The International Rescue Committee (IRC) celebrated its 75th anniversary at the historic Freedom Tower. Honorees, Dolores Smithies (in memoriam) and Paquito D’Rivera, were recognized for their support and dedication to the mission of the IRC.
A legendary advocate for raising funds for refugee relief, Dolores Smithies personally helped raise millions of dollars for Cuban refugees. She was a dedicated city social worker for 25 years as well as an AIDS activist where she testified before the White House AIDS Commission.
Paquito D’Rivera has released over 30 solo albums and won numerous awards including, various Grammy awards, the National Medal for the Arts, the Kennedy Center Living Jazz Legend Gold Medal, and was named one of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters.
IRC's George Rupp, Roman Martinez, Roberto Martinez and Nestor Carbonell joined esteemed guest that included Governor Charlie Crist and new first lady Carole Rome-Crist , Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Alvarez, fomer Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Marcos Rubio, art empresario Gary Nader, Diario Las America publisher Horacio Aguirre, Aida Levitan, Leslie Pantin, music producer Emilio Estefan, sugar magnate Jose "Pepe" Fanjul with his wife Emilia, Miami Today publisher Michael Lewis with wife Carmen, ACT Production's Bruce Orosz and Cuban artist Julio Larraz.
Proceeds for the night's gala went directly to benefit refugees affected by war, civil conflict, or oppression as well as helping newly arrived refugees in the U.S. rebuild their lives. TO HELP AND DONATE
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NPR international correspondent Tom Gjelten read from his new book, Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause, at Miami’s historic Freedom Tower, America’s most recognized icon of Cuban immigration.
Publisher’s Weekly says “Gjelten’s account of a liberal, progressive Cuban business clan complicates and enriches the conventional picture of a society torn between left and right dictatorships.”
Gjelten’s book provides a unique history of Cuba, captured in the life and times of the famous rum dynasty. The event and reception, was presented by Miami Dade College and Friends of WLRN.
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The Scene Miami is Miami's up-to-the-minute social and celebrity blog. FOLLOW on TWITTER @thescenemiami
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