Dozens of South Florida LGBT community leaders gathered Saturday night for the Aqua Foundation For Women 2008 VIP cocktail reception, celebrating Aqua Girl 2008, which runs Wednesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 18.
The VIP party was held at the Belle Meade Island home of Olive Watson & Joanna Grover/Watson. Highlights included food by Bravo Top Chefs Sandee Birdsong, Tiffani Faison and Josie Smith-Malave and presentation of awards and scholarships.
Here are dozens of pictures I took at the party. Scroll past the photos to read details about Aqua Foundation.
Guests arrive at the Belle Meade Island party.
Ashley Danella welcomes arrivals.
Honorees Maria Pino (Community Volunteer Award) and De Palazzo of Safe Schools South Florida (Community Leadership Award).
Aqua Foundation board member Veronica Olivera-Leon and Sandra Holiday of the Anita Priest 'Whispering Angels' Scholarship Program.
Honoree Carol Coombes, director of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Founders Award), partner Raquel Berman and Michael Bath of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Miami.
Jesse Brooks and honoree Heddy Peña of SAVE (Community Leadership award).
Vivian Marthell, executive director of Pridelines Youth Services, and Heddy Peña.
Board member Vivian Lamadrid begins the presentation.
Aqua Foundation founder and board chair Alison Burgos of Pandora Events.
Bravo Top Chefs Sandee Birdsong, Josie Smith-Malave and Tiffani Faison.
Vivian Lamadrid and Alison Burgos introduce this year's "Empowered" T-shirt.
Vice chair Laura Steckler announces some of this year's grants.
Robert Loupo and De Palazzo of Safe Schools South Florida and Laura Steckler.
Martha Fugate, founder and executive director of YES Institute, which works to prevent teen suicide, and Laura Steckler.
Paul Hyman, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of South Florida, and Laura Steckler.
Gay film festival board member Nellie Barrios and Laura Steckler.
Vivian Marthell, executive director of Pridelines Youth Services, and Laura Steckler.
Bravo Top Chef Sandee Birdsong is introduced.
Bravo Top Chefs Sandee Birdsong, Josie Smith-Malave and Tiffani Faison.
Bravo Top Chefs Sandee Birdsong, Josie Smith-Malave and Tiffani Faison.
Board member Veronica Olivera-Leon, left, announces that this year the foundation will give $28,000 in scholarships.
Foundation board member Veronica Olivera-Leon introduces this year's scholarship recipients.
This year's scholarship recipients: Enbar Cohen, Ingrid Quallo, Thais Ronchesel, Elaine Ruda and Chelita Dubois.
Enbar Cohen, Ingrid Quallo, Thais Ronchesel, Veronica Olivera-Leon, Alison Burgos, Elaine Ruda, Chelita Dubois and Laura Steckler.
Steering committee member Martha Sternberg announces honoree De Palazzo.
Honoree De Palazzo of Safe Schools South Florida (Community Leadership award).
Honoree Heddy Peña of SAVE (Community Leadership award) with foundation secretary Robin Schwartz.
Attorney and host committee member Elizabeth Schwartz introduces honoree Carol Coombes.
Honoree Carol Coombes of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Founders award) with Elizabeth Schwartz.
Honoree Carol Coombes of the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Founders award).
Honoree Maria Pino (Community Volunteer award) and Vivian Lamadrid.
DJ Heather Holiday.
Noted international opera and jazz singer Ada de Luque of Miami performs.
Three happy honorees: De Palazzo, Carol Coombes and Heddy Peña.
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ABOUT AQUA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
EVENT HOST COMMITTEE
Alicia Apfel, Esq., Nelida Barrios, Cindy Brown & Michelle Simons, Elizabeth Katzen, Vivian Marthell, Lisa Niven, Nina Boniske, Esq., Francesca Roderick, Richard Milstein & Eric Hankin, Carol Moran & Nancy Godwin, Merle & Dan Weiss, Dionette Kalkhofer, Thea Sommer & Maria Di Preito, Amy Alonso & Mariana Ferro, Tracy Young, Alyson Calagna & Jennifer Safina, Elizabeth Schwartz, Vanessa Brito, Rosemary Wilder, Esq. & Karen Costello, Maria Ruiz, Dr. Hope Wine & Mary Prados, Maike Jorge, Deborah Kall, Yvonne Rohrbacher, Karen Brown, Theresa Verges & Carmen Garcia, Jennifer Parrado, Liza Santana
Aqua Girl ´08 STEERING COMMITTEE:
Alison Burgos, founder, Soraya Swingen, Maria Pino, Martha Sternberg, Alicia Beceña, Jennifer Blunier, Merill Camel, Sigrid
De Guzman, Kristie Escoto, Michelle Gaber, Megyn Greider, Ingrid Quallo, Tasha Shore, Ana Rivera, Liz Jiménez, Amarilys Tamayo, Michelle Gaber, Jennifer Kritz, Lissette Vasquez
SUPPORT STAFF: Lynn Bové (AG Creative Coordinator),
Yesi Olivera-Leon (Business Coordinator)
Aqua Foundation for Women BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Alicia Apfel, chair eméritas • Alison Burgos, chair • Laura Steckler, vice chair • Yolanda Flores, treasurer • Robin Schwartz, secretary; Veronica Olivera-Leon, Rachel Robinson, Vivian Lamadrid, program director
AQUA FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN (AFW), INC.
The AFW is 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the equality, strength, health and visibility of South Florida lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. Monies raised from this event and the Foundation’s signature weekend, Aqua Girl, as well as through individual and group donations, go directly towards educating, empowering and fostering the women’s communities.
DIAMOND AND PLATINUM HOSTS:
Natasha Shore, Michelle Odefey & Amber Cooper, Kathy Perez & Isabel Perez, Carmen Redondo, Tania Rodriguez & Elizabeth Leger, Natalie Clark, C Astin & Andrew Duberry, Kari Benson
1521 ALTON ROAD, SUITE 117 • MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139
PHONE 305.576.2782
I never knew how stylish south florida could be.
Posted by: Carlos | May 11, 2008 at 09:43 PM