Event Emcee Calvin Hughes, News Anchor of Local Channel 10 with Alfio Ferrea representing Farm Share, winner of the Volunteerism All-Star award
More than 400 corporate executives, community leaders and members of the non-profit sector attended Switchboard of Miami’s 4thAnnual Katz Barron Squitero Faust All-Star Non-Profit Awards on Thursday, November 19th at Jungle Island. This year’s awards luncheon honored the work of Miami-Dade County’s non-profit organizations, philanthropists and the impact they have on the community.
Erica English, Katz Barron Squitero Faust Shareholder; Trish Bell, Lifetime Achievement All-Star winner and Board of Trustees for The Chapman Partnership; Alexander Ramos, Switchboard Board Member and Director of Operations for Interamerica Data Florida, LLC
Guests were welcomed by Switchboard of Miami board member and event chair Alexander Ramos, Director of Operations for Interamerica Data Florida, LLC and Catherine Penrod, President/CEO of Switchboard of Miami. Erica English, a partner with the event’s title sponsor Katz Barron Squitero Faust, spoke about the integral roles that Switchboard of Miami and all the non-profit organizations play in helping make our community a better place to live and work. Calvin Hughes, a news anchor for Local Channel 10, served as emcee for the event.
Shireen Brueggeman, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor at Florida Office of the Attorney General; Cristina Isabel Mas, Director of Marketing and External Affairs for Collier International; Stephanie Grosman, Family Attorney at Dade Legal Aid
“Switchboard’s All-Star Non-Profit Awards offered an exceptional way to honor those that help our community and strive to make it a better place,” said Erica English, a shareholder with Katz Barron Squitero Faust. “The energy within the room paralleled the passion that fuels those who were honored. The opportunity to be the title sponsor of this event allowed Katz Barron Squitero Faust to further expand our ongoing commitment and dedication to our community.”
Alexander Ramos, Switchboard Board Member and Director of Operations for Interamerica Data Florida, LLC; Erica English, Katz Barron Squitero Faust Shareholder; Catherine Penrod, President/CEO at Switchboard of Miami
“Switchboard of Miami is dedicated to bringing awareness to the great work of the non-profit organizations in Miami-Dade County,” said Catherine Penrod, President/CEO of Switchboard of Miami. “Every day these organizations, their staff and leaders quietly and profoundly impact the lives of individuals in our community. We are very proud to honor the hard work they do.”
Marc Schaevitz, Switchboard Connect Vice Chair and Investment Management Associate at Goldman Sachs; Mykaelle Figueiredo, Young Leader of the Year All-Star winner and Director of Development for the Children’s Hearing Program and U-Health; Alexander Ramos, Switchboard Board Member and Director of Operations for Interamerica Data Florida, LLC
The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived as the distinguished winners in each of the 10 award categories were announced and honored for their dedication to Miami-Dade County and the impact they have on the community each and every day. The winners in each category received an award trophy and the 2015 Miami All-Star winner received a bulk flower donation from Galleria Farms.
The Switchboard of Miami 4th Annual Katz Barron Squitero Faust All-Star Non-Profit Awards categories and winners were:
Switchboard of Miami’s 4th Annual Katz Barron Squitero Faust All-Star Non-Profit Award winners
Miami All-Star: Voices for Children – raises funds to ensure that every abused, abandoned and neglected child in Miami-Dade County has a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem and the financial assistance needed for that child’s health and education.
Rookie of the Year All-Star: RJT Foundation – an organization that reaches out to families who have endured the pain of losing a child as a result of a violent act of crime.
Collaboration All-Star: Chapman Foundation – provides comprehensive support that includes emergency housing, meals, health, dental and psychiatric care, day care, job training, job placement and assistance with secure stable housing.
Leadership All-Star: Education Tomorrow – serves Miami-Dade County’s foster care youth; and strives to make education an attainable goal for even the most disadvantaged.
Innovation All-Star: Pace Center for Girls – provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling and advocacy.
Volunteerism All-Star: Farm Share – a Florida City organization that recovers food from farms, wholesalers and other groups and then donates to feed the hungry.
Most Valuable All-Star: Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami – inspires and enables young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
Young Leader of the Year All-Star: Mykaelle “Myka” Figueiredo – Director of Development for the Children’s Hearing Program and U-Health.
Non-Profit Leader of the Year All-Star: Colonel Brodes Hartley – Community Health of South Florida.
Lifetime Achievement All-Star: Trish Bell – Board of Trustees for The Chapman Partnership.
Switchboard of Miami provides 24/7 assistance to counsel, connect and empower people in need. Their suicide prevention programs, information and referral contact center, and crisis counseling and wellness services serve as both a first point of assistance and a last resource for Miami-Dade County residents. Monies raised at the 4th Annual Switchboard of Miami All Star Awards directly contribute to funding Switchboard of Miami.
Switchboard of Miami’s 4th Annual Katz Barron Squitero Faust All-Star Non-Profit Awards luncheon
Additional sponsors for the event included Galleria Farms, BankUnited, Publix Super Markets, TimHaahs, GSK CPAs & Consultants Wealth Advisors, Ocean Bank, Florida Power & Light, Miami Marlins, Interamerica Data FL, BDO, Florida Community Bank, Ed Straub, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants, Ignacio De Armas, Holland & Knight, Bank of America, Bowman Systems, Unified Technologies, PD2 Process Design & Development, LLC, Brown & Brown Insurance, AlphaNet, Miami Parking Authority, South Florida Business & Wealth Magazine and Kip Hunter Marketing.