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Suited for Success
Celebrates Ten Years of Changing Lives
and Turing
Dreams into
Reality
Fundraiser Event
to Take Place Saturday,
September 10 at the
Loews Miami Beach
Hotel
With
a host committee that resembles a who’s-who of Miami’s
movers and shakers, this year’s 10th anniversary event
and fundraiser for Suited for Success promises to be a
spectacular night, befitting of its title, “Welcome to
Wonderland”; where hopes and dreams become
fulfilled.
That was the dream of founding
director, Sonia Jacobson, when she and her business
partner Barbara Tifford opened the doors of Suited for
Success for the very first time, just over ten years
ago. Wanting to help people fulfill their hopes and
dreams of improving their lives by breaking the cycle of
poverty and finding proper work, their very first client
was a perfect example of just how much they could make a
difference in the community. LaQuita Sartin arrived at
Suited for Success with just one eye. A beautiful young
woman but affected by the ravages of domestic abuse, she
came hoping to receive clothing for job interviews and
training to prepare her for the workforce. What
she wasn’t expecting was a new eye that Suited for
Success would provide, which truly sent her out
into the world, fully prepared. Now with proper skills
and training to enter the workforce, LaQuita’s
self-esteem soared and she eventually landed
herself a job as a Sheriff—something that would never
have happened without the support, and of course the
eye—that Suited for Success provided.
The tale of LaQuita sounds incredible, yet
it’s only one of thousands that all share similar
successes of having their lives transformed through the
possibilities created by Suited for Success. Over the
last 10 years, Suited for Success has opened the door
for over 11,000 men and women by providing job training
skills, educational programs, professional clothing and
health and wellness programs. They have helped to build
and rebuild self-esteem and confidence, and create
opportunities for these individuals to compete and
succeed in the workplace.
In the last year
alone, Suited for Success provided essential job skills
training to hundreds of residents in East Little Havana
and Overtown, with the aim of getting these residents
off welfare, or into better jobs. Another program
developed by Suited for Success replaces broken and
missing teeth, of which all the participants reported a
greater sense of self-esteem and interview readiness;
most found employment within three months of
treatment. With such positive results, Suited for
Success is looking forward to opening even more new
doors for men, women and children throughout Miami-Dade,
and what better way to raise awareness of their activity
than a fundraiser.
“Welcome to Wonderland”
is a celebration of possibilities and the opening of
doors for Miami-Dade’s disadvantaged individuals.
Instead of a traditional “black tie gala event,” Suited
for Success’s fundraising celebration will consist of a
world filled with fun, imagination and possibility,
along with entertainment and activities emblematic of
this theme. It is about fantasy and possibility. It is
about what could be - just as Suited for Success
provides clients with the tools necessary to reach their
potential.
Suited for Success’ 10th
anniversary and fundraising event will take place on
Saturday, September 10 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel,
from 7:30pm-midnight.
For more information
about the event, to purchase tickets or make a donation,
visit http://suitedforsuccess.org/wonderland/index.html
or call Suited for Success on
305-444-1944.
Commemoration and Campus
Dedication
Highlight Hillel 9-11
Ceremony
On a day of mourning for the American Public, the
650 families of The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day
School and The Ben Lipson Hillel Community High
School will be dedicating close to 100 mezzuzot, two
Britto sculptures and a ceremonial
wall.
The morning program, which will begin
at 10am and end at 12 noon, will include a proclamation
by North Miami Beach Mayor, Raymond Marin, a medley of
patriotic songs, a formal group mezuzah dedication, the
unveiling of the Britto statues and the painting
of the northern wall of the Hillel cafeteria by
the
Hillel children who are attending the
event.
“What better way to balance the
tragedy of the twin towers than with a dedication
ceremony that has both artistic and religious
components,” explained Wendy Kaplan, Director of
Development at The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day
School. “Britto’s Wall of Remembrance is both a
commemorative tribute to 9-11 and a celebration of
the new colorful additions on campus,” she added.
