13th Annual “Hispanic Women of Distinction”

HISPANIC WOMEN of DISTINCTION LUNCHEON A SELL OUT!!

The 13th annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity luncheon held on August 15th at Signature Grand in Davie was a resounding success with a sell-out of 800 guests! Honoree friends and family, business leaders, elected officials as well as socialites enjoyed a “latin flavored” celebration that kicked off with a “mojito”, cocktail party and auction to pay tribute to 13 Latina professionals who are strengthening the social fabric of this country and making inroads in the leadership pipeline for a growingly diverse America.

Presented by Bank of America in partnership with Latina Style Magazine, and co-sponsored by Baptist Health South Florida and WFTL Radio 850 AM, 40 past honorees opened the high-energy show by walking the 120 foot runway followed by a $1500 financial scholarship named after the late Dr. Erwin Vasquez presented to Sandra Tobon, a single mother of 3 attending Broward College and planning to continue her education in finance.

The festivities continued with a fabulous runway fashion show moderated by Sheila Rodriguez Walden, Director of Fashion at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, rightly named A Latinas Closet, presented by 5 Hispanic- American designer/students. The finale of the show was from a 1990 alumna of the Art Institute, Lisa Miceli-Capano, who has designed and marketing her own line of surf, dive and water sports clothing and accessories called Stoked on Salt, which can be seen in dozens of commercial shops throughout Broward County.

And it didn’t stop there! Emcee Myriam Masihy, of NBC TV 6, presented the Latina Pioneer Award to Helen Aguirre Ferre, an award winning bilingual journalist for more than 3 decades who has paved the way for other Latinas to reach their goals. Hundreds of guests roared and cheered the 12 Hispanic Women of Distinction as they strutted the walkway while their achievements were highlighted on 2 big screens.

The charity who benefited through sponsorships, balloon raffles and auction items was the Light of the World Clinic, a free volunteer medical facility since 1989 founded by the late Dr. Erwin Vasquez. Vasquez passed away in 2010 and his legacy continues under the leadership of Ricardo Reyes, M.D. his longtime friend. The luncheon raised over $20,000 for its work to assist the needy with quality, free healthcare and medicines and individual donations continue to come in from the community.

2014 HISPANIC WOMEN of DISTINCTION:
MARIA MERCEDES BECERRA – President, Fundacion Entre Nosotras, Miami, Florida.
DIANA BROOKS – Managing Partner, VSBrooks Advertising, Coral Gables, Florida
ANA M. CEDENO – Chief Executive Officer Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
LOURDES MARTINEZ COWGILL, PhD – Sr. Dir. of College Counseling, International College Counselors, Ft Laud.
GLORIA M. GARCES – Co-owner, Eventers LLC & Director of Community& Public Affairs MIRA TV.
MARIA HERNANDEZ – Chief Innovation Officer-Latin America IBM Corp; Boca Raton, Florida
ANELE RAMIA MANFREDINI, M.D.- Physican, Women’s Health, Holy Cross Hospital – Fort Lauderdale
ANA MURILLO – Deputy Sergeant, Broward Sheriff’s Office – Sunrise, Florida
SANDRA MUVDI – President, Founder Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
ANA MARIA PUGA, M.D. – Medical Director, Comprehensive Family AIDS Program, Broward Health Children’s Diagnostic Center – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
MONICA RABASSA – V.P. Marketing, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Univision Radio – Miami
REV. DR. ELIZABETH D. RIOS –Founder, Center for Emerging Female Leadership/Latinas of Legacy – Miramar, Florida