Music Under the Stars

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.

	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."

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen presents Senator Nan Rich with Woman of Valor Award		Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera accepts award

Senator Gwen Margolis, Mayor of Pinecrest Cindy Lerner, Board Director Gloria Martin and Senator Nan Rich		Honorary Director Shelley Rutherford, Eugenia Beckwith McCrea, Nancy Jean Davis, Jose Feliciano and CEO Virginia Jacko

R. Kirk Landon and Board Director Pamela Garrison Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick		Board Director Bill Roy, Honorary Director Susan Kelley and Dr. Joel Grossman
Natalie De Maar, Board Director Donna Blaustein, CEO Virginia Jacko and Dr. Arnold Blaustein		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.

	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.
 

Bacardi		The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Gibraltar at The Grove Isle Hotel and Spa		Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

Shorty’s Bar-B-Q		Berries in the Grove

Tamarind Thai Restaurant Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick		Chocolate Fashion Photo Courtesy of Kathy Fitzpatrick Zirulnick

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.

CEO Virginia Jacko, Wendell R. Beard, and Phillis Oeters of Baptist Health South Florida, Music Under the Stars Platinum Sponsor		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

R. Kirkwood Landon, CEO Virginia Jacko, and Board Director Pamela J. Garrison		Harriet Carter representing Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mistress of Ceremonies Lynn Martinez, and CEO Virginia Jacko

Alberto M. Carvalho, CEO Virginia Jacko, and R. Andrew Wiles		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

Chairman of the Board Michael Silva and Immediate Past Chairman Owen Freed		CEO Virginia Jacko and Kim Greene

Standard Chartered Private Bank group with (center) Board Director John H.B. Harriman, CEO Virginia Jacko, and Beatriz Harriman		R. Andrew Wiles, Emilio Balius and Kenneth T. Wals

CEO Virginia Jacko and Countess Chapman-Balogun		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.

Gibraltar at Grove Isle Hotel & Spa		CA Catering

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant		Barefoot Wine & Bubbly

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar		El Carajo International Tapas & Wine

Grazie Italian Cuisine		Casa Juancho

Shorty’s Bar-B-Q		Perricone’s Marketplace & Café

Costco Wholesale		Silent auction items

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.

	Steve Marcus, President & CEO, Health Foundation of South Florida, Mrs. Ruth Marcus, Virginia Jacko, President & CEO, and William Roy, Past Chairman.
	Deborah A. Montilla, District Director Division of Student Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools receives award from Dr. Alan Levitt, Heiken Committee Member.
	Guests Dan and Trish Bell, Board Director Pamela Garrison, and Kirk Landon.
	Platinum Sponsor Baptist Health South Florida, George Foyo, Executive Vice President & CAO with Mrs. Foyo, Virginia Jacko, President & CEO, Mrs. & Mr. Wendell Beard.

2010 Music Under the Stars Photo Gallery

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.

Miami Lighthouse first sought and received NAC accreditation in 1978 and has consistently achieved NAC accreditation to the present time having received seven commendations with its five year accreditation renewal.

Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 4% of U.S. nonprofits having earned a 4-star rating for five consecutive years from Charity Navigator, the nation’s premier independent nonprofit evaluator. Receiving such a distinction reflects our sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars, and financial strength.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious South Florida Business Journal 2011 Excellence in Health Care Award in the Community Outreach category.

Miami Lighthouse honored by being named the recipient of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2010 Non-Profit Business Diamond Award.

Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.

Miami Lighthouse received United Homecare’s 2012 Thelma Gibson Community Service Award at the 18th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony.

Miami Lighthouse's Heiken Children's Vision Program received the bronze medal for their service to thousands of under-served children in public schools at the 2012 Miami Today Gold Medal Awards Ceremony.