Informed Families’ 35th Annual Dinner at Joe’s took place this year on the planned date and time of May 18th at 7 p.m. Due to COVID-19 the world was different. Joe’s Stone Crab, and all restaurants in Miami, was closed, but our outstanding network of friends proceeded to meet and greet on Zoom!
What fun! Forty-nine people logged in to see each other and say hi. The evening was dedicated to Coach Don Shula, who with his wife Dorothy, chaired the first Annual Dinner at Joe’s. The first committee was a Who’s Who in Miami: Betty and Alvah Chapman, Susan and Frank Borman, Dale Webb, Peter Bermont, Mary Eaton, JoAnn Bass and the Sawitz Family. This network of friends and families made Informed Families the success it is today.
Peggy Sapp, President and CEO of Informed Families, welcomed everyone by reminding them that social isolation is a major contributor to mental health problems, especially substance abuse, and why getting together is so important for everyone’s health and well-being.
Emmy award-winning journalist Pam Giganti-Bunge was the Mistress of Ceremonies with the help of hubby Alfred Bunge. This year’s dinner chairs were Richard Bermont and Adam Carlin. Of course, the beloved Commissioner Sally Heyman was the Maitre’d extraordinaire. Kathy Rundle, Joe Natoli, Ron and Anita Shuffield, Jim Davidson, Chico Goldsmith, Rob and Susan Shelly along with Informed Families Board Chair Gene Lindsey were all part of this illustrious Zoom Party. No message was more touching than Joe’s owner, Steve Sawitz, telling us about Informed Families first dinner and what the group means to them. Thank you Steve, thank you Joe’s and all the event sponsors.
If you’re reading this, Informed Families invites you to join our social network to have fun, be healthy and help us build a stronger community where kids grown up safe, healthy and drug free. Visit www.informedfamilies.org to sign up and participate in our fun programs.