests that night on the variety of wines she personally selects to sell at Cana.
Among the many attending the social were event organizer Sally Baumgartner, Yoli Woodbridge, Ron Gerstl, Joe Witz, Jasper and Carol Brock, Renee and Gloria Rocha, Bonnie Blaire, Bill and Melissa Quensenberry, Walter and Annette Alvarez and Elisabetta Bell.
In next issue, look for news on the Pink Luncheon at The Biltmore, United Homecare’s Claude Pepper Awards Luncheon at Pullman on May 12, ASHFN Golf Tournament held May 13, and more.
Catch my Gloria’s Gab LIVE shows on Monday mornings at 10 a.m. Most recently, the Emmy award-winning producer, author, photographer and cancer survivor, Pat San Pedro, was my guest to talk about her first Photography Exhibit, titled “Discover Your Doorway,” an inspired exhibit you are sure to enjoy. It runs through May 23 at Gally by Art Labbe, 2522 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables. Visit www.DiscoverYourDoorway.com. To view the interview with this talented woman, visit www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=326616396259583 or Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nPJ8pQb7dY.
Until next time, keep making each day count and share an act of kindness every day.
