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For many years Coral Gables Hospital’s CEO Cristina Jimenez and her staff personally donate gift cards that the Coral Gables Woman’s Club gives to each of its dental clinic patients during the holidays.
Typically, the event also includes a big party, but COVID-19 issues made that impossible this year, so, the gift cards were even more important for the children of the working poor.
With just a few weeks notice, the hospital staff managed to collect $535 in $15 gift cards for the children.
For an overworked staff that are heroes in their own right, their generosity was even more appreciated by dental clinic director Dr. Iris Torres and club president Ruth Martinez, who was able to thank the staff in person.
In more good news for the Coral Gables Dental Clinic, 1st Empire Elite Financial and EZ Title Services joined forces to sponsor Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s Gringo Bingo on Dec. 15 to raise more than $1,000 for the club’s free children’s dental clinic. The event, hosted every month by Clutch Burger, was held outside with COVID protocols in place. As always, it was a fun evening with lots of great prizes.
Among those attending were Elizabeth Gamez-Vazquez, Santiago Ramos, Keith Fekete, Walter Alvarez, Kim Davison, Ruth Martinez, Dr. Brittany Holliday, and Eli Jimenez.
Look for the next Gringo Bingo on the second Tuesday in January with DJ Germain joining Steven Bradley to entertain guests. Save the date and reserve space by emailing gloria@cnews.net.
In other holiday news, on Dec. 18 The Salvation Army of Miami distributed thousands of toys donated through its annual Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program, which provides Christmas assistance for disadvantaged children across the country. The work started in mid-September with the challenges of safely making this happen during the pandemic.
They successfully set up online registrations for the Angel Tree Program for donors to give and where qualifying families could sign up their children to receive gifts. Angel Trees also were placed at area malls, online, and businesses in support of The Salvation Army and included paper angel tags with the children’s information on them.
Kudos to Major Roy Williams, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Miami, and all the volunteers. This year, more than 3,000 children in the Miami area will enjoy opening presents on Christmas morning thanks to our generous community.
Yet another great annual toy drive revolved around a huge holiday party at the home of Belinda and Scott Sime. Since having the annual party where the Simes would typically collect hundreds of toys, the couple sent invitations for a toy drop off event on Dec. 12. It worked beautifully and, once again, hundreds of toys were collected and delivered to the children at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind where Scott serves on the board.
Food distribution have continued all over Miami-Dade County at Tamiami Park and other locations. On Dec. 17, Coral Gables Woman’s Club provided their clubhouse as a placed for celebrity Chef Chris Valdes to prepare thousands of meals that were donated to multiple organizations who came by to pick up boxes of prepared meals. With COVID protocols in place, a few club members joined the effort donning masks and gloves and helping package the meals for pickup.
In other philanthropic activity, Lillian Ser and Ser & Associates has partnered with the United Way to raise funds for the Miami-Dade Small Business Owners Grant Program, a program created to help small business owners make ends meet while struggling to keep their businesses open and their employees on the payroll. To date, this program has provided help to almost 400 small businesses in our community and they currently are processing another 600 applications.
With a goal of raising $10,000, to get the ball rolling, Ser & Associates already has donated $3,500. Just visit https://portal.unitedwaymiami.org/comm/SinglePageRegPledge.jsp?DA=8512147&SC=ser to make your (tax deductible) donation knowing you will be helping a business owner who is doing his/her best to make it through this crisis.
Finally, Gloria Gab LIVE Show resumed Dec. 15 with Junior Orange Bowl past president and longtime JOBC Basketball chair Chuck Little. Despite the challenges of COVID concerns, the Junior Orange Bowl Classic was played in December with schools participating, both boys and girls, from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Until next time, keep making each day count. Please share an act of kindness every day and stay safe.
