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In this issue . . .
FOCUS ON FUNDS Grants awarded to four organizations + spotlight on Coral Gables Bike Walk
RECENT EVENTS Second annual Merrick Society Reception a great success
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Community grant recipients announced at Merrick Society Reception
The Coral Gables Community Foundation recently awarded four grants to local organizations. The grant award recipients were announced by Carlos F. Garcia, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors and John O'Rouke III, Chairman of the Community Giving Committee, at the second annual Merrick Society Reception on June 5, 2014, held at the Bacardi Americas Headquarters. The following organizations received grants from the Foundation due to their projects' potential to make meaningful impacts in the Coral Gables community. If you are interested in applying for a grant, please visit the Grants page of our new website. The next application deadline is September 19, 2014.
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Coral Gables Art Cinema Director Robert Rosenberg with Carlos F. Garcia, Mary Snow and John O'Rourke III
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International Children's Film Festival. Coral Gables Art Cinema Director Robert Rosenberg was in attendance to receive the organization's grant award.
 The Battier Take Charge Foundation, founded by Miami Heat star and 2014 Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala honoree, Shane Battier, received a $5,000 grant, which will go towards funding one year of college studies for a new Battier Take Charge Scholar from Coral Gables Senior High School. Battier was playing in the first game of the NBA Finals and was unable to attend the event.  | |
Coral Gables Museum Board of Directors Chairman Chip Withers with Carlos F. Garcia, Mary Snow and John O'Rourke III
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 The Foundation continued its support of the Coral Gables Museum by awarding the museum a $4,800 grant to assist with the funding of Family Day, a free public program that takes place every second Saturday of the month from 2pm-4pm at the Coral Gables Museum. The program offers free admission and exhibit-inspired educational activities for children and families. Foundation funds will be used for 12 Family Day events throughout the 2014-2015 season. Chip Withers, Chair of the Coral Gables Museum Board of Directors, accepted the Museum's grant award.
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The Divaaz a cappella group from Coral Gables Senior High School
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The Coral Gables Senior High Cavalier Chorus Booster Club received a $4,500 grant, which will assist in funding the Cavalier Chorus's trip to New York to perform at the legendary Carnegie Hall. The Cavalier Chorus earned this invitation after its Women's Ensemble received a Superior at the Heritage Festival Series last year. They were on hand at the Merrick Society Reception to receive their grant. The Chorus's a cappella group, Divaaz, performed the song "Killing Me Softly" for those in attendance.
Foundation Executive Director to participate in grants panel
Mary Snow, Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, will participate as a panelist for Miami-Dade County's Department of Cultural Affairs' FY 2014-2015 Developing Arts in Neighborhoods (DAN) Grants Program.
Panelists work alongside artists, arts-related professionals and other persons with current or prior active involvement in specific cultural disciplines, such as board members of cultural organizations and community cultural leaders. The DAN Grants Program provides funding support to small, grass-roots arts organizations with a presence in Miami-Dade County that present, perform or exhibit a year-round season of cultural activities. Grants are awarded to not-for-profit, tax-exempt organizations with annual operating budgets under $100,000.
Bike Walk Coral Gables helps to make the City Beautiful more bike and pedestrian friendly
The Coral Gables Community Foundation manages the Bike Walk Coral Gables fund. Bike Walk Coral Gables was established in 2012 to promote safety for cyclists and pedestrians in
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Cyclists take part in a Father's Day Bike Tour on June 15, 2014
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the community. June 10, 2014 was a great day for bike enthusiasts in Coral Gables. The Coral Gables City Commission unanimously passed the Coral Gables Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan and committed $400,000 for bicycle improvements to the cycling infrastructure of the City Beautiful. Bike Walk Coral Gables was actively involved in the development of the plan and worked with City staff, Street Plans Collaborative and Stantec in the development of the plan.
Bike Walk Coral Gables promotes the accessibility of streets and trails for cyclists and pedestrians so they may enjoy the City's beauty and lush canopy. They want to create a Coral Gables community that values cycling and walking as safe and healthy forms of transportation and recreation. In support of this mission, they conduct monthly events in partnership with the Coral Gables Museum, and also present the annual Coral Gables Bike Day celebration, planned next for March 15, 2015.
On the third Sunday of every month, bike tours depart from the Coral Gables Museum in Downtown Coral Gables at 11 am. Each escorted tour explores a different theme and route and is suitable for riders of all ages and abilities.
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RECENT EVENTS
An evening of philanthropy at the second annual Merrick Society Reception
An exceptional evening marked the second annual reception for the Coral Gables Community Foundation's Merrick Society. Friends and supporters gathered at the Bacardi Americas Headquarters in Coral Gables to celebrate the Foundation's community grant recipients while honoring the Foundation's most generous donors. Dedicated to continuing city founder George E. Merrick's vision for Coral Gables, the Merrick Society represents the Foundation's highest levels of giving where donors make a three-year commitment of support at the $1,000 level and higher.
Over 50 guests in attendance included Vice Mayor William H. "Bill" Kerdyk, Jr., former Mayor Don Slesnick and Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Trowbridge. Also in attendance were four of the Foundation's recent college scholarship recipients, as well as the Foundation's community grant recipients.
