The Edit by Brett Graff
Miami thrives on philanthropy - a roundup of the week's events.
National Philanthropy Day
Miami showed its community spirt on National Philanthropy Day, as the city came together to celebrate charity and giving. Congratulations to Marile Lopez and Jorge Luis Lopez Esq. on their family foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropist Award, Ron Book on the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dave Lawrence on the Champion of Philanthropy Award, Elizabeth Gadinsky on the James W. McLamore Outstanding Volunteer Award and to Julie Krass and Charlotte Krass on the Youth in Philanthropy Award. The ballroom was filled with generous spirit and community leaders including: Ana Veiga Milton, Amanda Altman, Soraya Rivera Moya, Patrick Morris, Dale Chapman, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Senator Lauren Book, Trish and Dan Bell, Kadie Black, Robbie Elias, Jane Wooldridge, Rolando Rodriguez, Elysze Held, Ann Stith, Deborah Spiegelman, Yvonne de la Vega, Eva Silverstein and more.
Suited for Success Kick-Off Event
“Someone’s Future is Hanging in Your Closet” was the Suited for Success kickoff event hosted by Ornare Miami to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Suited for Success. Claudio Faria, Owner of Ornare Miami, hosted with Kristin Sanchez of South Florida Live on NBC6, who engaged CEO Sonia Jacobson in a Q&A session about the organization’s mission, the upcoming Gala, and the past 30 years. Over 100 guests in attendance included: Patricia Bernardini, Nicole Barrow, Sonia Harty, Valerie Major-Geter, Shannon Nurse, Jessica Gopiao, Daniella Hernandez, Gregory Gardner, Angela Isaias, Monica Lerena, Jessica Merz, Laura Morilla, Amy Richman, Daniela Pitts, Juan Carlos Arcila-Duque, Beau Blumberg and Jennifer Heegaard.
Handbags and suits donated by guests were prominently showcased and will later benefit local men, women, and veterans striving for success with the organization’s support.
New World School of the Arts Alum Katerina McCrimmon Returns to Perform and Teach
New World School of the Arts alumna Katerina McCrimmon is headlining Funny Girl in the musical’s first national tour at Broward Center for the Performing Arts — opening tonight and running until November 26th — and also taking the time to teach a master class at the program in her hometown. As the actress returns to South Florida in the lead role of Vaudeville’s sweetheart Fanny Brice, she’ll connect with current students as a professional practicing her artform by presenting a masterclass to more than 100 theatre students. She will also coach performers from the NWSA college and high school programs and offer students the opportunity to ask questions about her career.
“It is an invaluable experience for our current students to hear from Katerina about her journey from being a New World School of the Arts high school student to headlining a first national tour a few short years later,” says Alan Patrick Kenny, Dean of Theater at New World School of the Arts.
Katerina McCrimmon, a YoungArts Finalist and Presidential Scholar in the Arts, graduated from the New World School of the Arts’ high school program in the spring of 2016. Her NWSA performance credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Children of Eden, and John & Jen. Regional credits include In the Heights, Gathering Blue, and Hair.
Brett Graff is SocialMiami.com’s managing editor and has been a journalist covering money, people and power for over 20 years. Graff contributes to national media outlets including Reuters, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Maxim, and the PBS show, Nightly Business Report. A former U.S. government economist, her nationally syndicated column The Home Economist is first published in The Miami Herald and then on the Tribune Content Agency, where it’s available to over 400 publications nationwide. She is broadcast weekly on two iHeartRadio news shows and is the author of “Not Buying It: Stop Overspending & Start Raising Happier, Healthier, More Successful Kids,” a parenting guide for people who might be tempted to buy their children the very obstacles they’re trying to avoid.
