Cancer Support Community Greater Miami Heart & Star dinner

APRIL 20 - MAY 3, 2015
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Anacapri Italian
Kitchen celebrates
25 years
Heart & Star dinner raises $210,000
BY LEE STEPHENS
The Cancer Support Community Greater Miami hosted the
annual Heart & Star dinner at the Coral Gables Country Club
and raised $210,000 to fund free cancer programs and
honoredAmy Hollub and Alina Villasante for their service.
Hollub received the Champion of the Human Spirit award as
a cancer survivor for being a beacon of light and hope for others faced with the same diagnosis.
Villasante received the Champion of the Community Spirit
award for her philanthropic and community leadership.
More than 300 people attended the event in March and all proceeds generated were earmarked to fund free CSCGM cancer
programs and services provided for patients and loved ones. For
more than 13 years the CSCGM has helped those impacted by
cancer, improving their quality of life by providing educational
and emotional support.
From the start, the mission of the non-profit organization has
been to help cancer patients with research-based psychosocial
services from the moment of diagnosis. Since 2002, the
CSCGM has seen more than 24,500 patients and family members, from young children to senior citizens.
“Amy and Alina are deserving honorees who have done so
much for cancer awareness and our community in general,” said
executive director Danielle Spiegelman. “We were grateful and
proud to pay tribute to them as our 2015 Heart & Star Award
recipients. They are advocates for the CSCGM and their alignment with our mission does so much to increase our awareness.”
Hollub received the Human Spirit award after surviving five
years of advanced stage ovarian cancer and vowing “to put cancer in its place.” Not only did she overcome the disease, she
transformed her adversity to triumph with grace and determination. She strives to empower other women with knowledge and
to advocate for their healthcare wellness and treatment. Her
journey served as the catalyst for the annual Rock N Run event.
She chairs the 5k run/walk and cardio dance class, a fundraiser
that annually benefits six cancer charities that fund research,
promote awareness of early detection and prevention or provide
services to women with cancer.
Villasante, creator of Peace Love World, received the
Community Spirit award to honor her for global charitable work
and personal contributions to the community. Villasante champions causes such as cancer awareness, autism, multiple sclerosis and Haiti relief. The Peace Love World philosophy is to
spread peace, love and happiness. Villasante not only stitches
in Pinecrest
Pictured (l-r) are the Heart & Star dinner honorees Alina Villasante and Amy Hollub with
Pamela Zakheim, founder and president of Cancer Support Community Greater Miami.
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inspirational quotes into the fabric of her clothes, but also
threads the same qualities into the fabric of her life.
Miami native CBS4 anchor Cynthia Demos was mistress of
ceremonies for the dinner. Joyce Andrews, Carmen and John
Arasi, Chanin and Adam Carlin, Adrian Dubow, Nicki
Friedland, Arlene Kahn, Arthur Hertz, Angie Martinez, Maria
Padron, Candy and Rodger Popkin, Sabrina Robinson, Aida and
Joseph Roisman, Dara Salky, Debra Schottenstein, Pam
Shapiro, Edie Spiegel, Tracey Spiegelman, Mia Villasante,
Carole Wright and Pam Zakheim served on the dinner committee.
CSCGM is located at 8609 S. Dixie Hwy.
For more information, call 305-668-5900, email to
<Danielle@CancerSupportCommunityMiami.org> or go to
<www.CancerSupportCommunityMiami.org>.