Four fathers will receive their gifts early this year at the annual Father of the Year award ceremony and dinner June 17 at the Ritz Carlton South Beach. The South Florida Father’s Day Council is hosting the event.
The 2011 honorees are Juan Del Busto, Mario Murgado, Rudolph Moise and Tom Cornish. The council expects more than 400 people to attend the celebration and all of the proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association.
The award is a special tribute for Del Busto and his wife, Maria, and their children, Justin and Leslie.
“Juan is generous and charitable, and has demonstrated concern and affection for many causes in our community,” said Maria Del Busto. “This time, we are working together to support the mission of the American Diabetes Association: to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by this disease. This is especially important to us because he is diabetic and I lost a grandmother from the many side affects of this disease.”
She said the family has set a goal to raise a minimum of $50,000 on behalf of the Del Busto family.
To learn more about the American Diabetes Association’s efforts nationally and locally visit www.diabetes.org or contact Flavia Llizo, executive director, at 305-477-8999 ext. 3013 or mfllizo@diabetes.org.
For more about the Father of the Year honorees and to buy tickets to support this worthy cause visit www.miamifatheroftheyear.com.
DAZZLING TREES
The beautiful Royal Poinciana trees are blooming all around us. Take a summer break and celebrate Miami’s oldest continuously running festival at the 74th annual Royal Poinciana Fiesta hosted by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society.
Events start with a tree planning at 8:30 a.m., June 11, at the Coconut Grove Metrorail Station parking lot. Bring a hat, gloves, and a shovel if you have one. Trees and shrubs will be planted along the Metrorail right-of-way. Volunteers must be 18 or over. TREEmendous Miami is the sponsor of this event. For more information, call Steve Pearson at 305-259-8006.
Events at The Kampong begin at 11:30 a.m., June 12, with a picnic followed by air-conditioned bus tours of the area’s most dazzling trees. Bring a picnic lunch and explore the Kampong, the former home of David Fairchild, at 4013 Douglas Rd. Reservations are required for the tours. Call Carol Vannoorbeeck at 305-258-1086.The fee is $25 per person.
Tours will be narrated by Larry Schokman, director emeritus of the Kampong, and Steve Pearson, past president of the Tropical Flowering Tree Society and president of TREEmendous Miami. Refreshments will be served after the tour.
The celebration continues at 6:30 p.m., June 13 with a reception in the garden house at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd. Use the south entrance. At 7 p.m. there will be tram tours and jazz by Joe Donato. Visitors can also purchase items by garden artists.
The 74th Poinciana Queen and her court will be announced and presented with scholarship funds. Guests will also learn the winner of the Larry Schokman Book Award, presented to a community member who exemplifies the Tropical Flowering Tree Society’s goal to “Color the Horizon.”
Following the presentations you can celebrate even more with wine and cheese, and the famous Royal Poinciana punch and cake. This event is free and open to the public.
