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After a year of virtual events, this December is packed with more events than possibly can be covered in this column.
Having just come off the Walk to End Alzheimer’s as well as SMARTRIDE which raised $1,225,979 to further AIDS research, education and care programs, more great events are coming our way.
Look for the Junior Orange Bowl Parade, “Miracle on the Mile,” on Dec. 12, at 5 p.m., showcasing our youth. With 2,000 people participating, look for this parade to be bigger and better than ever with VIP Hospitality Grandstand tickets to include an opportunity to meet Parade Grand Marshal Jonathan Fisher, Coral Gables resident and recent Jeopardy Champion, during a special pre-parade reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at Coral Gables City Hall.
Of course, everyone can also line Miracle Mile to cheer on the multiple bands, floats and other entertaining units as they pass. Another shout out to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Orange Bowl Committee, Miami-Dade County, and City of Coral Gables for supporting this event that showcases our youth.
For more information the Junior Orange Bowl’s world renowned golf and tennis tournaments, basketball tournaments, creative arts and more visit www.jrorangebowl.org or call 305-662-1210.
Next up, the Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bells Run is coming to Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St., on Dec. 19, at 6 a.m. Don your best holiday costumes for a great morning of fun with runners dressed for the season and all to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Coral Gables Woman’s Club has formed a team under their club’s past president Mireya Kilmon, who is a spokesperson for the Arthritis Association and suffers from the disease, and so this event takes on a special meaning. In fact, half of the proceeds from the club’s monthly Gringo Bingo will support the team’s fundraising efforts for the event.
For those not in the know, the Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Gringo Bingo is a monthly party hosted by Clutch Burger’s Steven Bradley. The Dec. 7 Gringo Bingo will be sponsored yet again by 1st Empire Elite Financial and EZ Title Services and will feature the music of DJ Germain who donates his services for the effort. As always, Bradley will be emceeing this night of outdoor fun.
Tickets are $30 and include 12 bingo cards and one coverall card to win the big prize — a burger a month for a year at Clutch Burger on Giralda Ave. To RSVP, email Gloria@cnews.net. Space is limited, so call early.
Shout out to the Edward Jones, Rotary Club of Coral Gables, CGWC (who raised a record $5,059) with their Gringo Bingo in November and all those who sponsored, volunteered and raised funds for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk and SMARTRIDE the weekend of Nov. 19 and 20. Doing good can be fun and those who came out for both events, certainly enjoyed themselves.
The Rotary Club of Miami Brickell and the Rotary Club of Coconut Grove formed a partnership and hosted the fifth annual Basket Brigade. Both clubs have been raising funds in an effort to provide Thanksgiving meals for 300 families in need across Miami-Dade County. The baskets , which feed up to six people, cost about $40. The organizations exceeded their goal of $12,000, that translates to 300 food baskets assembled in Coconut Grove on Nov. 20, and delivered to needy families.
Lina Carrera, president of the Rotary Club of Coconut Grove, was happy to join the efforts of the Rotary Club of Miami Brickell with Miami Brickell Club Community chair Ariana Neustein and club president Heather E. Waldron and their members. To date, 700 Miami families have received Thanksgiving food baskets from the Rotary Club of Miami Brickell Basket Brigade.
Speaking of food baskets, Coral Gables Woman’s Club also filled 30 or more food baskets with gift cards for turkeys during their recent Thanksgiving Dinner meeting. In addition to donating those baskets to families of their free children’s dental clinic, they also prepared bags of toiletries collected from members’ hotel visits who donated them, as they do every year, to Agape women. As for the children who are served by the club’s free dental clinic, each child will be receiving Target gifts cards as a holiday gift instead of toys that most organizations distribute.
That same weekend another group of CGWC members were manning pit stops at SMARTRIDE’s 165-mile two-day bike ride from the University of Miami to the Keys to raise funds for HIV Aids charities. It was a busy weekend for all and, despite some rainy weather, all went well. Hats off to Carmen Suarez, Ruth Martinez, Barbara Lapsley, Arely Ruiz, Donna Merrill, Dr. Iris Torres and Linda Hartwell for continuing the tradition of manning those stops.
Keeping with the seasonal cheer, on Dec. 8, CGWC will be having a holiday dinner installing a dozen or so new members. By the way, women interested in joining this dynamic group need not live in Coral Gables. For more information on membership or renting their beautiful historic clubhouse, visit gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org.
Look for interviews on Cnews.net with amazing people making a difference in our community on Gloria’s Gab LIVE Monday mornings at 10 a.m. On Nov. 15, Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms was my guest sharing updates on the many activities that the organization orchestrates as well as the outreach efforts that have such a positive impact on our South Florida community. To see that show, visit www.facebook.com/Communitynewspapers/videos/632463724598272
or https://youtu.be/JpaArJa-5HE
Until next time, keep making each day count, share an act of kindness every day and stay safe.
