Believe you can make a difference! was the theme of the day when Hard Rock Café, on Seminole Way in Hollywood, hosted a festive Fat Tuesday breakfast celebrating Mardi Gras with members of the Aventura Marketing Council.
AMC business and community leaders welcomed by Robyn Melvin, Hard Rock Café’s sales and marketing manager, arrived with toys to donate to the new Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital – the Hard Rock’s philanthropic partner. While enjoying a bountiful New Orleans-style breakfast buffet and festive jazz music, everyone learned more about rewarding opportunities to join in supporting the pediatric hospital’s “Believe Capital Campaign.”
“If you haven’t been over to Johnson Street in Hollywood to see the new hospital – it’s absolutely phenomenal!” Melvin said. “The grand opening will be on July 21 – right after our big celebration when Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood and Miami will be celebrating ‘40 years of rock and roll’ for 40 days and 40 nights from May 18 to June 26. We’ll also be honoring 40 heroes who have made a difference in the community.”
Displaying unbelievable generosity, Hard Rock Café, Hollywood has already donated over $37,000 to the new hospital and plans to reach a $50,000 goal by year-end.
On behalf of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Don Eachus, Director of Development and Kevin R. Janser, Vice President and Executive Director, expressed appreciation to the Hard Rock Café. “What was once a dream has turned into the exciting reality of opening the first stand-alone, 160,000 square foot children’s hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties linked by a bridge to the existing Memorial Regional Hospital.
“The fourth floor is dedicated to pediatric oncology because we treat almost 700 kids with cancer – the positive thing is today, kids with cancer can survive. More good news — since receiving approval last December, two of our pediatric patients have received heart transplants — so every day, we’re saving children’s lives.”
After viewing a video highlighting the hospital’s worldclass pediatric care provided by one of the nation’s finest teams of pediatric specialists, AMC members were inspired to believe the campaign goal to raise $36 million will be reached – offsetting the $140 million critical expansion cost of the children’s hospital, which will also feature private patient rooms, operating rooms, radiology equipment and plenty of family space.
In keeping with the “Believe you can make a difference” theme, Melvin noted, “Hard Rock also partners with Memorial Healthcare’s breast cancer unit…last year we helped raise over one million dollars to help fight breast cancer.
“In past years, we have worked with other philanthropic partners, including “Feeding South Florida”, where the Hard Rock Café Hollywood has also contributed over $40,000 inkind to feed the hungry.” Last November, Aventura Marketing Council members helped make a “Thanksgiving difference” during a holiday event hosted by Hard Rock Café, Hollywood benefitting Jubilee Center of South Broward – dedicated to providing emergency resources and relief from hunger and despair.
Before the breakfast was over, door prize winners Laura Heller of Greynolds Park Elementary and Rhonda Gelfman of Immigration Law Centre exclaimed, “I can’t believe it!” when they won office parties for ten at Hard Rock, Hollywood and Miami.
Then, AMC president Elaine Adler summed up the sentiments of everyone believing Hard Rock Café, Hollywood hosted the best Mardi Gras celebration this side of New Orleans: “Who ever would have expected Shrimp Creole, Dirty Rice and King Cakes at 7:30 a.m. in the morning! You left no detail aside in planning and executing a most wonderful event for our members, who were happy to help support the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital with a beautiful mountain of gifts for the little ones.”
For more information on creating your next experience,contact Hard Rock Café-Hollywood, phone 954- 315-9112. To learn more about supporting Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, visit jdchf.org.
