Educate Tomorrow, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create independence for disadvantaged and foster youth through education, mentoring, and life skills training, hosted its 6th Annual Gala and Fundraiser on January 8.
The Educate Tomorrow Gala returned with a Monte Carlo Night. The festivities was at the luxurious private bay front estate on Old Cutler Road, whose grand architecture, beautiful courtyard and bay front view will transport guests to the experience of Monte Carlo. Guests enjoyed a variety of casino games and silent auction; exceptional wine, cocktails and food; and the company of Miami’s top executives and professionals.
Educate Tomorrow’s Monte Carlo Night included an assortment of casino games featuring blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. At the end of the evening, guests traded in their chips for raffle tickets, which were randomly drawn. Raffle prizes and silent auction items included fabulous hotel stays, art work, cruises and more. All of the proceeds from ticket sales, auction items, sponsorships and donations for casino chips directly benefited Educate Tomorrow.
Guests enjoyed a selection of South Florida’s best restaurants including Smith & Wollensky, Aladdin’s Grill, Captain’s Tavern, Joanna’s Marketplace, Miami Chop House, Tap Tap, and Red the Steakhouse. Parties by Pat also passed their delicious appetizers. A tasty selection of gourmet desserts will be provided by Jennifer’s Homemade, Platinum Desserts, Homebaked by Tara, and Cakes by Denyse. These scrumptious South Florida favorites paired well with a selection of fine wines provided by Mattebella Vineyards and others and a variety of premium cocktails courtesy of Bacardi. The latest hits from the airwaves filled the dance floor courtesy of DJ Tony.
Additional event sponsors include the TriMix Foundation, Kaufman Rossin & Co., Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin, P.A., Robert and Edith Hudson, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., ProSource Solutions, and Antonio Misuraca,.
Every year hundreds of foster care children “age out†of the foster care system and are expected to transition into society as adults. Although the State of Florida provides them with financial aid for continuing education, many of them lack the required skills, guidance, and basic information needed to take advantage of these programs. Educate Tomorrow volunteers mentor these young adults and guide them in the process of completing high school and applying for college or technical school. The cost of mentoring, life skills training, and in-school support groups is approximately $2,000 per child for the first year, far less than the cost to society when a former foster child ends up homeless or incarcerated.
Educate Tomorrow is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is to provide one-on-one educational mentors to foster care children that are turning 18 and “aging out” of the system. Believing that education is the catalyst that will help these young adults reach their greatest potential, it seeks to work with organizations throughout the nation to implement the proven methods of one-on-one mentoring and to promote education as the path to independence and self-sufficiency for disadvantaged youth in this country. For more information please call 305.374.3751 or visit www.educatetomorrow.org.
Photographs by Betty Alvarez copyright 2011
