Foundation Gala raises funds and awareness about abused and abandoned children in Miami Dade County

Feb. 5, 2008 - PRLog -- Contact: Carolina Schwarz
305.324.5678 ext. 12 (office)
cschwarz@voices4.org

HSBC Be A Voice Take The Lead Gala brings glamour for a night to benefit Miami-Dade’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children


Voices For Children Foundation, the fundraising arm of the 11th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program, will hold its HSBC Be A Voice Take The Lead Gala on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at Mandarin Oriental, Miami. The cocktail reception and silent auction start at 7:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 9 p.m. Individual tickets may be purchased starting at $500 with table sponsorship starting at $5,000. For ticketing and sponsorship details, call (305)324-5678. For more information, visit http://www.voices4.org .

The Be A Voice Gala is one of Voices For Children’s signature events. Every year, it brings nearly 500 of Miami’s most affluent and influential members for a night charged with raising much needed funds to support the 11th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program. The Voices Gala features a different theme every year, delighting and surprising its guests time and time again. On this occasion, the theme will be Dancing With Our Stars.

This year, the HSBC Be A Voice Take The Lead Gala promises to be yet another enchanting evening, transporting guests to a world of exquisite dining, fabulous entertainment, and dancing. “Our annual Gala is a source of pride to the organization. With every edition, it grows to new heights. This year, we are expecting to gross nearly $500,000 in revenue and in-kind support,” said Nestor Rodriguez, the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. This amount will be generated partly through the auction of elegant items such as Harry Winston diamond earrings and other fine jewelry, vacation stays at exclusive resorts such as Casa Casuarina and Ocean Reef, and once in a lifetime opportunities to experience “behind the scenes” with high ranking officials or personalities such as Laurie Jennings. Once again, Tiffany will be providing their exclusive secret boxes containing fine jewelry.

Voices’ Gala earned its distinction as one of the most exclusive events in the community by offering its guests top-notch entertainment, paired with a delicious menu, and magnificent décor. This year will be no different and will offer guests an opportunity to enjoy a performance by Italian-born singing sensation, Patrizio Buane. “When I first approached Patrizo about our organization, he was more than thrilled to get involved. His performance will be memorable,” noted Nestor Rodriguez. Following the event’s theme, the Gala will also offer its guest a dancing performance by four foster-teens and two staff Guardians Ad Litem. “The children we serve are our stars. By introducing our guests to theirs lives and experiences, we are bringing our community closer to the work we do in the hopes that more people will get involved and Be A Voice,” concluded Rodriguez. A longtime friend of the organization, Laurie Jennings will be the mistress of ceremony that night.

Aimee and Steve Owens and Veena and Ramesh Panjabi are the Co-Chairs of this event. The Gala Committee also includes Gigi Alibhai, Yngrid Barrera, Yolanda Berkowitz, Alexia Echevarria, Laura Garcia, Christina Gomez-Pina, Marjorie Gouraige, the Honorable Ambassador Carmenza Jaramillo De Maincourt, Ana Moran-Varela, Loretta Nunez, Marlen Pernetti, Carolina Sredni, Riva Steinman, Beth Tasca, and Anick Vorbe.
   
The HSBC Be A Voice Take The Lead Gala is presented by HSBC and sponsored by Mandarin Oriental, Miami; Southern Wine & Spirits of South Florida; Machado-Garcia-Serra Communications; Mercantile Commercebank; Selecta Magazine; and Swire Properties.

The mission of Voices For Children Foundation is to raise funds to ensure that every abused, abandoned, and neglected child in Miami-Dade County has a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem and that financial assistance and other resources are available to meet their needs. Be a Voice, visit www.voices4.org.

Website: voices4.org