Nearly 500 of Miami’s exclusive social set, including leading celebrities and philanthropists, came together to celebrate the 12th annual Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program’s at its eagerly-anticipated gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Always one of the most glamorous in the Miami society season.
Founders Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne, along with Gala Chair Marisa Toccin and Co-Vice President, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, helped celebrate the organization’s 17th year of mentoring, raising a record-breaking $700,000 for its South Florida program.
The evening began with a lavish cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvre stations created by the Mandarin Oriental’s executive chef, as well as the anticipated silent auction of more than 100 premiere items from top luxury brands. Big-ticket items included a donation from Miami HEAT President Pat Riley of a Miami HEAT Experience and a two-year lease on a 2013 Jaguar XK Convertible courtesy of The Collection, a $5,000 Gift Certificate courtesy of Neiman Marcus, and a $5,000 Gift Certificate courtesy of Oscar de la Renta.
Guests were surprised and thrilled 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. Schulamit Katzman – making the scholarship auction the most successful to date. Dr. Katzman received an award as Mentor of the Year, along with her co-mentor Eileen Winkler Youtie. Dr. Katzman and Ms. Youtie have mentored close to 100 at-risk girls during their seven years of mentoring at Michael Krop High School through the Women of Tomorrow Program. During the award presentation, Jennifer Valoppi commented on how several girls had told her of the life-changing effects the two mentors had had on them.
During the sumptuous, four-course dinner that included a Six-Hour Braised Beef Short Rib Osso Bucco paired with Local Jumbo Prawns and a dessert of Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae Martini, the ballroom was filled with the sounds of South Florida’s Soul Survivors band. After dinner, what do we always do? Dance the night away of course!
*About Women of Tomorrow:
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 over 2,500 at-risk girls in over 130 public high schools in approximately 56 cities in South Florida and Metropolitan Detroit with its network of over 350 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 $3.2 million in college scholarships to more than 1,100 mentees.
For more information, call 305.371.3330 or visit www.womenoftomorrow.org
Daisy Olivera
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