Artist Romero Britto has designed this
ceremonial wall, which he has named “Remembrance” as
well as 121 mezzuzot and two statues that have been
donated by Friends and Families of Hillel.
The mezzuzah, a Jewish ritual object, is a
small scroll on which a paragraph from the Torah has
been written. The scroll is placed in a small box or
container that is then attached, at an angle, to the
doorposts of a house and is a symbol of physical and
spiritual protection.
“We've succeeded in
beautifying our campus and generating strong
contributions to strengthen our scholarship fund
by involving proud parents, community leaders,
outstanding faculty and of course our students with a
truly world-renowned artist,” explained Rachel Sapoznik,
Hillel parent and Board Member who initiated the Britto
connection. “As a fan of Romero Britto and his artwork,
it seemed only natural to combine his positive and
creative vision towards Hillel, an institution that I
hold very near to my heart,” she added.
Hillel is a private Jewish day school
located at 19000 NE 25 Avenue in North Miami Beach. For
more information, contact Chani Dennis at 305-931-2831,
ext. 167.
A Big “Bravo” for Jerry
Lewis and
his Annual MDA
Telethon
by Robin Roth, the
Blonde from “The Blonde and the Maven”
Contributing
Writer
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I
applaud this saint of a man, Jerry Lewis, who has
devoted his life to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy.
No one knows for certain the reasons behind Jerry's
passion to find a cure. I do think, however, that we all
agree how grateful we are for all his effort! His
endless, tireless, love, care, concern and work have
given HIS KIDS hope, happiness and pride—not to mention,
he’s left HIS MARK on this world.
The
Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health
agency. MDA shares a dedicated partnership with
scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering
some 40 different neuromuscular diseases that affect
more than a million Americans. This is a disease that
can attack anyone of us at any time. Muscular Dystrophy
doesn't care who you are, how rich or famous you are,
what color you are or what religion you are. MDA combats
neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide
research, comprehensive medical and community services
and far reaching professional and public heath
education.
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For the past 53 Labor Days, Jerry
Lewis has set the stage to let HIS KIDS shine, and this
year was NO different! In Beverly Hills, California on
September 5, 2005, a nationwide outpouring of love,
support and dollars for Jerry's 40th annual telethon
brought $53,921,586 to the Association’s contributions
and pledges. This number was quite remarkable
considering the contributions going towards the
unthinkable devastations caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Jerry has a big heart, big enough to donate a $1 million
donation from MDA to the Salvation Army's hurricane
relief program. Special appeals during the Telethon were
expected to raise about $1 million for relief efforts in
the aftermath of the hurricane.
Between
the generous viewers, local businesses and the (HUNKY)
Firefighters (who are always there, year after year,
collecting for Jerry), Palm Beach, Florida raised a
whopping $723,602! YEAH, Palm Beach, FLORIDA! This money
will go towards its local MDA chapter. Moneys from the
Telethon not only go towards research, but important
studies, scientists, therapy, services, wheelchairs, and
medical care, and provides for 4,000 youngsters to
attend the MDA week-long summer camp that these children
so look forward to each year. Your money is well spent
here, folks!
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Readers, I spent some time with THE
MOST, lovely young lady, Lorinda Gonzalez, who has been
suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 3 since she
was 3 years old. With all that this precious 20-year-old
has to endure each and every day, there is a reason
behind her brilliantly glowing smile. She explains to
me, “I don't feel sorry for myself at all. I have a
great purpose in this world. Through me, I want people
to realize and to appreciate life; to really appreciate
all life has to offer. I feel that people all too often
take what they have for granted, especially young
people. They don't seem to realize all their potential
and what they need to achieve—what they MUST achieve and
bring to this world. I understand all of this, even WITH
the challenges and barriers I have. I hope to open
people's eyes to all they have and how grateful they
should be to have it!”
Readers, if you want
an inspirational, articulate, touching, intelligent
speaker for your organization, business, school or
religious sect, you need to sit down with Lorinda! She
will move you, touch your heart and help you
grow!
