Forever Belen Gala
On November 6, over seven hundred members of the Belen community attended the Annual Gala held on campus to celebrate our 60th anniversary in Miami. The theme, “Forever Belen” encompassed what it means to be a member of this community and because of your continued support, Belen will indeed last forever.
Guests arrived at the Arroyo Quad to view auction items and then shifted over to the Garrido Family Plaza, which had been transformed into a festive environment fitting the occasion. Every detail was carefully planned and executed; from the light show to the anniversary video and live music.
“It was a tremendous blessing to co-chair this amazing event once again; an event that not only brings our Belen community together but also raises much-needed funds for the Financial Assistance Fund,” said Gala Co-Chair, Claudia Navarro. “I absolutely loved seeing this event come together; thank you to all for your support.”
“Thank you to all who joined us on November 6 as we celebrated Belen’s 60th anniversary in Miami,” said Gala Co-Chair Patty Paredes. “Special thank you to everyone who helped to make the night an amazing success. Together, many young men are given the opportunity to benefit from all that Belen has to offer through our support of the Financial Assistance Program.”
Putting this event together takes a lot of collaboration and planning, and at the center of it, leading the charge, is Becky Lowell, Belen’s Event Coordinator.
“Everyone worked so hard to put this event together,” said Lowell. “Together with the Gala committee and Raul Rodriguez ’95 from 2R Production, we selected a theme and began working on the creative details in the summer. As the gala got closer, an army of volunteers started to work together to make this event happen. The best part, everyone is doing it for the same reason… we all love Belen.”
The gala, along with Fr. Dorta- Duque, SJ Memorial Tombola, and the Fr. Izquierdo Memorial Golf Tournament are the principal fundraisers for Belen’s Financial Assistance Program. Since its founding in Havana, Cuba in 1854, and forced relocation in Miami in 1961, Belen Jesuit has been committed to providing a Jesuit education to as many young men as possible.
There were many parents, friends, and benefactors who worked with the school’s Advancement Office to make sure that the gala was a huge success. Special thanks to the Gala Chairs Claudia Navarro and Patty Paredes; Auction Chairs Alina León, Cary Falero, Monica Antún, and Karla Handal; Program Book Chairs Teresita Caraballo, Alejandra Gentzschein, and Christina Gómez-Pina.
Click here to see the photo album. Click here to watch the anniversary video.
Special recognition to our Gala sponsors whose generous support made the Gala possible:
TITLE SPONSOR
My Father Cigars
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Francisco and Johana Sarria
PREMIER SPONSORS
A Falero Trucking, Inc.
AA & Dennis Uniform Company
Allied Building Inspection Services, Inc.
AutoNation
Crescencio J. Ruiz ‘76
DC Fuel Service LLC
Edbrooke Stelcner and Associates, Inc.
Fiduciary Trust International
FirstBank of Florida
Garrido Foundation
Iberia - First Horizon Bank
Juan Luis Flores ‘70
Law Office of Alexis Gonzalez, P.A.
Lemartec Engineering and Construction Corporation
León Cosgrove
Lievano-Perez Obstetrics & Gynecology of Miami
Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables and Cutler Bay
Mr. Glass Doors & Windows Manufacturing, LLC
My Cardiologist
Northern Trust
Pistorino & Alam Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Regions Bank
Ricoh
South Miami Builders
Textbook Hub
United HomeCare
UniVista
Westchester Animal Hospital
WOLVERINE SPONSORS
Aran Correa & Guarch, P.A.
Coral Gables Trust
Mr. and Mrs. Devon Bodoh
Dr. and Dr. Juan C. Sarol
Everglades Steel Corporation
Mr. Eduardo Costa & Lia Porcella Costa
Mr. and Mrs. Hiram & Ani Fals
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Shanley
Professional Bank
GALA UNDERWRITERS
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas de Quesada ‘94
Dymark
Mr. and Mrs. Juan Estevez
Evensky & Katz/ Foldes Financial
Reliable Contractors Group
PROGRAM UNDERWRITERS
Advanced Health Imaging
De La Hoz, Perez & Barbeito, PLLC (DPB)
Gables Pediatrics
ICG Eduardo Gross
JM Shuttle
Manny Chamizo III
Mariani Orthodontics
Marmol Export, USA
MMG Equity Partners
Royalty Logistics, Inc.
Sea Grove Realty
South Miami OB-GYN Associates
The Keys Company
Tatuaje Cigars, Inc.
Taylor Machine Works
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.