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Music Under the Stars
2016 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND NINTH ANNUAL MUSIC UNDER THE STARS EVENT BENEFITS HEIKEN CHILDREN'S VISION PROGRAM
The rains came, and the stars were nowhere to be seen, but the music was marvelous and the evening a major success with over 100 guests getting their first glimpse of the fascinating Koubek Center. The historic building created a very special aura for this year's annual affair with its wonderful music by Charles "Mr. Casual" DeChant of Hall and Oates and the super talented Better Chance Music Program musicians. Emceed by radio icon Jade Alexander of 102.7 The Beach, the evening honored the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation as well as the optometric community's continuing leadership of our Heiken Program with special recognition of our two Board Directors Dr. Alan P. Levitt and Dr. Stephen A. Morris.
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Miami Lighthouse Band performs with Charles "Mr. Casual" DeChant of Hall and Oates. |
The event raised over $55,000 which will enable our Heiken Children's Vision Program to provide over 550 free comprehensive eye examinations and glasses when prescribed for low income-school children who have no resources for eye care.
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Jose Diaz of Robert M. Levy and Associates accepts tribute painting in memory of Bob Levy.
Left to Right: Emcee Jade Alexander, U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, CEO Virginia Jacko,
Florida State Senator Anitere Flores, Jose Diaz and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman |
We express our gratitude to the event sponsors including ABB Optical Group, Ophelia & Juan Roca, Publix Super Markets Charities, Baptist Health South Florida, JM Private Insurance, Signet Armorlite, Genesis Consulting, Gray Robinson, Aetna, and Essilor Laboratories of America among others.
2015 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND EIGHT ANNUAL MUSIC UNDER
THE STARS EVENT BENEFITS HEIKEN CHILDREN’S VISION PROGRAM
May 6th was truly a night to remember with guests ending
the evening by giving a standing ovation to our Miami Lighthouse Big Band
Jazz, special guest internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Nicole Henry
and Miami Lighthouse former client and now professional singer, Natalia
Sulca. The exciting evening of great food, delicious wines, super music
and live and silent auctions was all to benefit our very important Heiken
Children’s Vision Program that provides free comprehensive eye exams and
glasses to low-income schoolchildren.
This year’s event was emceed by G. Eric Knowles, President
and CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by the ABB
Optical Group, Publix Super Markets Charities, Baptist Health South
Florida, Brown & Brown Insurance, Marlins Foundation, Miami-Dade
Commissioner Sally Heyman, Genesis Consulting, Gray Robinson, Aetna,
Essilor Laboratories, Perry Ellis International, Monster Sound
Productions, Brickell Magazine, Bob’s Barricades and Brazilian Grill Party
Rentals. Delicious food was provided by A. Thierry’s Catering, City Hall
The Restaurant, Whisk, Perricone’s Marketplace, Shorty’s BBQ, Dr. Barry
Burak and Gail Beckham. Wine and beverages were provided by El Carajo,
Samuel Adams, The McCallan and Starbucks.
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Eric Knowles, Dr. David K. Moore,
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, Virginia Jacko and Chair Ray Casas. |
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Eric Knowles, Superintendent Alberto M.
Carvalho, Senator Gwen Margolis, Virginia Jacko and Chair Ray Casas. |
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2014 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND SEVENTH ANNUAL MUSIC UNDER
THE STARS EVENT BENEFITS HEIKEN CHILDREN’S VISION PROGRAM
More than 200 guests gathered for “Music Under The
Stars: Bon Appétit Miami” on Wednesday, April 30th. School officials
and community leaders joined the Miami eye care community to celebrate
over 20 years of free eye examinations for more than 80,000 children in
need who failed their school vision screening but had no resources for eye
care.
Guests dined on delicacies from OTC Restaurant, Whisk,
City Hall The Restaurant, Perricone’s Marketplace, Chocolate Fashion,
Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, El Carajo International Tapas & Wine and more, while
enjoying drinks from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Rex Goliath Wine. The night
also featured a wonderful silent auction, which included fabulous getaway
trips, certificates for fine dining, jewelry and exclusive art.
