United Way Charity Cruise Aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Reflection
Raises more than $550,000 to help improve lives in Miami-Dade


More than 500 community and business leaders joined United Way of Miami-Dade for a charity cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Reflection. The two-night cruise raised more than $550,000 to support United Way’s work in education, financial stability and health. Charitable contributors had a unique, fun filled experience onboard the newest and largest addition to Celebrity Cruises’ luxury fleet, the fifth and final ship in its award-winning Solstice Class series, before she makes her South Florida debut.
Longtime United Way supporter, Lady Monica Heftler, served as the charity cruise’s honorary chair. Heftler hosted several receptions onboard, one of which encouraged guests to wear Live United T-shirts.
“I enjoy giving back to the community and supporting important causes,” Lady Monica Heftler said. “The two night cruise on Celebrity Reflection offered a meaningful way to support the good work of United Way while having a great time at sea, on a beautiful ship, with many good friends and community supporters.”

Among the highlights of the overnight cruise was the ship’s naming ceremony. Richard Fain, CEO and chairman of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises, honored four Celebrity Cruises employees instrumental in breast cancer awareness as the ship’s godmothers. Fain’s initial announcement of Celebrity Reflection’s godmothers came during Breast Cancer Awareness month and National Cruise Month, giving meaning to the connection between breast cancer and the ship.
All four ladies, Jovanka Goronjic, Celebrity Constellation’s spa manager; Megan Mathie a glassblowing artist on Celebrity Solstice; Helen O’Connell manager of community relations; and Rosey Rodriguez manager of the special events team, have been affected by breast cancer. Some have had family members deal with and overcome cancer and others have had personal experiences with the disease.

“We are so grateful to Celebrity Cruises for giving us this extraordinary opportunity aboard Celebrity Reflection. This is truly a gift,” said Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade. “Over the years Celebrity Cruises’ unwavering support of our mission has had a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of our residents and the community as a whole.”
In addition to the naming ceremony, guests aboard the charity cruise enjoyed around-the-clock entertainment, including receptions, theatrical performances and some of the most creative and innovative amenities afloat at sea.

Participating sponsors included: Solstice sponsor, Lady Monica Heftler; Lido sponsors: American Airlines, Greenberg Traurig P.A., LNR Property LLC and The Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald; Panorama sponsors: Baptist Health South Florida, Cisco Systems Inc., Diaz Oliver Family, Insight, Kongsberg Maritime Inc., Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra LLP and TD Bank; Vista sponsors: Bank of America, Catholic Health Services, City National Bank, Ernst & Young, Eulen America, Florida Blue, Florida East Coast Industries Inc., Matthew Gorson, Holland & Knight, JP Morgan Chase, MCM Corporation, Northern Trust, Odebrecht, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Ryder System Inc., South Florida Business Journal, Steiner Leisure Limited, thinkLAB Ventures LLC and Wells Fargo; Sunrise sponsors: Aetna Inc., FreshPoint, KPMG International, Right Management, United HomeCare Services Inc. and Zuni Transportation Inc.
Leonard Abess, Jack Lowell of Flagler Real Estate Services, LLC and Alberto Carvalho superintendant of Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Jorge Hernandez-Torano of Holland & Knight, Hector Tundidor of Ernst & Young, Jorge Bosque of Bosque Imports and Oscar Suarez of Ernst & Young
Two of the four ladies named godmothers of Celebrity Reflection, Helen O’Connell and Rosey Rodriguez of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd
Livia and Lucas Aristides and Aristides Pallin of Leon Medical Center
Jesus Ernesto Diaz of TD Bank and Ana Morejon Diaz
Ed Williamson, Carol Williamson and Trae Williamson of Williamson Cadillac, with Roxanna Handley-Namava
Tony Argiz of Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra, LLP and Phillis Oeters of Baptist Health South Florida
Talmadge Fair and Lavita Gaiter of Urban League
Group from Greenberg Traurig
Nelly Farra, Lilliam Machado and Gisela Morales Martin
Ramon Pacios of Wells Fargo and Elina Pacios with Melissa Sanchez, and Jose Sanchez of Wells Fargo
Anolan Landsberg with David Landsberg, Sue Rosenthal and Cesar Mendoza of The Miami Herald/ El Nuevo Herald
John Schmitz, Lucila Schmitz, Lady Monica Heftler and Andres Garcia, Jr.
Robert Castellano, Yoly Schaefer, Gene Schaefer of Bank of America, and Brenda Nestor Castellano
Maria Carvalho, Alberto Carvalho superintendant of Miami-Dade County Publc Schools with Maria Izquierdo and Fileno Izquierdo
Martha de la Pena Rojas, Kamal Chhatwal, Frederick and Aimee Ariola, Marie and David Diaz of Florida Blue
Conchi Argiz at the casino
Remedios Diaz Oliver at the casino
United Way board chair Jayne Harris Abess and Leonard Abess with Eva Gorson and Matthew Gorson of Greenberg Traurig
Gus Machado
Camila Cote of Ernst & Young with George Fernandez
Lady Monica Heftler
United Way president and CEO Harve A. Mogul with Kathleen Woods Richardson of Miami-Dade County
Jesus and Isabel Tome with Jose Fox of United HomeCare Services Inc. and Nivia Fox
Alex Montague and Maria Alonso of Bank of America
Franciso Gonzalez and Maria Gonzalez of Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra