Summer Shopping Extravaganza to benefit the Amigos for Kids Back to School Drive

I love to shop and especially if it's for a good cause! O.riginals: Design & Stationery will proudly host their 1st Annual Summer Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday, July 16th, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The bazaar, which will feature 30+ vendors in the merchandise categories of jewelry [like Stella & Dot, TAudrey and Rock Candy Jewelry], clothing, home products, kid accessories, food, artwork, and personalized back to school products. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Amigos for Kids Back to School Drive which provides book bags and school supplies to more than 1,500 children who would otherwise lack school supplies on their first day of school. Let's help these children and support this great cause by visiting the South Miami/Coral Gables Elk’s Lodge on July 16th [6308 S.W. 78 Street, Miami, FL 33143]. The event is open to the public and admission costs $5 at the door. For more information on this event, you can email info@originalsds.com or follow @Shop4Amigos on Twitter. To see a complete list of vendors, visit the official Facebook invite. Shop till you drop! xo

Amigos for Kids hosts Miami's Most Popular Fundraiser: ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night

Sazoneros! It's that time of the year when Miami's hottest celebs, socialites and domino players unite for a wonderful cause: to prevent child abuse and neglect in our communities. Amigos for Kids is celebrating their 20th anniversary by presenting their annual ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night on Saturday, June 18th, at Jungle Island. This year's grand event is sure to keep you dancing! DJ Irie will be spinning his beats and Grammy Award winning singer, Albita, will add a special touch of sazon with a live performance. Guests will also enjoy an open bar courtesy of Bacardi USA, a stellar silent auction and a Food Pavillion featuring the best restaurants in South Florida. Amigos for Kids is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect by valuing children, strengthening families and educating communities. Since this is their largest fundraising event of the year, it is a great opportunity to join this cause by attending the event or donating online. Tickets start at $150 per person so make sure you save your spot. Guests should arrive in Tropical Chic Attire. Make your grandparents proud and practice your domino skills before the big event...good luck!

Amigos for Kids hosts their 2010 ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night at Jungle Island

On Saturday, June 19th, Amigos for Kids hosted their highly anticipated annual fundraiser: ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night! Jungle Island was overflowing with Miami's hottest celebrities, community leaders and domino players. Among the celebs, I ran into the lovely Mariana Rodriguez, Host of Telemundo's Acceso Total, looking fabulous in a pink cocktail dress (pictured on the right). As far as the celebration, guests were treated to a tropical paradise as soon as they entered the courtyard! The night featured Samba & Salsa dancers, a live Cuban band and dinner-bites from restaurants like Sushi Maki, Giardino Gourmet Salads and Versailles. Since Bacardi USA was one of the official sponsors of this event, there were plenty of open bars for guests to enjoy as well. All proceeds from the evening benefited Amigos for Kids, a non-profit organization that supports South Florida's abused, abandoned and neglected children and their families through education, abuse prevention and community involvement. To become an Amigo by donating your time or other resources to children in need, call 305.279.1155 or visit www.AmigosForKids.org.

Ximena Duque, Kothan Fernandez and Candela Ferro attended the event to support Amigos for Kids.

You cannot have a party in Miami without a little sazon!

Top Left: Guests enjoying the live Cuban Band in the courtyard area. Top Right: The beautiful Claudia Santiano and Melissa Hernandez.

Melissa Marty, Cynthia Olavarria and Martha Escobar strike a pose for Miami Beats & Sazon. Check out Melissa as she co-hosts Acceso Máximo, an entertainment show on Galavisión.

Top Left: Alina Mayo Azze, Univision television anchor, along with Jackie Nespral, anchor of South Florida Nightly News at 7:00 pm and South Florida Tonight at 11:00 pm on NBC 6. I would also like to add that Jackie Nespral is on my "Favorite University of Miami Alumni" list. GO CANES!!! Top Right: Alex and Marisela De La Vega.

An intense domino match in action...that's all I can say!

Top Left: Marko Figueroa and Patricia De Leon. Top Right: Ana María Canseco, host of Despierta America on Univision, accompanied by Alfredo J. Gonzalez.

The gorgeous Brigitte Chio and Casey Garcia along with yours truly!

Overall, the event was a huge success: great music, amazing food, a silent auction, beautiful people, domino tables and a wonderful cause! Remember to visit Amigos for Kids for the latest news on the organization's initiatives and programs. Become involved and see you at the next event!

Amigos for Kids kicks-off their annual ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night on March 25th!

If you grew up in Miami, then you know of the game which makes every grandfather stay up late at night until a winning team has been proclaimed at Abuela's house! The game: DOMINOES. Domino games are not only present in our neighboring Caribbean islands, but the game has actually been traced back to ancient kings. The oldest known domino set was found in Tutankhamen's tomb, among the ruins of Thebes. Tutankhamen was king of ancient Egypt in the 18th dynasty (1355 BC) and his surviving set is now in King Tutankhamen's Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

Now that you know about Dominoes, here is an upcoming event that aims to continue the legacy of this historic pastime while raising awareness for an important cause. Amigos for Kids, a mainstream nonprofit, is hosting their annual fundraiser called "ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night." Amigos for Kids was founded 18 years ago to respond to the diverse needs of South Florida's abused, neglected and less-fortunate children as well as their families. Today, the organization is best known for the help they provide to these families through education, abuse prevention and community involvement. If you're interested in attending the Amigos for Kids celebrity domino event, then mark your calendars for June 19, 2010 (Jungle Island at 7:30 p.m.). The fundraiser features live music, dancing, silent auction and of course, domino playing. Tickets cost $150 in advance, $175 at the door or $1,000 if you wish to reserve a domino table.
How can you become involved? Get acquainted with Amigos by attending a free kick-off event for their "ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night" on Thursday, March 25th. Meet the members of this organization and familiarize yourself with their cause. The party will take place at Mia at Biscayne (20 Biscayne Blvd; where Biscayne meets Flagler) from 6:30- 9:30 p.m. You must RSVP by Tuesday, March 23rd because space is limited (call 305.279.1155 or send an email to rsvp@amigosforkids.org). Silence is a form of consent. Get involved and never be silenced in support of our most precious gift- children. For more information on Amigos for Kids or any of these events, visit http://www.amigosforkids.org/.