2023 ends with great events; 2024 brings promise of more

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South Florida was graced with two nights, Dec. 29 and 30, of performances by international ballet stars at the Arsht Center brought to us by the Ballet Support Foundation, a non-profit founded by Lola Koch.

This event was historic in that 14 of the world’s “best of the best” performed dances from our favorite ballets including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake as well as more contemporary pieces. Kudos to Koch, who directed the show, and the elite cast including such notables as Christine Shevchenko; Natalia Osipova, who brought down the house with her Swan Lake; Ludmila Pagliero, Mira Nadon, Xin Ying, Orin Zvulun and more. It was truly a magical evening for all who attended.

Koch, who danced with the Bolshoi for 12 years before moving to New York, was a recent guest on my show during which we brought her daughter, Isabel, to join us for a bit.

Isabel, a 14-year-old music student at Juilliard, bravely sang for us with no prep during a recent interview on my show. Her “a capella” performance of I Will Survive was beautifully performed. It seems show business runs in this talented family.

In other news, Voices for Children’s Gala was held at the Mandarin on Jan. 6, raising funds for the Guardian Ad Litem program and related initiatives. Look for more on that in our coming issue, but for now let us talk about Voices for Children.

Thanks to the generous donation of items from supporters, the non-profit now has a Comfort Closet, a dedicated safe space in its office that provides children in foster care with basic necessities and comfort items that are delivered to children during their foster care transition.

Foster care families, foster parents, and even youth who have aged out of the foster care system are able to return to the Comfort Closet for anything they might need at any time. Those wanting to help should visit www.beavoice.org.

On the service club scene, Coral Gables Rotarians gathered for the club’s annual Moose Milk Party on Jan. 1, at Matheson Hammock Park organized by RCCG past president Sally Baumgartner. Everyone brought a potluck dish while the club provided the Moose Milk (vanilla ice cream, milk and plain or spiked with gin). The affair brought lots of good tidings for the new year.

Among the many enjoying the event were RCCG past president Keith and Angela Phillips, Carol and Jasper Brock, RCCG past president Bruce and Janie Kerestes, RCCG president Frank Sexton, Hadley and Jennifer Williams, RCCG past president Debbie and John Swain, Dipak Joshi, RCCG treasurer Bill and Chie Quesenberry, Gui and Amanda Fujisawa, Christine and Cary Constantini, Macdonald and Denise West, and Diane Thurston.

Speaking of non-profit work, Kat Barrow-Horth, founder of Comic Kids, and hubby, Reed, also were guests on my show. Comic Kids is a non-profit that helps children learn through comics, cartoons, and books. Go to cnews.net to check out the show and learn more about their mission and work in our community.

In other good news, A Safe Haven for Newborns (ASHFN) saved its 387th baby on Dec. 7, coincidently the anniversary date of ASHFN’s founder Nick Silverio’s wife’s death. Gloria Silverio, killed in a tragic car accident 24 years earlier, was the inspiration for setting up this organization that has protected so many babies from abandonment and possible death.

Help support this mission at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com.

Save the date, May 17, for ASHFN’s “Tee Off for Cause” Golf Tournament at Trump National Doral. Always a great fundraiser for such a worthy cause and tons of fun.

Finally, coming up Jan. 31 through Feb. 25, you will want to buy tickets for Legally Blonde The Musical. This wonderfully funny award-winning production, based on the movie by MGM and book by Amanda Brown, is a must see at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre featuring a great cast. For tickets, go to www.actorsplayhouse.org.

Until next time, share your time and talents, count your blessings, and have a Happy New Year!

Pictured here new members Gui and Amanda Fujisawa with new baby attending their first Moose Milk Party.

 

 

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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.