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2025 events offer everything from cultural events and charity fundraisers to festivals and sports.
On Friday, Jan. 24, Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre held its opening night for Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Even before opening night, members of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce came in force for a dress rehearsal and, much like the crowd on opening night, gave the show rave reviews and standing ovations. Jersey Boys is a production you will want to see more than once, and it runs through Feb. 23.
Actors’ Playhouse 2025 Musical Theatre for Young Audiences Season also brings us Junie B. Jones, The Musical, running through Feb. 28. and then from Apr. 2 to 19, based on the Bestselling Book Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park. The shows are at 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
For tickets or information, visit www.actorsplayhouse.org.
Coming up soon, look for The Way Forward’s Lobster Feast at Coral Reef Yacht Club on Feb. 24. Formerly known as The Woody Foundation, The Way Forward is a non-profit founded by the Beckham family after son, Woody, was paralyzed in a rugby match at age 22. Seeing the need to offer opportunities for others like Woody, the family created a foundation with a mission of enhancing the lives of those living with paralysis.
Most recently The Way Forward Foundation helped with the wheelchair division of the Miami Marathon on Feb. 2, and has a lineup of events to come, from a golf tournament at Top Golf to its annual Fishing Tournament and, of course, the Woodystock Music Festival.
The foundation’s executive director, Lucy Foerster, was a recent guest on Gloria’s Gab LIVE to talk about the organization’s history, events and programs as well as the family foundation’s support for its numerous outreach efforts.
The end of January was packed with activities for all ages. Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church held its 46th annual Miami Lebanese Festival that offered some of the best food this writer has ever had at a festival and entertainment with folkloric dances to a fire show and more.
It was a pleasure to have on Gloria Gab LIVE, prior to the three-day event, philanthropist and church member Norma Jean Abraham and Christopher Abi-Dauod, coordinator of Maronite Youth Adults, an organization with more than 140 members (ages 20-40 years) who volunteer to do good work in our community. They were among the hundreds of church members who make this annual festival happen and its popularity is evident when you see the numbers who line several blocks around the church to enter, knowing it is worth the wait.
On the festival front, the Junior Orange Bowl continues its many events. They are looking for volunteers for its Sports Ability Games on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Palmer Trinity School.
Those interested in serving as a volunteer should contact Junior Orange Bowl executive director Madisen Michel at madisen@jrorangebowl.org. This is a most rewarding event and once you attend, you will be hooked forever.
Meanwhile, the Junior Orange Bowl Photography Competition is being judged with hundreds of entries. Winners will be notified soon with an invitation to attend an awards ceremony at the City of Doral Cultural Arts Center, Saturday, Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m. For more information, visit www.juniororangebowl.org.
The Women Voice Network, founded by Iris Garcia, is a non-profit with a mission to economically empower women who are victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking, allowing them to live a life without fear. The WVN board of directors and supporters are gearing up for a major membership campaign and fundraiser at VIVO at Dolphin Mall.
At WVN’s January board meeting, Armando Fernandez was elected to the board of directors, a dynamic group of volunteers who serve selflessly to help teach classes and more.
In other non-profit news, the Voices for Children Gala was held at Mandarin Oriental on Jan. 18, raising an amazing $1 million in one night. It was a night to remember with a Who’s Who of Miami in attendance, including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who, in 1984, was one of the founders of VFC with Joni Goodman, Rita Switchkov, Cindy Lerner, Berta Blecke and others who were moved to action by the vulnerability of abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Miami-Dade County.
With a small seed donation of $4,000, Voices For Children Foundation was created to address the lack of state-allocated resources needed to run the local 11th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Office. Since that time, Voices For Children has provided more than 1,600 children in Miami-Dade County’s foster care system with a voice in court, basic needs, dignity items, and experiences including mission trips. For more information, visit www.beavoice.org.
Finally, here are some dates to save:
Mar. 8 — 32nd Villagers’ Garden Tour, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Pinecrest and Ponce/Davis area, visit www.thevillagersinc.org.
Mar. 8 — Paws4You’s Mardi Paws! gala at the Cruz Building in Coconut Grove.
May 10, 2025 – Coral Gables Woman’s Club Mother’s Day Tea – For information visit www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org.
In closing, remember to count your blessings, share a kind word and a smile, and make a difference.
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