L’Art de Recevoir Hits a High Note

Each year the Coral Gables Community Foundation holds a themed ball to raise money for its charitable programs. With the pandemic raging, the annual ball was canceled this year – but not the event. Instead of gathering in one place, more than 30 hosts and hostesses across the city opened their homes and entertained a table of guests. The first of its kind at-home fine dining experience was co-chaired by Sissy De Maria-Koehne and Lauren Harrison-Brown, raising an extraordinary $250,000.

At each home, patrons enjoyed gourmet meals prepared by Le Basque, desserts by famed pastry chef Antonio Bachour, wine paired by Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe and florals by Belle Fleur. In many of the homes, musicians from the Frost School of Music performed. The evening’s distinguished honorees, presented in a brief video presentation, included Bill Bonn for the Legacy Award; Matthew Meehan for the Philanthropy Award; Meg Daly for the Arts & Culture Award; David Evensky for the Jerry Santeiro Community Award; Dr. Michael Zinner for the Education Award presented by Trish & Dan Bell; Jonathan Vilma for the Sports & Wellness Award presented by Doctors Hospital and Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute; and Mayda Cisneros for the inaugural Gables Beautiful Award.

“The City said oui” quipped DeMaria-Koehne, adding that “it was so inspiring to see the community come together. Despite the many challenges, we were very proud to have pulled this off and done so with flying colors.” ■

Brown