Special recognition was given to the Marlins Foundation
and Marlins Ayudan, three generations of Harrison Family board leadership
including participation in the founding of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute by
Miami Lighthouse, and Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry.
The event was emceed by Nicole Maristany Krauss, Media and Communications
Manager at Publix Super Markets, Inc. Guests also enjoyed a special
appearance by Latin Grammy award winner Paul Hoyle, backed up by musicians
from the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production Program™.
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Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, Board Director Peter
Harrison (Honoree),
CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr.,
Board
Director Louis Nostro |
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Board Director Ray Casas, David Samson
(Honoree), CEO Virginia Jacko |
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Board Director Dr. Stephen A. Morris, Dr.
David S. Loshin (Honoree),
Board Director Deborah Montilla |
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Joan Spector, Paul Hoyle, Susan Conroy,
Sheila Goodman |
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The event was presented by 20/20 Vision Sponsor ABB
Optical Group, Perfect Sight Sponsors Publix Super Markets Charities,
Baptist Health South Florida and Brown & Brown Insurance, Clear Vision
Sponsors BB&T and Commissioner Sally Heyman, and Healthy Eyes Sponsors
GrayRobinson, Williamson Automotive, Essilor Laboratories of America,
Transitions Optical, VSP Optics Group and Signet Armorlite. Thanks to
Perry Ellis International for providing custom made guayaberas that our
musicians wore throughout the night.
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Mary Ferreiro of the Office of Miami-Dade
County Commissioner Sally Heyman,
CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr. |
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Marsha Tejeda of Baptist Health South
Florida, CEO Virginia Jacko,
Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr. |
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Board Director Steven J. Solomon, Esq. of
GrayRobinson, P.A.,
CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr. |
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Marta Armas of BB&T, CEO Virginia Jacko,
Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr. |
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Maria Perez of Essilor Laboratories, CEO
Virginia Jacko,
Board Chairman Agustin Arellano, Jr., Glenn Batteiger of Transitions
Optical |
Restaurant sponsors included City Hall Restaurant, OTC
Restaurant, Perricone’s Marketplace & Café, Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, El Carajo
International Tapas & Wine, Whisk Gourmet Food and Catering, Chocolate
Fashion, Starbucks Coffee Company, GB Catering, Nestle Coffee-mate and Dr.
Barry Burak Crepe Maker.
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OTC Restaurant |
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City Hall the Restaurant |
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El Carajo International Tapas and Wine |
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Whisk Gourmet Food and Catering |
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Shorty’s Bar-B-Q |
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Chocolate Fashion |
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Rex Goliath |
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Nestle Coffee-mate |
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2013 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND SIXTH ANNUAL MUSIC UNDER
THE STARS EVENT BENEFITS HEIKEN CHILDREN’S VISION PROGRAM
On May 22nd legislators, school officials and community
leaders joined the Miami eye care community to celebrate over 20 years of
free eye examinations for more than 75,000 children in need who failed
their school vision screening but had no resources for eye care.
Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami attendees
enjoyed musical performances by Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music
Production Program™ students, instructors and special guests, food from
great Miami area restaurants, beverages by Miami Club Rum and El Carajo
International Tapas & Wine and a silent auction which offered fabulous
getaway trips, jewelry and exclusive art. Thanks to Perry Ellis
International the Better Chance Music Production Program™ musicians wore
custom made guayaberas in the musically themed venues throughout Miami
Lighthouse.
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Board Chair Agustin Arellano Jr., State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle,
CEO Virginia Jacko and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. |
Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami attendees enjoyed
musical performances by Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music Production
Program™ students, instructors and special guests, food from great Miami
area restaurants, beverages by Miami Club Rum and El Carajo International
Tapas & Wine and a silent auction which offered fabulous getaway trips,
jewelry and exclusive art. Thanks to Perry Ellis International the Better
Chance Music Production Program™ musicians wore custom made guayaberas in
the musically themed venues throughout Miami Lighthouse.
