Havana Nights Casino Fun benefits children’s dental clinic

Junior Orange Bowl members enjoy visiting after their Jan. meeting at V Café, a new place located on Ponce and University in Coral Gables. Seen here are Kathleen Kauffman, JOBC President-Elect: Jessica Cerda, JOBC Executive Director; V Café owner, Michael Belaustegui; and Samantha Jones, JOBC Vice President.

 

Junior Orange Bowl members enjoy visiting after their Jan. meeting at V Café, a new place located on Ponce and University in Coral Gables. Seen here are Kathleen Kauffman, JOBC President-Elect: Jessica Cerda, JOBC Executive Director; V Café owner, Michael Belaustegui; and Samantha Jones, JOBC Vice President.
Junior Orange Bowl members enjoy visiting after their Jan. meeting at V Café, a new place located on Ponce and University in Coral Gables. Seen here are Kathleen Kauffman, JOBC President-Elect: Jessica Cerda, JOBC Executive Director; V Café owner, Michael Belaustegui; and Samantha Jones, JOBC Vice President.

Get out your Guayaberas for an evening of fun, food and great silent auction items all to benefit the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club’s free children’s dental clinic. This annual fundraiser will be held March 7, at their clubhouse 1001 East Ponce de Leon Blvd. This is the best deal in town for a fun evening out that includes gaming tables, food, one complimentary drink, more than 100 great silent auction items up for bid, and a reasonably priced cash bar and casino chips for only $50 per person in advance and $60 per person at the door. For tickets, visit online http://www.gfwccoralgableswomansclub.org/#!casinonight/c1ghi.

The Club’s May Van Sickle Children’s Dental Clinic provides more than $225,000 in free dental care for the children of the working poor throughout Miami-Dade County and provides a critical resource for those children who fall between the cracks in our healthcare system. In the midst of that fundraising effort, the women took time to have fun with a Salsa Class and Mexican Dinner meeting coordinated by Ruth Martinez at their Jan. 21 meeting. This dynamic group of women is always looking for help to support their clinic and many other outreach efforts. Women wishing to serve the community are encouraged to check the web site and visit.

While the Coral Gables Woman’s Club is saving children’s teeth, ASafe Haven for Newborns is all about saving babies. At a recent meeting to discuss plans for their March 14th Walk at Amelia Earhart Park, founder Nick Silverio announced they had saved their 219th baby that morning. What a blessing and an inspiration for all those at the meeting offering their help to make the Walk a success. For the organization’s first fundraising lap, they are partnering with the Doral Business Council for a reception generously donated and hosted by Sergio’s in Kendall on February 9, 6-8 p.m. For a $15 donation, guests will enjoy one complimentary drink (wine, beer or soda) and hors d’oeuvres as well as a chance to win some great prizes. Sergio’s is located at 8807 SW 107th Avenue. For more information, call Marti Bueso at 786-286- 2741 or e-mail @ martibueso@asafehavenfornewborns.com.

Fundraisers for children dominate upcoming calendar
Stephen Davis, PhD, wetland ecologist for The Everglades Foundation receives thanks from Coral Gables Rotary president Carlos Bolado after his presentation during a recent club meeting.

In other organization news, the Junior Orange Bowl Committee held their January 20th business meeting at the new V Café, next to Vicky Bakery on Ponce and University. Owner, Michael Belaustegui, provided some great food and yummy desserts for the crowd and even sent many home with take out. During the post meeting socializing, members were abuzz with plans for the organization’s first Gala, chaired by Michelle Benitez-Bermudez, to be held February 28 at the Westin Colonnade. This Denims & Diamonds affair promises to be great fun. Guys can come in jeans and women in the diamonds and finery. It’s a win-win for all, especially for the thousands of children the JOBC showcases every year. For more information, call the JOBC office at 305 662-1210. Sponsorships and tickets are still available.

The evening of March 14th, the Little Lighthouse Foundation will hold their Hearts & Stars Gala 2015: Casablanca (“HS2015”) at Bill Dean’s Terra Veritatis, an amazing waterfront estate in Miami Beach. Limited early bird tickets are available for $175. The HS2015 includes a premium open bar all evening and tastings from some of Miami’s best restaurants and caterers. New this year will be a weekend’s VIP Table Package which includes (4) tickets to Thursday night’s exclusive VIP/Sponsor Event, (4) tickets to Friday evening’s Kickoff event at Hyde Beach/SLS, and (1) VIP table including (10) tickets to the Hearts & Stars Gala. The VIP table package is available for $5,000 and includes access to discounted chauffeur service from Redcap, luxury rental cars from Via, and discounted accommodations at any SBE properties including the SLS Hotel, Redbury Hotel, and the Raleigh Hotel. For more information, call 305-417-8553.

Picnics are the name of the game this time of year. Profit Inc. is holding their annual picnic on February 8 at Tropical Park and coincidentally Rotarians are also planning a picnic for the District 6990 that same Sunday. More on those events next time.

Speaking of Rotary, Gables Rotarians continue to offer great programs at their Thursday weekly meetings at the Courtyard Marriott on LeJeune and Navarre. One recent meeting featured Stephen Davis, Ph.D. , wetland ecologist for the Everglades Foundation. Dr. Davis was introduced by Vivian Miller, a former Coral Gables Rotarian who coordinates outreach for the Foundation. Vivian noted that Stephen’s passion for fixing the Everglades and restoring the estuaries prompted him to leave a tenured university position to join the Everglades Foundation

For information on this non-profit, visit evergladesfoundation.org.

Wishing all of our readers a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Until next time, keep making each day count.

If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via e-mail 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.