Jerry Lewis said, “This remarkably
successful effort will mean a lot to the tens of
thousands of individuals and families who are fighting
neuromuscular diseases. I'd like to thank everyone
involved in making this really terrific show one of the
best Telethons ever!”
I have one last
thought that I know all of you will agree with. Please,
God, let this be the year we discover THE cure for this
horrible disease! Let this year be the last year
thousands of beautiful people have to
suffer…
If you didn't get to make your
pledge to Jerry, it is NOT too late. Simply call your
local chapter or log onto www.mdausa.org. DO IT NOW
AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
PHOTO
IDS
1. John Matthews (WPEC News12),
Alan Gerstel (WPEC News12), Liz Quirantes (WPEC News12),
Sandy Shelton (Northern Trust Bank), Curt Fonger (WPEC
News12), and Terry Anzur (WPEC News12)
2. Thanks
to the hard work of local volunteers and television news
anchors, Palm Beach raised $723,602 for this year’s MDA
Telethon
3. The inspirational Lorinda Gonzalez
with firefighters Allen Civita, Eric Rosenquist and Al
Votinelli
Photos by Robin Roth
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Miami Dade Parks to Host Ethiopian
Cultural Group
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Miami Dade Parks, Division of Arts and
Culture is proud to present a free concert featuring the
Ethiopian cultural group, Bahalachin, on Sunday,
September 11, 4pm, at the Joseph Caleb Auditorium, 5400
N.W. 22nd Avenue in Miami, as part of the Community
Artists Cultural Arts Series.
Bahalachin is
the product of extraordinary effort and sacrifice by
Solomon Akale and the group’s members, to preserve the
musical heritage of more than 2700 years of
Ethiopian-Jewish Culture. “Bahalachin” which means, “our
culture” in Amharic, is the official name of the group
founded in 1996 to preserve the culture of Ethiopian
Jewry and to strengthen the natural bonds between the
Ethiopian Jewish Community. The ensemble sings in
Amharic, plays traditional Ethiopian-Jewish music on
traditional instruments, and includes seven dancers as
well. A narrator will guide the audience through the
program in English and use traditional crafts to help
explain the performance.
For more
information, call the Joseph Caleb Auditorium at
305-636-2350.
PHOTO IDS
1. The
Ethiopian cultural group, Bahalachin
Lorna Owens Forms
Empowerment Program,
“Women Behind
Bars”
It
did not take Lorna Owens—former Dade County prosecutor
and criminal defense attorney, turn life coach and
motivational speaker—long to find her life’s mission. It
is called Women Behind Bars, a 90-day empowerment
program for women in prisons and jails. “My mission is
to show the women that it is possible for them to change
their lives, stay out of jail and become productive
members of society,” says Owens.
“Listen
up,” Owens tells the women. “You hold your future in
your hands.” Each woman has to take responsibility for
her life. We do not care whether they are innocent or
guilty. Life is about making good choices. Women Behind
Bars is a 90-day intense empowerment program that meets
twice per month for two hours.
The women
learn self-esteem, forgiveness, trust, and goal setting.
Best of all, they learn to dream again. These women
attend lectures, role play and use a journal. There’s
also the Women Behind Bars Book Club. Each month, the
women read a life-changing book, such as A Child Called
It. “Bibliotherapy is powerful stuff,” says
Owens.
The goal of Women Bars is to help
the woman change and not return to jail. The
organization is working towards forming partnerships
with major corporations and individuals. Women Behind
Bars needs book donations from its selected book list.
In the works in the opening of a Day Spa and Salon
called Metamorphis, which will be a high-end spa/salon
run by women who were formerly incarcerated.
“Each of us can make a
difference,” says Owens.
For more
information, visit www.positivibe.com.
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New Theatre Cares—a Benefit Performance
for the
Victims of Hurricane Katrina
On
Tuesday, September 27 at 8pm, New Theatre will hold a
benefit performance for the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. Rafael de Acha will direct, with the
volunteered artistic services of the New Theatre Acting
Company, and production stage manager Joseph M. NeSmith.
