Promote Your Business with a Silent Auction Item Donation

The Foundation is seeking donations of goods and services for the Silent Auction at our annual fund raising GALA.

Donating something to the  Silent Auction will promote your business to our guests with a sign, and you may display business cards, brochures, or printed materials with your item.   If you would like to donate and item(s) or your services for a good cause, please call us at 305-446-9670, or email to info@gablesfoundation.org.  We would be happy to pick up any item, or you may drop them off at our office at 3001 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Suite 203. Please complete this donation form to give us the basic information. You can fax this form to 350-446-3773:  Silent Auction Item Cover Letter and Donation Form.  Thanks for your support! (Donation Form only without cover letter)

“J’adore Paris” Gala & Cabaret After Party

The Foundation is pleased to invite you to our 2010 “J’adore Paris” GALA and CABARET After Party on Friday, October 29th at the elegant and historic old Spanish architectural gem Comber Hall (next to the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables).

This year’s black-tie affair will be spectaculaire as we transport our guests to the glamorous and romantic city of Paris. The evening begins with our signature silent auction and sparkling Bacardi cocktail reception, followed by dinner, Bacardi bar, lively entertainment, and dancing (7 PM-11 PM).

We are proud to honor this year’s Legacy Award Recipient, Coral Gables’ own First Lady, Jeannett Slesnick.  Our emcee will be Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Mark Trowbridge.

CABARET AFTER PARTY
Keep dancing into the night at our After Party (10Pm-1AM).  The CABARET After Party is new this year and is included with the purchase of a Gala ticket ($250). You may also attend just the After Party ($50).

EVERYONE IS INVITED
That means you! Please come help us celebrate this October with civic/business leaders and young professionals who represent a broad spectrum of community-minded individuals committed to our City’s future. This will be an extraordinary event, and we anticipate it will garner special media attention because of its uniqueness. The Gala is black tie, and the After Party is cocktail attire. Instead of a Halloween costume, dress “up” this year and party with us!

INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorship packages are available for the GALA and the CABARET After Party, and range from our $20,000 Platinum Sponsor Level to a $1,000 Corporate Supporter.  Individual Gala tickets are $250, or you may reserve at table for 10 for $2,500. Please click for the entire  GALA Sponsorship Packet (or just the Sponsorship Levels and Commitment Form, or just the GALA Fact Sheet) or the entire After Party Sponsorship Packet (or just the Sponsorship Levels and Commitment Form, or just the After Party Fact Sheet).

ADVERTISE IN OUR GALA PROGRAM
We are accepting full-page, full-color ads for the GALA Program (cover design pictured at left).  The program measures 5.5″ x 8.5″.  We are happy to provide design work to create your ad, or your may submit your own artwork.  Please use our Sponsorship Form to submit an ad.  If you have any questions, please call us at 305-446-9670.

SILENT AUCTION ITEM DONATIONS
We are also actively seeking donations of silent auction items and greatly appreciate your participation. The Gala is the Foundation’s only major annual fundraiser and we rely only your continued and generous support of your community foundation.  If you would like to donate goods or services for auction, please call 305-446-9670, email us at info@gablesfoundation.org, or visit our offices at 3001 Ponce de Leon Boulevard.  (Donations are tax deductible to the maximum allowed by law.)

PARTICPATE!
Would you like to participate in the event? We need volunteers for a variety of tasks before the event, the day of, and during the event.  You do not need to be a member of the Foundation or live or work in the Gables to volunteer or to attend.  The Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization and is open to everyone.   We welcome and appreciate your interest and your involvement.

“Rêver de Vous” (Dreaming of You)  is a limited edition 24″ x 48″  giclée on canvas by local artist George Rodez | RODEZart.com that will be auctioned at the event.

Community Embraces Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship Recipient

Foundation Executive Director, Andria Hanley, left, presents Jessica Herrera a check from the Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship Fund

By Matt Bokor, Executive Editor gableshomepage.com
June 15, 2010

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcmiami.com/video.

Homeless but determined, Jessica Herrera remained focused on her studies and her dream of going to college as she graduated recently in the top 10 percent of her class at Coral Gables Senior High School. Not only is she the first in her family to graduate from high school, Jessica has been awarded a combination of scholarships and aid to carry her through Florida International University for four years starting this fall.

“My teachers and everyone came together and helped me get on my feet,” Jessica explained tearfully at a recent Coral Gables Community Foundation board meeting where she was presented with the $1,200 Lady Suzanna P. Tweed Scholarship. (Lady Tweed died in 1999 at age 99. With no children of her own, she left a legacy to help deserving students continue their education.) “Jessica really touched my heart,” said Andria Hanley, executive director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation. “She’s an outstanding student and has an amazing story . . . She is a real superstar in our eyes.”

A U.S. citizen born of Nicaraguan parents, Jessica lived most of her senior year at the Homeless Assistance Center in Miami. A Gables High teacher, who lives on Brickell Avenue, gave Jessica a ride to school every day. Since elementary school Jessica and her family moved from place to place. Her sister, who lives with an aunt in a trailer, gave up and quit school. Her parents couldn’t find steady work. There was little food, and sometimes none. Meanwhile, her mother’s application for temporary residence was denied, and she’s heading back to Nicaragua. Through it all, Jessica managed to excel in school with a 5.5 GPA in the I.B. program and a 1270 on the S.A.T. And she did volunteer work – all as a homeless student with a loving but splintered family.

“I always had the hope of going to college,” Jessica said. “I didn’t think I would get to – I’m really, really grateful.”

If you would like to make a donation to Jessica, please make your check payable to:
Jessica Herrera Account 10013175
Mail checks to:
Bank of Coral Gables
2295 Galiano Street
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Gala Kick-Off Party A Huge Success!

Our Gala Kick-Off Party at Gaetano Ristorante on Wednesday June 16th was well attended.

We are grateful to our host, Executive Chef and Managing Director Gaetano Ascione, for his kind hospitality and support.  Located at 162 Alcazar in the picturesque and charming Hotel Place St. Michel, Gaetano’s offers elegant and creative Italian fare for a power lunch or romantic dinner. Over 90 guests mingled and enjoyed drinks and delicious and hearty passed hors d’oeuvres in the lovely European-type-lounge setting of the Hotel Bar.  On display that evening was the original oil painting “Rêver de Vous” (Dreaming of You 24″ x 48″) by local artist George Rodez (RODEZ.com Gallery) (pictured below) used.  Upon learning of our “J’adore Paris” theme, Mr. Rodez offered to donate a giclée print of the painting (which will be on sale via Silent Auction at our GALA in October) and allowed us to reprint the image in all our Gala materials.

2010 Legacy Award Honoree and Past Foundation Chair (2008-09) Jeannett Slesnick was introduced and spoke of the programs and initiatives begun under her leadership.  Guests were entered into a drawing for four Marlins vs. Colorado Rockies FOUNDERS’ FIELD tickets (night game!—plus parking—a $300+) value donated by a long-time Foundation friend and supporter Jason Neal of Waste Management. Also given away was a full-page, full-color ad in our upcoming GALA Program (a $500 value), and some golf balls (also courtesy of Jason Neal).

We hope the attendance and success of this event will carry over to the GALA in October.  Thanks to everyone who attended for their continued support and friendship!

Join the Foundation!

If you are interested in joining the Foundation, you can do so online or by downloading and completing our Membership Form and faxing it to us at 305-446-3773.  The Coral Gables Community Foundation is a non-partisan, non-sectarian, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Everyone is welcome!