Array of holiday parties benefit children and seniors

By
Gloria Burns
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Pictured Opening Night for The Last Five Years at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre are (l-r) music director Manny Schvartzman; Actors’ board chair Lawrence Stein and executive producing director Barbara Stein; the stars of the musical, Janet Dacal and Christopher Kent, and artistic director David Arisco.
Pictured Opening Night for The Last Five Years at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre are (l-r) music director Manny Schvartzman; Actors’ board chair Lawrence Stein and executive producing director Barbara Stein; the stars of the musical, Janet Dacal and Christopher Kent, and artistic director David Arisco.

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce conducted its 16th annual Holiday Party “Holidays in Paradise,” presented by Cherry Bekaert & Holland LLP on Dec. 6 at The Biltmore Hotel.

Guests donated hundreds of unwrapped gifts and gift cards to make the holidays brighter for children and seniors in need. Everyone enjoyed samplings of some of Coral Gables best restaurants including such notables as Anacapri on Ponce, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Cibo Wine Bar, The Dome Restaurant Bar & Lounge, Fontana at The Biltmore Hotel, Gables Aragon Cuisine, Graziano’s, La Jolla Restaurant, LA Sweets, The Local, Monserrate Restaurant, Palme D’Or, Seasons 52, S & S Diner South, Sushi Maki, Tarpon Bend, Tropical Cheese Industries and even the culinary program at Coral Gables High School.

 

Seen enjoying Coral Gables Woman’s Club Installation and Holiday Party are a few of the 13 new members, including two seen here Kara Corniel (center left) with husband, Ariel, and Lorie Marie Dilan with her husband, John Lopez.
Seen enjoying Coral Gables Woman’s Club Installation and Holiday Party are a few of the 13 new members, including two seen here Kara Corniel (center left) with husband, Ariel, and Lorie Marie Dilan with her husband, John Lopez.

This year gifts and gift cards were distributed to CHARLEE Homes for Children, Police Athletic League of Coral Gables, Home Instead Senior Care, Family Resource Center, The YMCA of Greater Miami and STARS School for Autism.

The CGWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club held its annual Holiday Party and Installation on Dec. 5 organized by entertainment chair and past president Pam Schaefer who thanked Ana Lam and Sandy Schaefer for transforming the beautiful ballroom into a wonderland. Aside from celebrating the holidays, the event served to honor the dental clinic staff of Dr. Fernando Duarte, Dr. Fanny Jarquin, Dr. Karina Cintron, Ana Hernandez, Yolim Ramirez, and Ruth Ibarquen. The club’s May Van Sickle Dental Clinic director, Dr. Iris Torres Rivera, received guests who collected gift cards to hand out to more than 100 disadvantaged children served by the free dental clinic.

Dr. Iris Torres collects $15 gift cards from members. The cards were distributed to the more than 100 children served by the club’s May Van Sickle Dental Clinic as a holiday gift.
Dr. Iris Torres collects $15 gift cards from members. The cards were distributed to the more than 100 children served by the club’s May Van Sickle Dental Clinic as a holiday gift.

The gala party also featured a gourmet feast, dancing and the installation of 12 of the current class of new members including Nathalia Bogani, Kara Corneil, Lisa Demarco, Lori Marie Dilan, Yvette Leiva, Imelda Medina, Stella Suarez, Lizz Wiegandt, Libia Casas, Nanette Rodriguez, Melinda Crawley and Ann- Margaret Sirgany. Also joining but unable to attend the party was Carol Cabeza as well as the club’s hardworking membership chair, Mayanne Etkin, who was out with the flu.

Women interested in joining this dynamic group should visit <www.coralgableswomansclub. org> for more information.

On the cultural scene, there is still time to see the wonderfully entertaining musical The Last Five Years at Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. The show features Broadway star Janet Dacal and multiple Carbonell award nominee Christopher Kent, always an audience favorite. The multi-talented performers, whose voices lend themselves beautifully to the songs, hit a home run with this show directed by the always creative and inventive David Arisco. The upstairs theater is perfect for this intimate show that will run through December 30. For tickets, call 305-444-9293.

May you all have a Happy New Year and until next time, keep making each day count.

If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloriagalburns@aol.com

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Gloria Burns
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.

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