Halloween, festival fun and visitors from Ukraine

Members of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club, which is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, produced their first Halloween bash last year and it proved such a success, they did it again.

For Halloween, it certainly was the best deal in town with the costume contests, a great buffet, music and dancing. Several Coral Gables Rotarians were on hand to support the event to benefit the club’s free children dental clinic and took advantage of the affair to present a check from the Coral Gables Rotary Foundation to CGWC President Mayra Dominguez and Dr. Iris Torres for the clinic that provides more than $225,000 in free dental care annually to children who fall through the cracks in the healthcare system.

The first Sunday in November began with the 5K Park Fest. Charities from all over South Florida participated in a day that began with a race and concluded with a fun filled festival on Miami Beach. Marly Quincoces, the founder of the event was pleased to be able to share half of the registration fees each charity’s registrants donated.

In other festival activity, the Junior Orange Bowl already has kicked into gear this year. Members recently met at the Coral Gables Museum during which time they recognized numerous past presidents of the JOBC and announced plans for the numerous upcoming events. Students looking for community service hours should contact the JOBC about the many opportunities to volunteer. For more information, call 305-662-1210.

The Debt Warriors, aka Jacobs Keeley PLLC, came on board as the new presenting sponsors for the Great Grove Bed Race which took place on Nov. 8. This annual event brings out the most creative, fun loving and community minded people in South Florida.

Nov. 15 is a big day with multiple events beginning with the American Arthritis Association Walk at Amelia Earhart Park in the morning. Past president of the Coral Gables Woman’s Club Mireya Kilmon, who has RA and has been a spoke person for the organization, is this year’s walk honoree.

Speaking of past presidents, the past president of the Junior Orange Bowl Marti Bueso is working with Nick Silverio, founder of the Gloria M. Silverio Foundation/A Safe Haven for Newborns. A Safe Haven for Newborns has saved the lives of countless babies and is such a success that the program is spreading to other states. Some tickets still are available for their gala on Nov. 15 at Trump National Doral. For information and/or tickets, call 786-286-2741 on visit www.asafehavenfornewborns.com.

On the international front, six Ukrainian leaders participating in the Open World Program recently spent a week in South Florida examining HIV/AIDS education, treatment and prevention. The Miami Council for International Visitors (MCIV) hosted the delegation for Open World. MCIV executive director Annette Alvarez explains that Open World is managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center. The program enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American-style democracy at the local level.

Home stays with local MCIV members allowed delegates to experience American family life before beginning their weeklong ambitious itinerary of meetings on the topic of HIV/AIDS. The group enjoyed an enjoyable day on Biscayne Bay thanks to Harry Horgan and Shake-A-Leg.

Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you want to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to gloriagalburns@aol.com.


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A graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Spanish, Burns has an extensive background in advertising, marketing and reciprocal trade, travel , non profit consulting and management. Before joining Miami's Community Newspapers as a columnist and marketing specialist, Gloria was the Executive Director of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee (6 yrs.) and first Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation (14 yrs.) and the Pinecrest Community Foundation (1 ½ yrs) . Burns' volunteer activities led her to become a columnist for Community Newspapers writing Gloria’s Gab, that focuses on the non-profit activity, and a host of an online show, Gloria's Gab LIVE. Gloria serves the board of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables as Civic and Charity Chair, and is involved in the club's International Committee. She is an active Life Member of the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee and is Secretary of the Merrick Festival. She serves on the board of directors of the Coral Gables Woman' Club as Publicity Chair and also coordinates the club's monthly fundraiser for various charities with Gringo Bingo at Clutch Burger. In addition, Gloria participates in numerous other charitable events and is a member of the Business Forum Group, Profit Inc., the Greater Miami Festival & Events Association and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In other volunteer activity, Gloria helps Miami Christian School with fund-raising and PR; is an Ambassador and volunteers for events for A Safe Haven for Newborns. She is an active member of the Music Ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church where she enjoys singing in the choir every weekend.