For the winning team trophy presentation are (l-r) John Edward Smith, Publisher, Town Center Magazine and event coordinator; Henry Vilar; Margaret Sotham, Director, South Miami Drug-Free Coalition; Mario Capone; Peggy Sapp, President of Informed Families; and, Dwayne McQuillan, General Manager, Splitsville South Miami.

Presented by Splitsville Luxury Lanes and the Town Center Magazine, the event benefited the South Miami Drug-Free Coalition, a project of Informed Families. The King Pins Challenge was co-chaired by State Representative and former South Miami Mayor Julio Robaina, current Mayor Horace G. Feliu, and former Mayor and President of Chamber South, Mary Scott Russell.

While guests looked on, some 85 bowlers took on “The Challenge” at Splitsville’s 13 lanes. Special guest to the Challenge was former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway, who visited each lane and excited the crowd.

For three hours the bowlers “endured” the rigor of the evening — ok, it wasn’t rigor, it was fun shared with family, friends and colleagues.

In addition to the Co-Chairs, other elected officials bowling in the event were: County Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez, Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick and Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, who reportedly scored five strikes in a row! Fielding teams were South Miami Hospital, captained by CEO Javier Hernandez-Lichtl, incoming chair of the South Miami Drug-Free Coalition; a Baptist Health South Florida team with D. Wayne Brackin; First National Bank of South Miami team of senior executives, with Veronica Birch Flores as captain; Raquel Hickey and team from Coconut Grove Bank South Miami Branch, and a City of Coral Gables/Chamber team championed by CEO Mark Trowbridge, whose team all wore crowns.

Former Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway (center) surrounded by members of the South Miami Police Department who participated in the first annual King Pins Challenge at Splitsville in South Miami.

Other event sponsors were AT&T, Florida Power & Light, LAZ Parking, South Miami Pharmacy, and South Miami Commissioner Jay Beckman.

The inaugural King Pins Challenge trophy for highest team score was awarded to the Town Center Businesses Team.

Highest per-pin pledge total was awarded to State Representative Julio Robaina’s team. Robaina, who had to leave before his team was recognized and was on his way back to Tallahassee for the legislative session, was delighted to learn of the event’s success. “It was a great evening – great fun for a great cause. I was pleased to have co-chaired the event with Mary Scott Russell and Mayor Feliu.

Congratulations to all. I can’t wait for next year!”

The King Pins Challenge raised nearly $25,000 in this inaugural event. Guy Revelle, co-founder of Splitsville, was impressed with the amount raised for a first year event. “This tops what we’ve seen in other locations for an inaugural event, and I credit the fine work of the Co-Chairs in providing the leadership for the event.”

“It was not only the money raised for the work of our Coalition, but the number of people, who with their participation at the event and reading about it in the media, have come to know of our efforts in the community,” said Margaret Prinzavalli Sotham, Director of the Coalition. “I’m very proud of the South Miami community and its leadership for taking on the King Pins Challenge, and the challenge to make our community a safer place to raise our children. The money raised will support our social norms project in the high school, thought to be the first of its kind in Miami-Dade County and a model for others to follow. It will also support our other efforts to reduce access to alcohol and other drugs, raise awareness in the community and change behaviors so that fewer kids are using these dangerous substances.”

ABOUT INFORMED FAMILIES

Affiliated with the National Family Partnership, Informed Families is the State of Florida’s major universal provider of positive parenting skills, serving school-age children and their families, while building parent networks throughout Florida. Informed Families believes that parents need skills and support during a child’s teenage years and that parents are the change agents who create healthy social norms in the communities. Informed Families also provides programs to children at higher than average risk for substance abuse, such as students with school performance or behavior problems, and programs to children already engaging in high-risk behavior, such as delinquency.

For details on Informed Families, go to <www.informedfamilies.org >, or call us at 305-856-4886.