The first segment of the evening’s program
consists of: “All the World’s a Stage,” Jacques in As
You Like It, Rafael de Acha; “When my Cue Comes Call
Me,” Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Robert Strain;
“What is a Jew?,” Shylock in The Merchant of Venice,
Steve Gladstone; “The First of Gold,” Morocco in The
Merchant of Venice, Stephen S. Neal; “I Love Thee Not,”
Demetrius and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Euriamis Losada and Tara Vodihn; “Fare Thee Well…I Know
a Bank,” Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ricky J.
Martinez; “Her Father Lov’d Me,” Othello in Othello,
James S. Randolph, Jr.; “Is This a Dagger I See Before
Me?”, Macbeth in Macbeth, Keith Cassidy; “They Met Me in
the Day of Success,” Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Bridget
Connors; and “Dimmi Donde Nasce Amore” (“Tell Me Where
is Fancy Bred”) from The Merchant of Venice; music by
Rafael de Acha, with Cecilia Torres, Kimberly Daniel,
Euriamis Losada, Kathy Kozak at the piano.
After intermission, from past present and
future seasons, performances include: Ladies and Not So
Gentle Women by Alfred Allan Lewis (Season 2005-2006),
Patti Gardner; Affluenza by James Sherman (Season
2004-2005), Michael McKeever; Wit by Margaret Eidson
(Season 2001-2002), Barbara Sloan; Anna in the Tropics
by Nilo Cruz (Season 2002-2003), Cecilia Torres; Molly
Sweeney by Brian Friel (Season 1997-1998), Lisa Morgan;
Madagascar by J. T. Rogers (Season 2005-2006), Kathryn
Lee Johnston, Angie Radosh and Bill Schwartz; and A
Tribute to Jule Styne (Season in the future), Kimberly
Daniel and Kathy Kozak.
The New Theatre is
located at 4120 Laguna Street, Coral Gables. For tickets
and more information, call 305-443-5909 or visit
www.new-theatre.org.
Everyone to the Miami World Theater
Festival
Everything is ready for the curtain to raise for
the First Edition of the Miami World Theater. Between
October 7th and 16th, Miami Beach will become the
meeting place for the most famous international theater
companies that will make theirs our streets and
theaters. Free of charge and for a crowd made out of
people of all ages, they will perform breathtaking
spectacles at the Lummus Park and Lincoln Road.
Fireworks, dancing, circus, mime, lights and music will
melt together to make this an unforgettable experience.
Lummus Park, between 7 and 8 streets, will
be the venue for the Groupe F of France and their
performance, “A Little More Light.” They will be in
charge of opening the festival with the most
sophisticated fireworks spectacle that will fill up the
sky with brightness and color and everyone could enjoy
on October 7th and 8th, at 8pm.
The
following week (October 15 and 16), beauty and color
will meet at the corner of Lincoln Road and Lenox
Avenue, where starting at 2pm, Strange Fruit of
Australia will present “The Field,” a performance on
poles that fusions dance, circus and mime and will send
our imagination flying.
October 8th and
9th, the Jackie Gleason Theater will be hosting Rafael
Amargo from Spain, with his performance of “Poeta en
Nueva York” (Poet in New York), a fusion of flamenco,
jazz and Latin music. And October 15th and 16th will be
the dates for the Theatre Tattoo, from France, with
their play “La Cuisine,” a place where we all might be
closer to the earth and a sensual reality.
The Byron Carlyle Theater will present Les
Deux Mondes of Canada, with the play “The Tale of Teeka”
on October 7th, 8th and 9th, and Joe Goode Performance
Group of the United States, of the United States with
“Hometown,” October 14th, 15th and
16th.
Last but not least, for all the
duration of the Festival, the Theater of Venevision will
present, from October 7th to the 16th, the play “Los
Hombros de América” (The Shoulders of America), where
humor and irony recreate from fiction the reality lived
by families of immigrants, Tickets will be sold directly
at the theater’s box office.
