Developer, wife honored for their leadership

The Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center recently honored South Beach real estate developer and hotelier Alan Lieberman and his wife Diane, president of South Beach Investment Reality, with a South Beach-style party.

The annual gala took place at AQUA Allison Island, a luxury community on the Indian Creek Waterway. The gala honors outstanding leadership at MAR-JCC, including the creation of the Alan and Diane Lieberman Children's Cultural Series. It raised $75,000 for scholarship assistance to needy families seeking participation in JCC activities.

''It was a real honor for us to be recognized by the JCC,'' said Alan Lieberman, who established the cultural series, which has provided an opportunity to learn more about the arts for almost a decade. ``The money raised from the party will help even more people enjoy the wonderful Jewish Community Center.''

Chairs for the event, including Dr. Charles and Patricia Goldsmith, Kim and Todd Glaser, and John Zalkind, were joined by some of South Florida's business leaders including Elyse and Yale Galanter, Gregg Covin, Michelle and Chaim Katzman, Mindy and Isaac Hardoon, Debbie Stayman and Janice and Alan Lipton.

The president of the JCC, Fanny Hanono, along with husband Salomon and executive director of the JCC Gary Bomzer were also at the event.

Michael Melnick also was honored at the event for more than 20 years of dedication to the JCC.

CRUISE FOR FUNDS

Members of the Turnberry Chapter of Hadassah will embark upon a fundraising event, a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the new Holland America Oosterdam on Dec. 7-14.

Special rates are being offered, and proceeds from the event will go to the new Emergency Trauma Center at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. For information call 305-931-1711.

JCS MEETING

Jewish Community Services of South Florida Inc. will have its third annual meeting June 19 at Temple Israel's Wolfson Auditorium, 137 NE 19th St., in Miami.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. Catering will be by Gourmet Kosher, under KOF-K Kosher Supervision. The program will include an awards ceremony and special presentations.

Paid reservations are required. Tickets are $45 per person. Call Josh Pearlman, 305-899-1587, ext. 111.

HISPANIC CHAMBER

Lisa Guerrero, an actress and sports news broadcaster, will be the guest speaker at the Ninth Annual Installation Luncheon of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board of directors Friday at the Starlight Roof of the Wyndham Beach Resort, 4833 Collins Ave.

The yearly installation of officers and directors is partnered this year with the national magazine Catalina.

''Through this partnership, we are adding a touch of glamour to our event,'' said chamber president Liliam Lopez.

The luncheon begins at noon and, following the installation, there will be a panel of women discussing The Role of Today's Professional Hispanic Woman.

The panel includes Guerrero; former EEOC chairman Ida Castro; recently appointed board governing member of the South Florida Water Management District Irela Bague; and Ilene Rubio, marketing manager for the Small Business Administration District One. A fashion show sponsored by Marshall's will follow.

Cost of the lunch is $40 for members and $45 for nonmembers.

For more information, call 305-534-1903.

JUDGE HONORED

The Coconut Grove Playhouse's first Spotlight Award recently was awarded to Third District Court of Appeals Judge Mario P. Goderich by Playhouse producing artistic director Arnold Mittelman at a preshow reception and ceremony at the Playhouse.

Goderich, who founded the Cuban American Bar Association and was the first Cuban American Worker's Compensation judge, Circuit Court judge and Appellate Court judge, was joined by more than 1,000 guests including fellow judges, friends and colleagues from various bar associations to celebrate the event.

The award presentation took place prior to a performance of Eduardo Machado's Once Removed, a comedy-drama centered around a 1961 Cuban exiled family, starring Lucie Arnaz. The event, chaired by attorney Ervin A. Gonzalez, was free and underwritten by sponsors.

In addition to receiving the award, Goderich received a proclamation from Gov. Jeb Bush. The Cuban American Bar Foundation also announced the creation and full endowment of the Mario P. Goderich Merit Scholarship at Florida International University School of Law in honor of the judge. The recipient, Mauricio Rivero, was present to receive the $25,000 scholarship.

HEARTY WALK

The American Heart Association last month kicked off its biggest fundraiser in Miami-Dade County, the 2003 American Heart Walk, at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

Business leaders from Miami Children's Hospital, Cedars Medical Center, Hialeah Hospital, Akerman Senterfitt, Steel Hector & Davis LLP, Target, Cordis, Boston Scientific, Comcast, and WFOR-CBS 4 were on hand. The president of the University of Miami and past honorary chairman at the Miami-Dade County Heart Walk, Donna Shalala, hosted the event.

The 10th anniversary of the walk is scheduled to take place Sept. 27 at its new venue, the Miami-Dade County Fair and Expo Center, Coral Way and 109th Avenue. Some 8,000 participants are expected to take part in the 2.5-mile walk.

Jared, the Subway ''diet guy,'' who appears in Subway commercials, is once again expected to attend this year's walk. Subway is a national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Heart Walks.

The mission of the American Heart Association is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. The money raised at the 2003 walk will be used to fund life-saving research and educational programs. For more information, call 305-586-1449.

WELCOME GIFT

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro presented a check for $30,000 to Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Executive Director Roxann Mayros during a recent ceremony at the Lighthouse, 601 SW Eighth Ave.

Because of the gift, the Lighthouse will be able to hire an architect to turn the building's third floor into a center that will focus on delivering services to children.

This need has become even more intense since the Lighthouse has begun new services for young people. A recently initiated Blind Babies Program's goal is to provide an inclusive day-care program for newborn to 6-year-old blind participants and their parents.

The Children's Summer Camp, for 6- to 14-year-olds, will be held from July 21 until Aug. 8 each summer. A Transition Program provides 14- to 18-year-old children who plan to go from high school to work or college with knowledge on job preparedness by teaching them how to write a résumé, conduct interviews, and cultural experience by attending theater productions, operas and social activities.

A Pre-Transition Program is designed for 14- to 21-year-olds who are not ready to begin the process of transferring to work or college.

All of these classes will be held on the third floor of the Lighthouse once the refurbishing project is completed.

For more information on the children's programs, call 305-856-2288.

FASHION FUNDS

More than 100 friends of Miami Heart Research Institute met recently for lunch, fashions and shopping at Bloomingdale's in The Falls and all for a good cause.

The group of mothers, daughters, sisters and friends learned about Bloomingdale's latest spring fashions and also about makeup techniques from MAC cosmetics.

The annual event hosted by Bloomingdale's is co-chaired by Barbara Berg, Cheryl Ettelman, Laura Evans, Susan Gordon, Jean Hester, Zahara Mossman, Bonnie Sepe, Joann Soman and Cynthia Trescott.

All members of Women's Action Committee, they are committed to educating the community about leading healthier and longer stress-free lives and raising funds for the institute's ongoing projects.

To learn more about the group's activities, call Marlene Berg at 305-535-3681.

If you have news for this column, please send it to Bea Moss, Friends and Neighbors, Neighbors, 7300 N. Kendall Dr., Suite 200, Miami, FL 33156 or fax to 305-671-4350. Pictures cannot be returned. If you have questions, call Bea Moss at 305-671-4341 and leave a message. She returns all calls. Her e-mail address is Beaone@aol.com.