Thaddeus
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
The Mango Festival at Fairchild. It's a great one because, being in the middle of July, most of the tourists are not here. It's a rare glimpse into the mid-summer community that remains here in Miami and interested in tropical fruits. They do a beautiful job at promoting, showcasing, and educating people about mangoes and other tropical fruits as well. The farm down in Redland is open to the public. Go down there and learn about what they're doing in connection with the garden on Old Cutler road.
Toma
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
For 11 years, I was a performer at Walt Disney World – in the late 80’s and through the 90’s. A few years ago, some friends of mine formed the Area 3 foundation. We are a 501.3c nonprofit. If you are, or were, a Disney performer – we provide scholarships and crisis grants. We never want anyone to feel alone - the Zoo Crew family is here to support them. Our recent fundraiser was an 80’s prom.
Diane
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
I'm on the board of Casa Valentina, which is an organization that takes young men and women who are homeless or formerly foster care children who age out and provides housing and wraparound social services so they can ultimately be self-sufficient. Right now, I'm on the executive board and the chair of the governance committee. One of the jobs in my portfolio is working on diversity, equity and inclusion on the board of the organization. And that's been a really fascinating journey this year. I've learned a tremendous amount.
Ricardo
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
We belong to Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. And, with CAO chocolates, we belong to another group called Gentleman's Journal which is an entrepreneur group of business owners where we share life stories and business stories in order to continue growing. We encourage each other and we help different organizations. Right now we are collecting toys for the Nicklaus Hospital Foundation. We are also collecting gifts for the elders who are often forgotten - usually people focus on just the kids.
Sebastian
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
I'm part of a networking group that meets once a week called BNI - which stands for Business Networking International. There's 34 chapters here in Miami. The unique part is that there's only one person, per category in each chapter. (So, you've only got one social media guy, one architect, one printer...) We exchange about $1.5 million a year in business with each other. The structure has been around for 30 years.
Stephen
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
Big Brother, Big Sister is an organization that I've been involved with for six or seven years at this point. You get paired with a kid and have the opportunity to mentor them, spend time with them, and teach them some things that maybe they didn't have the opportunity to learn on their own. I help out sometimes at the Chapman Partnership. They help the homelessness. And, there's a legal organization that I go to every now and again called Lawyers to the Rescue. I go to give free legal advice to people who can't afford an attorney.
Alex And Danielle
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
Danielle: Besides United Hatzalah, we are also involved with AIPAC. Alex: We are involved and support many groups. I participate with Chabad in the grove, visiting sick people at Mercy Hospital. I'm also involved in the Miami New Drama at The Colony Theatre on Lincoln Rd. I am the Board Treasurer. We produce four plays each season and other events throughout the year. Right now, we are about to open FAKE by Carmen Pelaez. It follows the character, Camila, at a renowned auction house right after she is promoted to head of their Latin American Art Department. When she is presented with one her great-aunt Amelia Pelaez's paintings as a last-minute sale inclusion she questions its authenticity forcing her to choose between her career or her Amelia's legacy. We just closed a play called ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI that put the spotlight on Muhammad Ali's night winning the heavyweight champion title in Miami and then going to a hotel room in Brownsville to stay the night due to segregation laws. There he meets up with Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown. It was a very impactful play that engaged the community.
Joann
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
Right now, I'm running a Pilates reformer class that is a fundraiser for The Barnyard, which is an organization in the Grove that helps provide aftercare activities to children in the Grove. That has been very fun for me and I'm just starting to get more involved with them.
Amy
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
I love the jazz series that goes on at Pinecrest Gardens. I love the music series at Deering Estates. I think a lot of people don't know about that.
Jim
Are there any community events or groups that are important to you and your family?
Sandra is a member of the Soroptimist group in Homestead. She attends regular meetings and they've been helping with the food drives in Homestead. They're out there loading cars with produce and canned goods. I'm also the executive officer for the Dade County Fireman's Benevolent Association. We promote brotherhood and comradery in the fire department. We usually do several events throughout the year - bowling, golf, kids' Christmas parties, and picnics. Right now we're not doing anything because of Covid.