South Florida business leader and community activist Rodney Barreto, chair of the Super Bowl Host Committee, recently accepted the 2012 Michael Shores Citizen of the Year Award from the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club during its highly successful 33rd annual Biscayne Bay Gala.
The Oct. 27 event at the Jungle Island Treetop Ballroom attracted more than 400 and raised more than $150,000 for the club’s many philanthropic activities.
Past recipients of this award include Dolphins founder Joe Robbie; Coach Jimmy Johnson; broadcaster Ralph Renick; Miami Commissioner Athalie Range; U.S. Rep. William “Bill” Lehman; former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence Jr.; Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson; Richard Baron; Joseph Klock Jr., and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Dr. Pedro Greer Jr., U.S. Rep. Dante B. Fascell, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
“We are fortunate to have an individual such as Rodney Barreto as our Citizen of the Year,” said Will Reich, Biscayne Bay Kiwanis president. “He has done so much for the South Florida community and is an incredibly community-oriented person who makes South Florida a better place.”
The award is named for Michael Shores, who as a philanthropically minded attorney, made numerous contributions to the Miami-Dade County community throughout his life.
In addition to serving on the board of directors on several of South Florida’s major community-oriented corporations, Barreto has been involved for 23 years with five different Super Bowls — twice chairing (2007, 2010) the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee. During his tenure, Barreto helped raise more than $50 million and inkind contributions for the Super Bowls to ensure that South Florida shined in front of the thousands of dignitaries and media.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club, which has served our community — particularly children — since 1950,” Barreto said. “This means a great deal to me and my family because we have always believed that you must give back to your community and leave it a better place for generations to come.”
For more information on the Biscayne Bay Kiwanis Club — including joining as an individual or corporation — contact Reich at 305-733-0062 or www.biscaynebaykiwanis.org/membership.php
