|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
100% will be donated to Global Empowerment Mission’s Efforts in Ukraine
On Monday, May 2nd A Fish Called Avalon hosted a prix-fixe dinner with 100% of the proceeds going to Miami-based Global Empowerment Mission (GEM). Limited to 100 guests, the restaurant is underwriting the dinner to benefit GEM’s efforts to provide food, water, medicine, medical equipment and housing assistance to the people of Ukraine.
“As a community comprised of a truly international mix of residents and visitors, we felt that we had to do something when we heard of the dire situation in Ukraine and bordering countries”, said Tom Glassie, proprietor of A Fish Called Avalon. “For years GEM has been helping areas hard-hit by disasters, and when we learned that they were mobilized to help Ukraine, we wanted to do what we do best – Offer a dinner, with all of the money going to GEM.”
Since the war broke out, South Florida has strengthened its connection to Ukraine, as just days after Russian missiles struck Odessa, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez met virtually with Gennadiy Trukhanov, the Mayor of Odessa, to offer humanitarian support. That same week, the Miami Beach City Commission voted to name Odessa a Sister City. In June the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, a sponsor of the fundraiser, will be honoring Michael Capponi, founder/president of GEM, with its Citizen of the Year award.
Within days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GEM, in partnership with Bethenny Frankel’s BStrong, arrived along the Ukrainian-Polish border, offering aid and support to refugees fleeing Ukraine. They now have 100,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in Poland, Hungary and Ukraine, from which trucks loaded with equipment and the most necessary goods leave for Ukraine every day. As of April 18th, their teams have been able to supply aid relief to 46 cities in 5 countries.
“We are able to ship food, medicine, and even ambulances and firefighting equipment there. Virtually everything our Ukrainian partners need at any given time,” added Capponi.
GEM is also assisting with housing, transportation and airfare for the multitudes of refugees who have crossed the border into neighboring countries.
The prix-fixe dinner includes wines generously donated by Gérard Bertrand and offers guests a choice of some of A Fish Called Avalon’s favorites for each course, including Bang Bang Shrimp, Macadamia-Crusted Snapper, Filet Mignon and Chef Kal’s award-winning Pecan Crusted Key Lime Pie.
To learn more about Global Empowerment Mission, go to www.globalempowermentmission.org.