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David Mitchell, Jeannett Slesnick, Aura Reinhardt, Don Slesnick, Dr. Robert Jacobson
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Foundation Executive Director Mary Snow opened the night's program by thanking Bacardi Americas for hosting the event and recognized all those associated with the Foundation, including the fund holders, Board of Directors, and the Merrick Society members.
"The Coral Gables Community Foundation brings together beneficiaries and benefactors to fund programs with the greatest impact in The City Beautiful. I am also proud to say that 100% of our board members are Merrick Society members," said Snow.
Chairman of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Carlos F. Garcia, spoke about the Foundation's 23-year history of directing $4 million dollars in charitable contributions in areas such as the arts and culture, education, health, historic preservation, and green space. Garcia emphasized the local impact that Merrick Society-level donors have made.
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Immediate Past Chairman Bill Bonn spoke to the crowd about the benefits of joining the Merrick Society
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"Our Merrick Society members have worked with the Foundation to allow us to continue our support of local cultural hubs such as the Coral Gables Art Cinema and the Coral Gables Museum, establishing scholarship funds, and supporting projects like the Million Orchid Project and restoring the Alhambra Water Tower through the PARKnership Fund," said Garcia.
The night was extra special as the Foundation also celebrated its 2014 community grant recipients - the Coral Gables Art Cinema, the Coral Gables Museum, the Battier Take Charge Foundation and the Coral Gables High School Chorus.
Overall, the second annual Merrick Society Reception was a great success and a fabulous time was had by all.
"Between another successful Merrick Society Reception and our enthusiasm about the projects that our community grant recipients will be pursuing in the next year, it is a very exciting time for the Coral Gables Community Foundation. We are looking forward to continuing to be a force in the philanthropic endeavors of our community," said Snow.
New Foundation website goes live
If you have visited our website recently, you may have noticed a few changes...we have a completely revamped design! Our new website allows visitors to donate to a specific fund, purchase tickets to our Gala and become a Merrick Society member online. Visit www.gablesfoundation.org now!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Date for our Gables Gatsby Gala! 
The 2014 Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala will take place on Friday, October 10, 2014 from 7 PM-1 AM at the Coral Gables Country Club.
Purchase your tickets now!
If you are interested in purchasing tickets, a table, an advertisement in our gala program or sponsoring this great event, our LARGEST fundraiser of the year, please contact Executive Director, Mary Snow, at [email protected] or at 305.446.9670.
Ponce Society of Young Professionals presents 'Friendraiser' happy hour
The Ponce Society of Young Professionals is holding its second annual 'Friendraiser' happy hour on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. This is the perfect event for those looking to get involved with the young professionals outreach of the Coral Gables Community Foundation. You may purchase tickets before the event or pay cash at the door. Be sure to stop by Tarpon Bend to have some drinks, meet new people and contribute to a good cause!
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MERRICK SOCIETY
Create your legacy today!
Coral Gables Community Foundation Chairman Carlos F. Garcia speaking at the second annual Merrick Society Reception on June 5, 2014
ABOUT THE MERRICK SOCIETY
Merrick's vision for better living continues today as involved Coral Gables stakeholders strive to maintain the look and feel of the City Beautiful. Do you have a vision for Coral Gables? The Coral Gables Community Foundation established the Merrick Society so that visionary people like you could continue George Merrick's dream of color. The Merrick Society preserves key philanthropic activities in the Gables and raises unrestricted funds for the Foundation. Merrick Society donors commit to a three-year annual contribution of $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, or more. Merrick Society level donors are invited to the annual benefactor reception and other special functions, and receive a lapel pin in recognition of their participation and vision. To find out more, please contact our Executive Director, Mary Snow, at 305.446.9670, or via email at [email protected].
The Foundation is pleased to present our MERRICK SOCIETY Level Donors
$100,000 Level
Robert J. "Bob" & Marian Fewell*
$10,000 Level
William A. Bonn & Ruben Ceballos
$5,000 Level
Lee Osiason
$2,500 Level
Evelyn J. Budde
Miles & Patty McGrane
Matthew T. Meehan & Rod Hildebrant
Alex Montague & Maria Alonso
$1,000 Level
John R. Allen, Jr. Jason Neal
Marc Berenfeld John O'Rourke III
Patricia Blanco F. David & Ann Olazabal
Karelia & Marino E. Carbonell Alfonso & Shannon Perez
George Corrigan Aura Reinhardt
Sissy DeMaria Anthony L. "Tony" Rogers
Dr. Joyce Elam Ari Rollnick
Wayne Cameron Eldred Dr. Audrey & H.J. Ross
Carlos F. Garcia Jorge E. Silva
Zeke Guilford The Hon. and Mrs. Don Slesnick II, Esq.
Andria Hanley Eddie & Judy Snow
Patricia Keon Jose Valdes-Fauli
Henry Langston Marielena Villamil
Rodolfo Lleonart Wayne E. "Chip" Withers
Paul Lowenthal
*Denotes lifetime membership
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Mary Snow, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ABOUT THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Led by community leaders, the Coral Gables Community Foundation provides the philanthropic conduit to connect individuals and corporations looking to positively impact the success of the community. For almost 25 years, The Foundation has been at the forefront of the evolving needs of Coral Gables while effectively bringing together beneficiaries and benefactors to fund programs with the greatest impact and benefit to "The City Beautiful."
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