The South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 celebrated its annual charity ball with a Brazilian carnival theme, Carnival Miami, and more than 125 members and guests in attendance.
The annual charity ball is the lodge’s main fundraiser for the year to support The Florida Youth Elk’s camp, children’s therapy services, Scholarship Fund (One of SM/CG Elk’s Lodge applicants won a $20,000 scholarship this past year.), Boy Scouts and veteran’s services.
Co-chairs Robert (Bob) and Yolanda Straile produced one of the best charity balls ever. The accolades still are coming in; the decorations were large Silver Palm trees surrounded by fresh flowers and tea lights, the food was a Brazilian culinary experience. The Brazilian entertainment was a showstopper with audience participation.
Elena and Chris Cohan were decorations co-chairs; Kateri Davis was silent auction chair as well as serving on every subcommittee; Rick Del Vecchio, Ron and Zaida Olmsted, Bill O’Brien sold ads and brought in auction items; Reggie Hernandez, setup and breakdown committee, and John Sorgie produced the beautiful program book.
Many well known Coral Gables and South Miami residents were in attendance including Evelyn Budde; Bobby and Rosy Buchwald; Ann Phillips; Roy Gonas; South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard and his wife, Gray; Al Reker and his wife, Barbara; Annie Goodrich; John Sorgie, and Raquel Hickey.