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Bob Levy (Honoree), Jessica Berrin, Marsha
Tejeda and Christie Grays |
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Ava Goldman (Honoree), Superintendent Alberto
Carvalho and
Board Director Deborah Montilla |
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CEO Virginia Jacko and Emcee David Bernard |
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CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director Agustin
Arellano Jr., and
Alexandra Dominguez aide to State Representative Jose Felix Diaz |
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Photo courtesy of Marcelo Salup
Marlene Quintana, Judge Migna Sanchez-Attorney Llorens,
Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Board Director Shirley Press, M.D. |
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Board Director Bill Beckham and
State Senator Gwen Margolis |
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Dr. Craig McKeown, CEO Virginia Jacko and
Board Director Dr. Sander Debovy |
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Emily Nostro with Jeannett and Don Slesnick |
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Joe Carollo, Doral Councilwoman,
Ana Maria Rodriguez and Clemente Canabal |
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Photo courtesy of Marcelo Salup
Salup Board Director Donna Blaustein, Board Director Deborah Montilla,
Board Director Shirley Press, M.D.,
CEO Virginia Jacko,
Board Director Alan Levitt OD., and Rene Gonzalez-Llorens,
Esq. |
The event was presented by 20/20 Vision Sponsor DLA Piper,
Perry Ellis International, Florida Power & Light, Publix Super Markets
Charities, Northern Trust Bank, Baptist Health South Florida, Commissioner
Sally Heyman, GrayRobinson, Williamson Cadillac, Montica Jewelry, Essilor
Laboratories of America, Transitions Optical, VSP Optics Group and Mobile
Specialty Vehicles. Restaurant sponsors included City Hall Restaurant, The
Oceanaire Seafood Room, Perricone’s Marketplace & Café, Gordon Biersch
Brewery Restaurant, Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, Chocolate Fashion, Starbucks Coffee
Company, West Kendall Baptist Hospital Catering, GB Catering and Dr. Barry
Burak Crepe Maker.
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Sponsors: Maria Jarquin (Montica Jewelry),
Gloria Camera (Perry Ellis), Maria Perez (Essilor USA),
Board Director Michael Silva (DLA Piper), Mary Juncadella-Ferreiro
(Commissioner Sally Heyman),
Christie Grays (Baptist Health) and Board Director Steven Solomon (GrayRobinson). |
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Cameron Sisser, Bayley Davis (Shorty’s BBQ),
Steve Haas (City Hall), Matt Malone (Miami Club Rum) |
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Photo courtesy of Marcelo Salup
Carlos and Rick Fonseca from El Carajo International Tapas & Wine |
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Photo Courtesy of South Florida Luxury
Magazine
Miami Lighthouse Musicians Harold Cobo, Oman Pedreira and Gerardo
Ubieda. |
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2012 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
JOSÉ FELICIANO GUEST PERFORMANCE BENEFITS
HEIKEN CHILDREN’S VISION PROGRAM
Legislators, school officials and community leaders joined
the Miami eye care community April 20th to celebrate 20 years of free eye
examinations for more than 65,000 children in need who failed their school
vision screening but had no resources for eye care; 75% of these children
required prescription glasses and received them at no cost to their family
because of the nationally-recognized Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
division, Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, LLC.
The event was emceed by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
and began with M-DCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho reading a letter
from President Obama recognizing the program on 20 years of service.
Florida House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Senate Minority
Leader Nan Rich were honored as they complete their service in the Florida
legislature. State Senator Gwen Margolis read a resolution she introduced
during the 2012 legislative session.
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Presenting Sponsor Angel Alvarez,
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, CEO Virginia Jacko, Board Director
Ray Casas,
Commissioner Sally Heyman, Chairman of the Board Michael Silva and
Lisa Pisciotta. |
Board Chairman Michael A. Silva, Esq. presented guest
musician José Feliciano with an honorary Board of Directors certificate.
Alongside José Feliciano, the Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music
Production Program™ musicians entertained guests with a wonderful
performance and debuted their latest album “The Big Band Classics and
More."
