Women of Tomorrow’s 13th Annual Gala
Benefits Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program
Saturday, March 8, 2014, at 7 p.m.
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
500 Brickell Key Drive, Downtown Miami
305-371-3330
The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program will host its 13th annual gala at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel, with more than 500 of South Florida’s leading philanthropists, celebrities and politicians in attendance. The organization’s 12th annual gala was a sold out affair, and Founders Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne, along with Gala Chair Marisa Toccin and Co-Vice President, the Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle, are planning an equally successful 2014 gala to celebrate 17 successful years of mentoring at-risk young girls in the South Florida community.
The event’s cocktail reception will feature lavish hors d’oeuvre stations created by the Mandarin Oriental’s executive chef, complemented by the always popular silent auction which will include hundreds of items from top luxury retail, hospitality and restaurant brands. Last year’s items included donations from, Tod’s Bal Harbour, Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour, The Miami HEAT, Diane Von Furstenberg, Romero Britto, The St. Regis Bal Harbour and many others. Last year’s big ticket auction items were a $5,000 shopping spree courtesy of Neiman Marcus, a Two-Year Lease on a 2013 Jaguar XK Convertible Touring courtesy of THECOLLECTION, a Kaufman Franco Spring 2013 Collection Dress, and a $5,000 Gift Certificate courtesy of Oscar de la Renta Bal Harbour.
There’s always excitement at Women of Tomorrow’s gala! At last year’s soiree, there was an unforgettable performance by South Florida’s own Soul Survivors and an all-star guest list including Chris & Pat Riley and Lebron James’s fiancée, Savannah Brinson. Guests were elated when South Florida businessman Chaim Katzman stood up and offered to match the $70,000 in scholarships that had just been donated, in honor of his wife Dr. Shulamit Katzman – making the scholarship auction the most successful to date.
Dr. Katzman had just received an award as Mentor of the Year, along with her co-mentor Eileen Winkler Youtie. Additionally, a heartwarming video was played, featuring some of Women of Tomorrow’s graduates explaining how the program changed their lives. At the conclusion of the video, Women of Tomorrow mentees, graduates and scholarship recipients filled the ballroom as they held candle lights, signifying the light that the program and donors bring to their young lives.
After the cocktail reception, guests will be escorted into the grand ballroom where they will be treated to a four-course dinner and the musical talents of South Florida’s, Soul Survivors. Tickets for the annual gala will be available in December 2013, when the theme and honorees for the event will be announced.
About Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program
Women of Tomorrow was conceived in 1997 by Television Journalist Jennifer Valoppi and co-founded with Don Browne, retired Telemundo Network President. The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program is designed to inspire, motivate and empower at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through a unique mentoring program with highly accomplished professional women and scholarship opportunities. Women of Tomorrow currently mentors 3000 at-risk girls in 130 public high schools in approximately 50 cities in South Florida and Metropolitan Detroit with its network of 300 Mentors. Research shows that Women of Tomorrow Mentees have increased self-esteem, a 93% high school graduation rate, and increased academic performance each year they are in the program, to a statistically significant degree. Women of Tomorrow has awarded over $3.4 million in college scholarships to nearly 1,300 mentees. For more information, call 305-371-3330 or visit www.WomenofTomorrow.org.
