Friends of El Jardin—Party in the Garden

A Most Successful Event... Thank You!

More than 250 guests gathered to celebrate Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart’s “The Friends of El Jardin—Party in the Garden” at the Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables. Guests at the sold-out event enjoyed a cocktail reception and silent auction in the Upper Rotunda before being escorted to the Rotunda Ballroom which had been transformed into a beautiful indoor garden.

Not only was the event magnificent but also financially successful—netting approximately $335,000 to directly benefit the restoration and maintenance of the El Jardin landmark, home to Carrollton since 1961.

The success of the event is due to the leadership of Gala co-chairs, Nacira Gomez and Daisy Hayworth, and their outstanding committee. Special thanks to Marlen Pernetti and her auction team for gathering more than 300 amazing auction items and also for organizing and creating the beautiful ambiance to display ALL of them. Much appreciation is bestowed upon all the guests.

Headmistress Sr. Suzanne Cooke welcomed the guests and offered the Invocation. She thanked everyone involved, the guests, event benefactors, underwriters, advertisers, and auction donors for their ongoing support and stewardship of Sacred Heart Education and the restoration of El Jardin. After dinner and during dessert, Sr. Cooke, with the help of Hector Fortun, served as auctioneer for the live auction, which included emerald and diamond earrings, a one-year lease on a 2006 Jaguar X-Type, a South American cruise, and trips to Casa de Campo and Bachelor Gulch. Before the dancing got underway, Sr. Cooke was presented with a surprise happy birthday cake.


Benefactors:

Grand Friend of El Jardin: Steve and Daisy Hayworth, Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust Company.

Friend of Barat: Rosendo Palacios and Marilu Suarez Palacios '74, American Express; Roberto and Pamela Rocha, The Related Group.

Friend of the Gatehouse: Nicolas Juncadella and Silvania da Cunha; Shaun and Susan Nowrouzi, Modular Contractors, Inc.; Frank and Isabel Mendez, Pioneer Inter-Development, Inc.