More than $12,000 raised to benefit the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program
WYNWOOD, MIAMI, FL—January 26, 2007--Karen Piazza’s GIRL FRIEND’S SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON, benefiting the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, is an annual tradition, always planned on the heels of Art Basel and typically involving the arts. This year’s event, underwritten by Coscan, was held at the Rubell Family Collection, an extensive collection of work exhibited in a converted 45,000 square-foot former D.E.A. confiscated-goods warehouse in Wynwood.
Every year, Karen invites her fabulous group of friends, some of which come from as far away as the Bahamas, London, Mexico and Sweden, to enjoy this wonderful gathering of some of the chicest and most interesting women on the east coast of Florida. Many girls who have met at this luncheon have forged friendships and look forward to getting together to celebrate the holidays at this time every year. Everyone also enjoys their participation in contributing to a cause that is so meaningful and personal. It is the perfect way to end the year.
When the guests arrived, they entered the sculpture garden where the day began with Limoncello Spritzers and an array of artsy hors d’oeuvres. It was a gorgeous day to be made more beautiful only by the classical music performed by University Of Miami School Of Performing Arts’ musicians. All of the girls had so much fun looking at the fabulous shoe display of the custom-made embellished sandals from young designer Morgan Miller. Everyone was given a raffle ticket and a lucky fashionista was awarded the door prize of designing her own shoes at Morgan’s new South Beach boutique.
Upon the raising of the very cool garage-style door to the museum, everyone entered the main museum gallery which was dressed in all white, with centerpieces made of grass and hot pink Gerber daisies that appeared to be literally growing from the grass.
On each plate, the guests found their personal menu for the three-course tasting that they were about to experience. It was a fun lunch of interactive conversation discussing each of the five samplings on the chilled, warm, and sweet tasting plates. This one-of-a-kind collaboration between Piazza and Ken Lyon, of Lyon & Lyon, made for a most unusual, sophisticated luncheon experience. The guests loved it and no one left feeling stuffed like a holiday turkey. Immediately following the lunch, a Colombian-style, freshly prepared aromatica was served to finish the day. And so no guest left without their Miami “coffee fix”, each girl was given a specially-designed goody bag filled with chocolate covered espresso beans from Dylans Candy Bar in New York City.
The day’s program included a moving speech given by last year’s recipient, Olive Preston. She spoke about her experience in the Women of Tomorrow program and recognized her influential mentor Ileana Bravo, as well as Karen Piazza, for their role in helping her achieve her goals. Every woman in the room was deeply moved by Olive’s power and truly felt honored to have made a contribution to this bright young woman’s future. Girl Friends really can make a difference!
The Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program was founded in 1997 by television journalist, Jennifer Valoppi and Telemundo Network President Don Browne to inspire, motivate and empower at-risk young women in our public high schools. Karen Piazza, wife of Al Piazza, CEO of Coscan, is a mentor in the program. This year over $12,000 was contributed to KAREN PIAZZA’S GIRL FRIEND’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND, which will send young women to college.