All the Street
Theatre performances will be offered free of charge. For
the shows at Jackie Gleason Theater and Byron Carlyle
Theater, tickets could be purchased through
Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com or at the box
offices. Prices fluctuate between $25 and $68
dollars.
Eighth Annual Jazz
Spectacular Benefit Concert to
Aid Boys and Girls
Clubs of Broward County
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Superstar jazz musicians groove for a good
cause in the 8th Annual Jazz Spectacular in the Au-Rene
Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, September 9 at 8pm. The concert is sponsored by
Scott Mager and presented by GunnAllen Financial Joel
Kamphuis/Anthony Marcello with all proceeds to benefit
the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward
County.
The concert includes Sax Pack
featuring Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Marion Meadows,
who are joined by the Power Quartet with Richard Smith
and Freddie Ravel and special guest Chuck
Loeb.
Tickets are $25, $45 and $60. VIP
tickets that include an elegant cocktail soiree and
silent auction which starts at 5:30pm, along with
premium concert seating, are available for $250. Tickets
are available through the Broward Center’s AutoNation
Box Office at 954-462-0222 or at www.browardcenter.org.
Tickets are also available through
Ticketmaster.
PHOTO IDS
1. Richard
Smith
2. Freddie Ravel
12th Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting
& Auction
to Benefit the Ann Storck
Center
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The
12th Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting and Auction to
raise funds for the Ann Storck Center in Fort Lauderdale
will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino on Friday, September 30, 2005. South Florida
celebrity chefs and restaurants will open their hearts
and share their talents as they prepare and share a bevy
of scrumptious gourmet samplings and decadent
desserts. Guests will also enjoy an open bar.
Participating restaurants include:
3030 Ocean, Marriott Harbor Beach; Anthony’s Runway 84;
Aruba Beach Café; Bin 595; Bistro 17; Bob Roth’s
New River Groves; Brooks Restaurant; Casa D’Angelo;
Gatsby’s; Grill Room on Las Olas; Hana Lu Lu Gourmet; In
Home Gourmet; Johnny V; KM at the Grapevine/Grapevine
Gourmet Catering; Legal Sea Foods; Mancini’s; Ruth’s
Chris Steakhouse; Samba Room; Schakolad; Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino; Spazio; Trina; and We Take the
Cake.
As the event’s title suggests, both
live and silent auctions will be held featuring vacation
packages, jewelry and an array of sports items, some of
which include: a SilverSea Cruise package, Tiffany &
Co. merchandise, a weekend in New York City, a one-week
vacation in Acapulco, Mexico, autographed sports
memorabilia, and much more. The raffle will consist of a
$500 gift certificate to Levinson’s
Jewelers. Raffle tickets will be sold for $25
each.
The evening’s entertainment will
feature world-renowned harpist Victor Espinola and his
Paraguayan harp. Espinola recently joined famed
musician Yanni on an International
tour.
Chairing the event will be Roz
Perlmutter, an Ann Storck Honorary Board member and
owner of Pearl’s Art Supply, and Joan Ast, a board
member of the Broward County Medical Association
Alliance.
The Ann Storck Center is
dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults
with developmental disabilities. The Center
provides a full range of Residential Services, a
Developmental Training Program, Music Therapy, a
nationally acclaimed Fine Art Program and a Preschool/
Infant Stimulation Program with Family Support
Services.
The 12th Annual Celebrity Chefs
Food Tasting and Auction will take place at the Seminole
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, State Road 7 (U.S. Highway
441), just north of Stirling Road on the Seminole Indian
Reservation in Hollywood on Friday, September 30. The
evening begins with a Silent Auction and Food Tasting at
7pm, followed by the evening’s Program and Live
Auction.
Tickets are $150 and can be
purchased by contacting Maria Delegal at 954-584-8000 or
via email at mdelegal@ascfl.org. For sponsorship
information, contact Maria Delegal as well.
