Be a Kid Again
Donald and Lisa Pliner help bring back the twenties
After Donald and Lisa Pliner adopted their daughter, Starr, they sought out a fun and exciting place for her to spend those precious preschool days. Miami Children’s Museum (MCM) was their choice, and the Pliners were so pleased they decided to co-chair this year’s gala with Bob and Michelle Diener.
“Starr goes everyday,” says Lisa. “The Children’s Museum is such a special place and unique to Miami. We’ve been in Los Angeles this summer and there is nothing like it there.”
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The Pliners adopted Starr when she was 11 months old from an orphanage in Kazakhstan. “Everyone in this country should see the extreme poverty in the region where Starr was born,” explains Lisa. “Nothing in America compares to it. We have so much.”
So when the Pliners brought their little girl home, MCM provided some of her initial experiences as an American. “Everything was so new for her, even the smallest things,” says Lisa. “In fact, her first steps were taken in a ‘Mommy and Me’ class, and now she has lots of friends there. She absolutely loves it.”
Programs for youngsters Starr’s age and up will benefit from funds raised at this year’s fourth annual Be a Kid Again Gala: Tropical Twenties. The festivities planned will take gala goers on a non-stop journey through the decadence and glamour of the roaring twenties. MCM’s 14 exhibit galleries will be crawling with dancing flappers, gangsters, sultry jazz music and art deco décor. A bevy of delectable treats and drinks, music and entertainment will have everyone “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” And the swanky silent auction is sure to be a show stopper.
“The Children’s Museum is not your typical charity,” says Lisa, “and Donald and I are excited to be a part of the team that brings this year’s gala to life.”
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Of course, as with any gala, fashion choices are key. Yet Lisa offers little insight into her sure to be stunning tropical twenties attire. “It’s between two outfits, but I’m keeping my decision a surprise. Everyone is going to have to wait and see, but the outfit will definitely be outrageous. One thing is for sure, however – I will be wearing Donald Pliner shoes.”
The Be a Kid Again Gala: Tropical Twenties will be held on Saturday, September 29th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $225 per person, or in “Play Groups” of ten people for $2,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. To RSVP for the event, call Jessica at 305-373-KIDS (5437), ext. 127.
Aaron Glickman is a creator/producer native to Miami. He has worked in South Florida media for the past 15 years documenting a regional transformation predicated on art and design. His digital media platform, www.Current.Miami, tells hyper-local stories through the use of video.
From 2007 to 2016, Aaron was the publisher of SocialMiami.com, a society-driven digital media platform. During that period, Aaron created content-driven strategies with many of the region’s most prestigious brands and institutions. He also served on boards and committees for several non-profits.
In 2017, Aaron produced and directed the feature-length documentary Miami Basel: Art’s Winter Playground. The film tells the story of Art Basel’s influence on Miami. Its world premiere in 2019 at the Miami Film Festival.
Prior to working in media, Aaron was a union stage actor. He studied Shakespeare in London and was a six-year member of Theatricum Botanicum, a classical theater company located in Topanga Canyon, California. In 2016, Aaron returned to the stage to tackle the role of Richard Sherman in “The Seven Year Itch” and is currently doing voice-over work for NBC.
