On August 10, South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 teamed up with Armstrong Ford, the Ford Motor Company and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization for a national program helping provide more than 1.2 million meals to hungry Americans.
The Lodge hosted a hunger drive event at their Back to School Country Dance Bash. Before the dance, SM/CG Elks Lodge 1676 Lodge Manager, Annie Goodrich, encouraged guests to sign up and see the new 2013 Ford Escape. For each person who signed up and heard the presentation, Ford committed to providing 40 meals. Armstrong Ford Marketing Director and Elks Lodge 1676 member Rick Del Vecchio was delighted with the turn out that resulted in a donation of more than 2,000 meals. Feeding America is an organization that has helped feed more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.
For Del Vecchio, it was a great way to introduce the new Ford Escape and promote the Elks mission of service. Check out photos and video of the event at; www.facebook.com#!/ArmstrongFordofHomestead or www.armstrongcars.com For more information on Feeding America, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.
The Elks is a non-profit Fraternal Organization, one of the largest providers of college scholarships in the country. Their Elks Youth Camp provides summer camp for thousands of Florida youngsters each year and they have 26 mobile units that provide (at home) physical rehabilitation for Florida’s needy. For more information about the Elks, contact Ms. Goodrich at 305.668.1676.
With the start of school upon us, many parents may be thinking of those after school activities. For children that love to sing, check out The Children’s Voice, a community- wide children’s chorus. The chorus is currently holding auditions for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 16, at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, 14401 Old Cutler Road, in Palmetto Bay. Artistic Director, Jamie Perez Sutta, who earned her bachelor’s degree in choral music education from Florida State University, and a master’s degree from the University of Miami, founded the Children’s Voice Chorus in 2011. Weekly rehearsals for “The Children’s Voice” will begin the first week of September. Call 786.216.7003 to make an appointment for informal auditions or for more information. You may also visit the website at www.childrensvoicechorus. org or send an e-mail to info@childrensvoicechorus.org,.
When non profits partner with either the private sector or with each other, it is amazing what can be accomplished. In fact High Heels and Hand Shakes recently partnered with the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club for an affair at CRAVE in the Village of Merrick Park onAugust 15. There will be more news on that event in next issue.
Walkers and runners will want to sign up for the 5 K Freedom Run PARK Festival benefiting P.A.R.K. (Perform Acts of Random Kindness), a non profit whose volunteers are dedicated to facilitating opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations to unite in spreading the message to step up and randomly help others. The festival is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 8, 2012, at J.C. Bermudez Park, 3000 NW 87th Ave in Doral. This is an incredibly inspiring, patriotic and super fun 5 K and festival event whose participants include SouthCom, fire fighters, police, business teams and individuals. This signature community building and charitable event was designed to pay tribute to and celebrate our American heroes. Time will be reserved to also remember those who passed away on 9/11. For information on how you can sign up or get involved, call marlyQ@parkproject.org.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
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