A group of young women joined together on Mar. 2 to raise money for music and the arts at the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove as more than 250 members, parents and friends showed their support by modernizing an American classic, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Under the leadership of club president Julie Goldstein, a senior at Ransom Everglades, a dedicated and hard-working group of Symphonettes club members created an event themed around the classic. The event, which included a silent auction, brunch and fashion show, continues a more than 20-year tradition that pays tribute to graduating seniors.
Event coordinators — Elizabeth Levy, Ariannie Pena-Aleman, Raquel Szomstein and Kelly Moran — infused the Breakfast at Tiffany’s theme into the invitations and continued the theme through the centerpieces and delicious brunch. This event, nearly a year in the making, is made possible through the dedicated volunteers of Symphonettes.
Through this process, the auction chairs Catherine Bond, Lilli Leight and Jenny Leight learned a great deal about leadership, planning, fundraising, and, most importantly, giving back. Proceeds support music and the arts in the community such as assisting public school music programs and supporting local choral and theater groups. The young ladies’ hard work paid off when the silent auction brought in about $20,000 to benefit the club and the community.
“We all worked really hard on this year’s auction and are thrilled to have completely exceeded expectations,” Bond said. “We’re giving back to the music community more than ever.”
Symphonettes is made up of high school girls dedicated to enriching the development and appreciation of music and the arts in the community. Established in 1966 and comprised of about 100 girls, the members usher at concerts, volunteer at local events and raise money to give back to various groups. The Coral Gables Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization serves as Symphonettes fiscal sponsor, enabling the group to function as a nonprofit organization.
For information about Symphonettes send email to acgoldhome@aol.com.