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Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen presents
Senator Nan Rich with Woman of Valor Award |
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Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera accepts
award
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Senator Gwen Margolis, Mayor of Pinecrest
Cindy Lerner,
Board Director Gloria Martin and Senator Nan Rich |
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Honorary Director Shelley Rutherford, Eugenia
Beckwith McCrea,
Nancy Jean Davis, Jose Feliciano and CEO Virginia Jacko |
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R. Kirk Landon and Board Director Pamela
Garrison
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick |
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Board Director Bill Roy, Honorary Director
Susan Kelley and
Dr. Joel Grossman |
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Natalie De Maar, Board Director Donna
Blaustein,
CEO Virginia Jacko and Dr. Arnold Blaustein |
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Miss Miami Teen USA Yari Marie Truffin
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick |
The event was presented by 20/20 Vision Sponsor contact
lens distributor and manufacturer ABB Concise and other sponsors included
Florida Power and Light, Baptist Health South Florida, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Florida, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, and Media
Stage.
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Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Manny
Rodriguez, Wilson Alers, Brandy Wheeler,
Glenn Batteiger, Maria E. Perez, Evelyn Rodriguez and Commissioner
Sally Heyman. . |
Beverages were provided by Bacardi USA and food was
provided by local restaurants which included Gordon Biersch Brewery
Restaurant, Perricone’s Marketplace & Café, Gibraltar at The Grove Isle
Hotel and Spa, Chocolate Fashion, Starbucks Coffee Company, Berries in the
Grove, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, and Tamarind Thai
Restaurant.
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Bacardi |
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The Oceanaire Seafood Room |
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Gibraltar at The Grove Isle Hotel and Spa |
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Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant |
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Shorty’s Bar-B-Q |
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Berries in the Grove |
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Tamarind Thai Restaurant
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick |
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Chocolate Fashion
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick |
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2011 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired held
its fourth annual “Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami” on April 27th
to benefit its Heiken Children’s Vision Program. “Over 400 needy children
in Miami-Dade County Schools, who without this program do not have the
resources to get an eye exam and glasses when prescribed, will receive a
comprehensive eye examination and necessary eyeglasses underwritten by the
proceeds from this event. Without this intervention, they would continue
to struggle in school to see the board and read their assignment,” said
Virginia A. Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse. This past year
6,500 low-income schoolchildren who failed their state-mandated vision
screening received a free eye examination, and 75% of them required
prescription glasses, which were also provided at no cost.
Over 200 community eye care providers, other professionals
and philanthropists attended the elegant, tuneful evening featuring live
jazz and pop by the talented Miami Lighthouse Better Chance Music
Production Program™ musicians. Special recognition was given to
Superintendent of Miami-Dade Public Schools Alberto Carvalho and Dr.
Lillian Rivera of the Florida Department of Health for their collaboration
with the Heiken Program and to the foundations and individuals that
support the program. Lynn Martinez, Anchor WSVN-7 News, was the evening’s
emcee. The event included delicious samplings from Miami area restaurants
and a wonderful silent auction.
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CEO Virginia Jacko, Wendell R. Beard, and
Phillis Oeters of Baptist Health South Florida,
Music Under the Stars Platinum Sponsor |
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Chairman of the Board Michael Silva, Raquel
A. Regalado,
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho,
MDCPS Board Member Carlos Curbelo and CEO Virginia Jacko |
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R. Kirkwood Landon, CEO Virginia Jacko, and
Board Director Pamela J. Garrison |
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Harriet Carter representing Congresswoman
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
Mistress of Ceremonies Lynn Martinez, and CEO Virginia Jacko |
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Alberto M. Carvalho, CEO Virginia Jacko, and
R. Andrew Wiles
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Maria Izquierdo, Miami-Dade County Public
Schools
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, CEO Virginia Jacko and
Miami-Dade County Public Schools District Director Deborah A. Montilla |
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Chairman of the Board Michael Silva and
Immediate Past Chairman Owen Freed |
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CEO Virginia Jacko and Kim Greene
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Standard Chartered Private Bank group with
(center)
Board Director John H.B. Harriman,
CEO Virginia Jacko, and Beatriz Harriman |
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R. Andrew Wiles, Emilio Balius and Kenneth T.
