Check Presentation to Gables High Culinary Arts Program

At this morning’s City Commission meeting at Coral Gables City Hall, the Foundation formally presented a $10,000 check to the Coral Gables Senior High Culinary Arts Program (CAP).  The check represented a contribution made from the proceeds of the Foundation’s 4th annual TOUR of KITCHENS that took place on  January 26th, 2013.

Those present included:

(L-R in back row) 2011, 2012 Foundation Chair and current Executive Board Member William A. Bonn; Aura Reinhardt, John R. Allen, Jr., and Jason Neal (current Coral Gables Community Foundation Board Members and 2013 TOUR of KITCHENS Sponsors); two CAP students; 2013, 2014 Foundation Chair, Carlos F. Garcia, CPA; Foundation Executive Director and TOUR of KITCHENS Committee Member Andria Hanley; and CAP Chef and Director Mercy Vera.

In the front row: Pat Blanco, BSH, MPH, FACHE, of Baptist Hospital, also a Foundation Board Member, who served as Co-Chair of the 2013 TOUR (along with Donna J. Reno who could not be present); three more CAP students holding the ceremonial check (the actual check was previously presented at the annual Gables High CAP Gala Dinner at The Dome restaurant), and Eddie Arriola, Chairman of the Board of APOLLO BANK (the presenting sponsors of the 2013 TOUR).

Congratulations to Monica Larrea

2013 recipient of Kerdyk Family Trust Music Scholarship and Lady Suzanna Tweed Scholarship.

4th Annual Hatter @TarponBend_CG Wednesday 5/22

Wear your craziest hat and join us for our 4th annual MAD HATTER
on Wednesday, May 22nd, 6:00-8:00 PM
at TARPON BEND, 65 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables.

RSVP via Facebook, or you may also RSVP by email
info@gablesfoundation.org, or by phone:  305/446.9670.

We hope to see you there!

Wayne Eldred / Tarpon Bend from Chat Chow TV on Vimeo.

Farewell to GablesHomePage.com

After four years of presenting local information to Coral Gables, the GablesHomePage.com website will suspend operations on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Initially funded by a matching grant through the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Coral Gables Community Foundation, GablesHomePage.com was one of the initial 23 community news grants awarded in the country.  Covering local events, celebrations and elections, the site prided itself on quality, unbiased content in a civil interactive setting.

“The Coral Gables Community Foundation is proud to have had the opportunity to work with the Knight Foundation, and our partners, the University of Miami and The Miami Herald,” said Chairman CARLOS F. GARCIA.  “As we wind down project implementation and focus on funds in our community, we will continue to work to achieve our mission of enhancing the lives of the people of Coral Gables. The amount of funds we manage has already increased this year and is a priority of the board of directors. These funds are the vehicle to make an even greater impact on our community.”

“While community support and accolades for the site were strong, advertising sales and funding remained a constant challenge,” said Executive Director ANDRIA HANLEY. “Meeting so many community-minded people who wanted to share news about their organizations was the best part of our daily updates and putting our weekly newsletter together. If only we could continue this service without the costs involved in producing a professionally made website and newsletter.”

The announcement of the website’s fate, published Monday, May 6, disappointed many in the community.

“What a pity for one very good and fine publication to be scrubbed,” said PAT CLARKE, longtime member and past president of the Coral Gables Music Club who often submitted news and photos from her organization’s events.

“That’s very sad news for myself, Actors’ Playhouse, and the entire city of Coral Gables,” said BROOKE NOBLE, public relations manager for Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. “GHP has been a vital part of our community and we thank you and your team for all that you have done.”

ROBERT ROSENBERG, director of the Coral Gables Art Cinema, voiced similar sentiment: “That’s a real loss for our community.”

Among the website’s cadre of community writers was longtime Coral Gables resident PATRICK ALEXANDER, who teaches wine-appreciation courses at Books & Books with occasional presentations at the Coral Gables Museum. “Over the past few years, GablesHomePage has become such an important, integral and informative part of Gables life. You will be greatly missed,” he said.

Many thanks to everyone who advertised with GablesHomePage.  Special thanks to GHP’s very first advertiser MAURICIO BARBA!

Stay in touch and follow us on twitter: @CGCF , join our Young Professionals group: @PonceSociety, and we hope to see you on the next @TOURofKITCHENS (save the date Saturday, January 25th, 2014, and like us on Facebook for updates:  Coral Gables Community Foundation, Ponce Society of Young Professionals (PSYP), and TOUR of KITCHENS.

Congratulations to Gables Senior Jake Mekin

Administered through the Coral Gables Community Foundation, the Ralph V. Moore Scholarship for Cavalier Excellence is given annually to an outstanding student who embodies the values of long-time Gables Principal Ralph Moore.

Awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates not only academic excellence but involvement in extracurricular activities and service to school and community, this award emphasizes the importance of leaving a legacy at Coral Gables Senior High.

This year’s winner of a $1000 scholarship is Jake Mekin.  Jake is an IB student with a 6.19 weighted GPA and is in the top 8% of his class.  His leadership in Interact Club, specifically the End Polio Now campaign, Prochat, the CHARLEE program and Breakthrough Miami, prove he truly walks the walk, just as the late Ralph Moore would have wanted to celebrate and recognize.