PHOTO IDS
1. Bottom Row: Chef
Kenneth Williams (Grill Room on Las Olas), Chef Adrian
Deacon (Bin 595), Chef Peter Mavraides (Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino), Mikai Williams, Chef Kevin
McCarthy (KM at the Grapevine/Grapevine Gourmet); Middle
Row: Chef Eve Montella-Smith (Hana Lu Lu Catering), Chef
Elisa Eliot (In Home Gourmet), Chef Dominique Beckers
(We Take The Cake), Chef Stewart Buchanan (Legal Sea
Foods), Chef Eric Peterson (Gatsby's), Chef Angelo Elia
(Casa D' Angelo); Top Row: Chef Michael Smith (Spazio),
Joel Daley, Darius Williams, in back of Darius (red
shirt) is Chef Mike Coldrick (Trina at the Atlantic
Hotel), Chef Henry Henrera (Brooks), Chef Michael
Costello (Bistro 17) holding Daniella Novakovic, and
Dario Marquez (Samba Room)
22nd Miami Book Fair International
Official Poster
to be Unveiled at Kick-Off
Reception
A select group of Miami authors, educators,
artists and community leaders will be the first to see
the official poster of the 2005 Miami Book Fair
International when they gather for the unveiling on
Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 6:30pm at the Ritz
Carlton DiLido Beach Club, 1 Lincoln Road, Miami
Beach.
Miami-based artist Laura Luna, who
created the poster for the Book Fair, will attend the
unveiling. Luna is considered one of the best
sculptors from the 1980’s “Golden Generation” in Cuba.
The daughter of a political prisoner was barred from
attending the Cuban Arts Institute (Instituto Superior
de Arte) for political reasons, but still apprenticed at
the Rodriguez de la Cruz ceramic works, where Amelia
Pelaez, Wilfredo Lam and many other distinguished
artists studied. She arrived in Miami in 1994 seeking
political asylum and established a studio in Little
Havana. She is currently working on a public monument
titled “Nosotros-Us.” The artist is currently
represented by Cernuda Arte.
Guests at the
invitation only event will also celebrate the One Book
One Community book selected for Miamians to read during
fall 2005.
“We are sure that this fall’s
book selection will once again provide the community the
opportunity to learn and grow as we all read together
another outstanding book,” says Alina Interian,
Executive Director of the Florida Center for the
Literary Arts, which houses both the One Book, One
Community project and the Book Fair.
Some
of the authors appearing at the 2005 Book Fair, November
13th through the 20th at Miami Dade College, Wolfson
campus include Booker prize-winner Margaret Atwood, Sex
and the City’s creator Candace Bushnell, best-selling
author Terry McMillan, comedian Jerry Lewis, jazzman
Paquito d’Rivera, veteran newsman Mike Wallace,
Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient John Hope
Franklin, long-time child advocate Jonathan Kozol,
former U. S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky, Bernard
Goldberg, Tess Gerritsen, Octavia Butler, Jonathan
Safran Foer, Scott Turow, and Andrew Weil.
The Book Fair will also bring to South
Florida the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Fiction
Marilynne Robinson, accompanied by fellow Pulitzer
Prize-winners Nick Kotz, Joe Lelyveld, Gary Wills, and
Florida’s own Edna Buchanan and Mirta Ojito. In
addition, other prize-winning writers in attendance will
include Pen/Faulkner award-winner Diana Abu-Jabar, and
Obie award-winner Eric Bogosian.
Fans of
the culinary arts will delight in the tidbits shared by
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s food-and-wine guru Ted
Allen, PBS’ Daisy Cooks! chef Daisy Martinez, and James
Beard award-winning food critic Steven Shaw, a.k.a. “The
Fat Guy.”
Interián says, “Some of the
nation’s top writers and thinkers will once again come
to South Florida on the occasion of the 22nd Miami Book
Fair International, which has become one of the nation’s
key literary events. Year after year, the Book Fair
brings a wide range of talent to Miami, adding a week of
celebration of the love of reading to the already
vibrant cultural life of a city better known for being
the ‘fun in the sun’ capital of the
U.S.”
For more information, call or visit
www.miamibookfair.com.
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