Wals
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CEO Virginia Jacko and Countess Chapman-Balogun |
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Chairman of the Board Michael Silva and Board
Director Agustin Arellano, Jr. |
Also recognized at the 2011 “Music Under the Stars: Bon
Appétit Miami” were corporate sponsors Baptist Health South Florida,
Essilor Laboratories of America, Transitions Optical, SMF Energy
Corporation, Essilor of America, Low VisionAids Inc., Sir Speedy Printing
and Marketing Services, GrayRobinson Attorneys at Law, Verdeja & De Armas
Certified Public Accountants, VSP Labs, DadePaper, and Kodak Lens by
Signet Armorlite along with food and beverage sponsors Gibraltar, Casa
Juancho, Perricone’s Marketplace, Starbucks Coffee, El Carajo, Chocolate
Fashion, Grazie Italian Cuisine, Seasons 52 Fresh Grill, Gordon Biersch
Brewery Restaurant, Shorty’s Bar-B-Q, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Barefoot
Wine & Bubbly, Gulf Discount Liquors & Wine Merchants, Gold Coast Beverage
Distributors, CA Catering, Costco, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Crepe Station
courtesy of Dr. Barry Burak and Affiliated Healthcare Centers, Inc.
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Gibraltar at Grove Isle Hotel & Spa |
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CA Catering |
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Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant |
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Barefoot Wine & Bubbly |
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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar |
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El Carajo International Tapas & Wine |
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Grazie Italian Cuisine |
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Casa Juancho |
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Shorty’s Bar-B-Q |
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Perricone’s Marketplace & Café |
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Costco Wholesale |
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Silent auction items |
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2010 Music
Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami
Our third annual fundraiser in support of the Miami Lighthouse Heiken
Children’s Vision program Music Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami took
place on Wednesday evening, April 28.
We extend appreciation to our generous sponsors: Baptist Health South
Florida, Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra, LLP, SMF Energy Corporation,
Essilor of America, Essilor Laboratories of America, Brown and Brown
Insurance, Transitions Optical, Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing
Services, New Image Productions, Magnifying Center, and Florida Reading &
Vision Technology.
We also thank our participating restaurants and beverage providers Gulf
Spirits & Wine Merchants, Gordon Biersch, Casa Larios, Zucchero Ristorante
Bistro, C.A. & Company Catering, Starbucks, Chocolate Fashion, Archie’s
Gourmet, and crepe station courtesy of Dr. Barry Burak.
Click here for pictures from the 2010
Music Under the Stars… Bon Appétit Miami.
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Steve Marcus, President & CEO, Health Foundation of
South Florida, Mrs. Ruth Marcus, Virginia Jacko, President & CEO, and
William Roy, Past Chairman. |
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Deborah A. Montilla, District Director Division of
Student Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools receives award from
Dr. Alan Levitt, Heiken Committee Member. |
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Guests Dan and Trish Bell, Board Director Pamela
Garrison, and Kirk Landon. |
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Platinum Sponsor Baptist Health South Florida, George
Foyo, Executive Vice President & CAO with Mrs. Foyo, Virginia Jacko,
President & CEO, Mrs. & Mr. Wendell Beard. |
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2009 Music
Under the Stars…A Taste of Brickell
Click here, for more information on our
Heiken Children’s Vision program.
2008 Music
Under the Stars: A Taste of Brickell
On
April 30, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind hosted Music Under the Stars:
A Taste of Brickell. This inaugural event, held at the Lighthouse,
benefited its Children’s Vision Care Program, a mobile outreach program
that provides free eye care services to school children in need.
Friends and donors were treated to culinary
delights prepared by Brickell area restaurants including Morton’s the
Steakhouse, Blu Pizza é Cucina, Perricone’s Marketplace, Gordon Biersch,
Rosinella, Baja Fresh and Provence Grill. Musical entertainment was
provided by Latin Tenor Warren Tesh, international violinist Randolph
Margitza, and the talented Miami Lighthouse musicians.
To
top the night off, legendary music producer Henry Stone presented CEO
Virginia Jacko with the first royalty check from sales of “Instrumental
Magic,” the first album produced by Stone since completing vision
rehabilitation at Miami Lighthouse, and featuring saxophonist Jeff Zavac,
a current client at the Lighthouse.
The event was sponsored by Ambutech,
Eschenbach Optik, Florida Reading & Vision Technology, Mobile Specialty
Vehicles, Southern Wine & Spirits, and AMC Liaisons/Rain Vodka.
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