Women of Tomorrow’s Annual Gala
Benefits Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program
Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 7 p.m.
Mandarin Oriental Miami
500 Brickell Key Drive, Downtown Miami
305-371-3330
www.WomenofTomorrow.org
The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program will host its 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 2014 annual gala raised a record-breaking amount, and Founders Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne, along with Gala Chair Marisa Toccin Lucas and Co-Vice President, the Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle, are planning an equally successful 2015 gala to celebrate 18 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 Britto Central; Loews Hotels; Perry Ellis International; Prada USA; Roger Vivier; Tiffany & Co and many others. The 2014 big ticket auction items were a $5,000 Gift Certificate courtesy of Neiman Marcus, Bal Harbour, a KaufmanFranco 2014 Spring Collection Dress courtesy of KaufmanFranco, a one of a kind Donna Karan Dress courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour and Donna Karan New York, a two-Year Lease on a Maserati Ghibli courtesy of THE COLLECTION and “The Hole in the Wallpaper Be Beautiful” by renowned artist James Rosenquist valued at $200,000 personally donated by Mr. Rosenquist.
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. 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. Jennifer Valoppi, Founder and President, says “Women of Tomorrow is very proud of the many community sponsors and partners who support this valuable program year long, and we welcome interested corporate sponsors to join us this night in building a viable workforce by uplifting the young women who are working toward new and better lives.”
Honorees of the 2014 Gala included Honorary Chairmen Wayne & Cynthia Boich; Legacy Builder Honorees Bruce & Tracey Berkowitz, The Fairholme Foundation; Leadership Award Honoree Edie Lutnick; Champion Award Honoree Miami HEAT; Excellence Honorees Tara Solomon & Nick D’Annunzio, Tara Ink; and Mentor of the Year Robbin Newman.
Edie Lutnick, who received the Leadership Award Honoree, is Founder & President of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund in New York. Lutnick, who is an avid supporter of Women of Tomorrow, said of its unique mentoring program which pairs highly accomplished women with small groups of at-risk young girls, “Women of Tomorrow does something extraordinary, they recognize the wisdom of those women who have succeeded and they capitalize on what they have accomplished. The past and the future combine in one spectacular organization. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund is so proud to be able to support Women of Tomorrow.” The Cantor Relief Fund was started in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack, in which Cantor suffered the single largest loss of life, including Lutnick’s brother.
After the cocktail reception, guests will be escorted into the 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 2014, 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 approximately 3,500 at-risk girls in 181 public high schools throughout South Florida, Metropolitan Detroit and Greater Philadelphia with its network of over 450 Mentors. Research shows that Women of Tomorrow Mentees have increased self-esteem, a 92% 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 $4 million in college scholarships to more than 1,400 mentees. For more information, call 305-371-3330 or visit www.WomenofTomorrow.org.
