In this issue . . .   
RECENT EVENTS   A Night in Old Shanghai Gala leads to a successful event
FOCUS ON FUNDS   Seraphic Fire opens Endowment Fund
BOARD NEWS Venny Torre announced as Tour of Kitchens Chair
UPCOMING EVENTS Get ready for the 2016 Tour of Kitchens!
MERRICK SOCIETY  Become a member, make a difference in your community    
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RECENT EVENTS
A Night in Old Shanghai Gala is a great success
Honorees and Foundation Chairman and Executive Director( from L to R): Carlos F. Garcia, Adam and Chanin Carlin, Joe Rose, Carol Williamson, Yolanda Berkowitz, Ed Williamson, Mary Snow, Tom C. Murphy, Jeff Berkowitz, Hank Langston, Suzanne Murphy, Kristin and Jason Anderson.  Photo by Betty Alvarez.

The Coral Gables Community Foundation  celebrated its 24th annual gala, a Night in Old Shanghai, on Friday, October 16th at the Coral Gables Country Club, attracting nearly 400 of Coral Gables' philanthropic, social, civic and business influencers, many who turned out in Mandarin flair.
 
Co-chaired by Sissy DeMaria and Mary Young,  the gala's proceeds are earmarked for deserving, in-need Gables High School students pursuing dreams of a college education, among other worthy projects the Foundation champions. This success was thanks in large part to a generous matching pledge by long-time Foundation supporters Matthew Meehan and Rod Hildebrant.
 
Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz received the Willy Bermello Legacy Award;  Ed and Carol Williamson were honored with the Jerry Santeiro Community Award;  Tom Murphy, Jr. and the Murphy family were awarded the Philanthropy Award; Adam and Chanin Carlin were recipients of the Arts and Culture Award; Henry O. "Hank" Langston was presented the Education Award; Joe Rose received the Sports Award presented by Doctors Hospital and the Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute.

Event sponsors included Bacardi, Baptist Health South Florida and Doctors Hospital,  Southern Audio Visual,  The Collection Residences, Adam & Chanin Carlin, Kreps De Maria Public Relations & Marketing, Williamson Cadillac Buick GMC, EWM Realty International, South Florida Luxury Guide Magazine.

To see more photos from A Night in Old Shanghai, please visit our  Facebook page.

Pre-Gala kickoff events generate excitement for big night
This year, the Coral Gables Community Foundation held two pre-gala kickoff events that generated excitement for the big night.

On Thursday, September 24th, the Foundation celebrated its gala, honorees and supporters with a Benefactor Reception graciously hosted by the  Taipei Economic & Cultural Office In Miami . Thank you to Director General Philip Wang and his team for their warm hospitality.

The next day, there was a big question to answer - what to wear to A Night in Old Shanghai? At the Pre-Gala Fashion Show and Luncheon on Friday, September 25th, g orgeous gowns and chic trends graced the runway at  Neiman Marcus in The Village of Merrick Park This stylish soirée was sponsored by the most fashionable new address in  The City Beautiful The Collection Residences .  The fashion-forward event honored philanthropists Yolanda Berkowitz, Chanin Carlin, Carol Williamson, and Leslie, Suzanne and Jennifer Murphy. Guests joined Miami Market President of  Stonegate Bank , Erin Knight, Neiman Marcus' Katharine Rubino and Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala co-chairs Sissy DeMaria and Mary Young to enjoy fine fair and preview elegant fashions selected by expert Neiman Marcus stylists.

To view more photos from the fashion show and luncheon, please visit our  Facebook  page.

Foundation and Thelma Gibson Health Initiative host reception at  Canteen Cuisine
The Coral Gables Community Foundation hosted a joint reception with the  Thelma Gibson Health Initiative  at Canteen Cuisine on Thursday, October 8th. The organizations came together to celebrate the Foundation's donation that enabled the Thelma Gibson Health Initiative to purchase industrial kitchen equipment for the Canteen Cuisine. The Canteen Cuisine will provide at-risk juveniles with an opportunity to learn vocational skills, monetary skills and other work-related skills that will give them the resources necessary for a brighter future, while also serving the local community.  To see more photos from the event, please visit our  Facebook  page.
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FOCUS ON FUNDS  
Seraphic Fire establishes Endowment Fund at Foundation
L-R: Jack Lowell, Rhett Del Campo, Mary Snow, Aura Reinhardt, Pat Blanco, John Allen, Mark Trowbridge and Scott Poulin

Seraphic Fire, a two-time GRAMMY Award-nominated choral orchestral chamber ensemble, has established an Endowment Fund at the Coral Gables Community Foundation. The group, led by Founder and Artistic Director Patrick Dupré Quigley, presented a check to open their Endowment Fund at the Foundation on Sunday, October 11th at the Biltmore Hotel during their 2015-2016 Pre-Season Concert. Seraphic Fire's Executive Director, Rhett Del Campo, spoke briefly and announced the organization's goal of solidifying their place in this community by building an endowment.

The concert was sponsored by Bacardi and presented by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce as part of their Progress Week to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Coral Gables.

Foundation sponsors Coral Gables Senior High School College Fair for fourth straight year


The Coral Gables Community Foundation served as the Presenting Sponsor of the Coral Gables Senior High School College Fair for the fourth consecutive year. The College Fair took place on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in the school gymnasium and featured visits from colleges and universities all over the country. Students were able to discuss college options with school representatives and acquire materials about the many different institutions in attendance. 



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BOARD NEWS
Venny Torre to serve as 2016 Tour of Kitchens Chair

The Coral Gables Community Foundation is proud to announce Board member Venny Torre as the Chair  of the 2016 Tour of Kitchens, taking place on Saturday, February 6th, 2016.

Venny is president and CEO of Torre Development Group Inc., a full service real estate development, construction management and certified general contracting company that is known for its attention to quality, creativity and design details.

The Tour of Kitchens is one of the Foundation's biggest events of the year. The 2016 Tour will take you inside Coral Gables' most beautiful private kitchens and will feature: kitchen design inspiration, tempting tastings from the hottest local restaurants, stunning table settings plus exclusive foodie merchandise for sale.


Scott Poulin joins Calamos Investments

Board member Scott Poulin has joined Calamos Investments as the company's Vice President, Regional Director & Senior Wealth Advisor. Prior to joining Calamos, Scott worked with organizations including SunTrust, BankBoston, Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust and, most recently, Wescott Financial Advisory Group, LLC. At Calamos, he manages investment portfolios, trusts and tax deferred accounts for select institutional, endowment, foundation and high net worth clients in the Southeast Region of the United States.  In addition to serving on the  Coral Gables Community Foundation's Board of Directors,  he is Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the United Way's Center for Financial Stability. Scott resides in Coconut Grove with his wife, Maria-Fernanda (Nanda) and their two children.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
Register for the Tour of Kitchens today!

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MERRICK SOCIETY

Create your legacy today! 

A  canopied street in Coral Gables

 

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 can continue George Merrick's dream. The Merrick Society promotes and preserves key philanthropic activities in Coral 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 donors are invited to the annual benefactor reception and other special events, and receive a lapel pin in recognition of their participation. To find out more, please contact our Executive Director, Mary Snow, at 305.446.9670, or via email at [email protected].

 

Mary Snow, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

305.446.9670 | [email protected] 

305.446.9670

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."