Event co-chair Peter Dolara with wife Mary Lou, Richard Fain
Nearly 1,500 community and business leaders joined United Ways of Broward and Miami-Dade for a special overnight benefit cruise aboard Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Under the leadership of event co-chairs Karla Nickell and Bill Mahoney, Ann and Greg Jensen, Doreen and Keith Koenig, and Mary Lou and Peter Dolara the cruise raised more than $1.1 million to help improve lives throughout Broward and Miami-Dade communities. Colleen and Richard Fain, Cheryl and Adam Goldstein, and Lady Monica Heftler served as honorary event co-chairs.
“We appreciate the generous support of all our sponsors, led by Mahoney & Associates, New York Life, Miccosukee Resort & Gaming and Lady Monica Heftler. Their caring translates into real help and hope for thousands in our community,” Harve A. Mogul, president and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade, said. “We are so grateful to the Royal Caribbean family for its extraordinary generosity and leadership, year after year. This one-night cruise was an incredible gift to our two communities; providing our contributors the opportunity to be among the first to experience Oasis of the Seas, while generating more than $1 million.”
United Way of Miami-Dade CEO Harve Mogul with Kathryn Dinkin, Jeff Chase, Barb Shrut, Steven Gretenstein
“United Way of Broward County was honored to be included in one of the largest one-night fundraisers in South Florida. The Oasis of the Seas was the perfect setting to mingle with the fine community leaders that support our organizations,” Dr. Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, president & CEO, United Way of Broward County, said. “The proceeds will be directly invested in programs that treat root causes of the issues facing Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.”
Guests aboard this special cruise enjoyed around-the-clock entertainment, including receptions, theatrical performances and some of the most creative and innovative amenities afloat at sea, such as two FlowRider® surf simulators, and the first ever zip line at sea, which offered a thrilling experience that took riders across the open-air atrium suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk.
Mahoney & Associates and New York Life Insurance Company were the presenting sponsors, and Miccosukee Resort & Gaming was the exclusive casino and bingo sponsor of the one-night charity event.
Event co-chairs Bill Mahoney, Ann Jensen and Karla Nickell with United Way of Broward CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson and event co-chair Greg Jensen.
Other supporting sponsors included ABB Concise; Aetna; Akerman Senterfitt; All-Med Services of Florida, Inc.; Amadeus North America Inc.; American Airlines; American Sales Management; AutoNation; Balfour Beatty Construction; Baltic Linen Co, Inc.; Bank of America; Baptist Health South Florida; Bitner Goodman, Inc; Bunny Bastian; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida; CA, Inc.; Catholic Health Services; Cisco Systems, Inc./Insight/Cisco Capitol; Cisneros; City Furniture; City National Bank of Florida; Comprehensive Health Services, Inc.; Deloitte; Ernst & Young; Flagler Development Group; FreshPoint; Global Miami J.V.; IBM; Lady Monica Heftler; Hewett-Kier Construction, Inc.; Holland & Knight LLP; International Corporate Art; JM Family Enterprises, Inc.; Keith and Dot Cobb; Jan and Daniel Lewis; MCM Construction Inc; Mike Jackson; Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra; Moss & Associates; Northern Trust Corporation; Odebrecht Construction, Inc.; Parsons; Perry Ellis International; Phil Smith Automotive Group; Sabre Travel Network; Sabre Travel Network; South Florida Business Journal; Steiner Transocean Limited; The Miami Herald; El Nuevo Herald; and Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company.
