Miami Beach International Fashion Week hosts their Second Annual Humanitarian Awards

On Thursday, January 27th, ten of South Florida's most philanthropic residents were honored with a Humanitarian Award during the official kick-off party for the 13th annual Miami Beach International Fashion Week (MBIFW). The poolside event took place at the beautiful Mondrian South Beach where guests sipped on champagne, glanced through a silent auction and enjoyed a variety of hors d'oeuvres. Sponsored by Tiffany & Co, the event benefited the Miami Fashion Week Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to the winners of the Miami Beach International Fashion Week competitions. Throughout the year, the foundation hosts a variety of events to help raise funds for the emerging designers and students studying fashion design, jewelry making, photography and graphic arts. Beth Sobol, President & Founder of MBIFW, is pictured above along with event sponsors Oslan Osovio (Televisa) and Pamela Cordova (Copa Airlines). After a fabulous night of honoring those who give back to our community, here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Above: The talented Viviana G (second from the left), Designer of Petit Pois, strikes a pose with her models who were showcasing her Spring 2011 Collection during the Humanitarian Awards. To discover international designers like Viviana G, make sure to mark your calendars for the 2011 Miami Beach International Fashion Week taking place on March 3-6. This is the largest international & Hispanic fashion event in the US so get ready to experience the best of fashion, beauty, music and art. Tickets are currently available on the MBIFW website. See you there!

Above: An eye catching piece of artwork called "Legends of Basketball" was featured in the event's silent auction (produced by Icon Art; collage by Miami based artist Erika King).

Top Left: Humanitarian Award Honoree Vince Castro (Bentrust Financial) along with Deborah Nuñez. Top Right: Humanitarian Award Honorees Maria Elena Salinas (Author and Univision News Anchor) and Manuel E. Machado (CEO of MGSCOMM).

Above: Natalie Saenz, Carolina McAllister and Elaine Mangia.

Above Left: Humanitarian Award Honorees Jackie Nespral (NBC6 News Anchor) and Maria Elena Salinas. Above Right: My awesome friend Jen and I during the festivities!

Above: Couture Jewelry Designer Shannon Saint Clair attended the event with husband John Saint Clair (Offensive Tackle for the Cleveland Browns) and Olivia Wolff (Sofi Magazine).

Above: Luis Dominguez, Mike Priceman, Suzie Peruyero and Henry Billete from In the Scene Magazine, a new monthly publication launching this summer that fits in your pocket and provides you with the ultimate "in the scene" guide for what's happening in Miami. The official kick-off party for Miami Beach International Fashion Week was truly amazing! Congratulations to all of the Humanitarian Award Honorees: Somy Ali, Ricky Ariola, Tina Carlo, Vince Castro, Manny Machado, Jackie Nespral, Maria Elena Salinas, Shareef Malnik, Dr. Omar Pasalodos and Joy Wallace. Thank you for generously giving back to our community.

The "Fight for Will" Campaign hosts a Happy Hour Fundraiser at Tarpon Bend in Coral Gables

Sazoneros: Want to know a secret? When I was in high school, I always dreamed of becoming a famous singer. That obviously didn't work out BUT I definitely made great friends along the way. Will Rodriguez is one of those wonderful friends (pictured on the left) I met during my time at South Miami High's music program. Today, he faces one of the biggest challenges of his life. Will was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma and he is currently undergoing Chemo Therapy. The good news is that he has an incredible spirit and he is fighting this disease with full force. The bad news? Will doesn't have medical insurance. Therefore, I hope I can inspire my readers to come out and support the "Fight for Will" Campaign. On Thursday, January 27th, please join us for the first "Fight for Will" Happy Hour (beginning at 5:30 p.m.) at Tarpon Bend in Coral Gables (65 Miracle Mile). Spread the word and invite your friends as we gather to collect donations for this very special cause. During the event, guests can sign up for the "Fight for Will" newsletter, learn about the campaign and network with new friends. If you'd like to meet Will for yourself, check out the official "Fight for Will" website and watch his video blogs on the bottom. See you this week and let's show Will that he is not alone in this fight!

Dwyane Wade Celebrates his 29th Birthday "Miami Style" at The W Hotel's Wall Lounge

On Sunday, January 16th, Dwyane Wade turned up the heat at Wall Lounge (located at The W Hotel) where celebs and friends gathered to celebrate the NBA star's 29th birthday! It was definitely a star-studded night. LeBron James, Neyo, Flo Rida and fashion designer Rachel Roy came out to join the party. Wade was accompanied by his beautiful girlfriend, Gabrielle Union, who shared a special birthday message on the mic during the party for her beau. Guests enjoyed Belvedere cocktails while checking out Wade and Lebron's dance moves. The basketball duo stood out from the crowd as they jammed to the beats of DJ LS1. For additional party shots, I recommend you visit World Red Eye. By the way, a big hello to the blonde bombshell pictured on the right along with yours truly. Cheers to a fab birthday party Wade!

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade breaking it down!!!!

My beautiful friend Maria strikes a pose with my sister (Diaset Cabrera) and I. Love my ladies!

DJ Irie (middle) and DJ LS1 (right) having fun in the DJ booth!

Tracy Mourning's Honey Shine Mentoring Program hosts a Networking Event in the Grove

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the girls from Tracy Mourning's Honey Shine Mentoring Program over at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Coconut Grove [pictured below/ photo by Jo Winstead]. Founded in 2002, the Honey Shine Mentoring Program provides positive experiences that nurture the mind, body and soul of young women in at-risk situations by improving their self-esteem and creating balance in their young lives. If this sounds like an organization that captivates your passion, then here's an upcoming event for you. On Thursday, January 20th, Mayfair Center, Event Visions and Grove Retrospective Gallery invite you to attend a "Young Professionals Networking Happy Hour" from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a special event for young professionals in our community who want to learn about Honey Shine and find ways to make a difference in the lives of these young honey bugs. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy cocktails and light bites provided by Atchana's East/ West Kitchen along with music by The Miami Music Conservatory. The event will be held at The Grove Retrospective Gallery located at the Mayfair Center in Coconut Grove [2911 Grand Avenue]. To RSVP, please email Andrea@honeyshine.org. Empowering young girls to shine as women will be your ultimate goal as an attendee!

For information on Honey Shine Mentoring Program, a program of the Alonzo Mourning Charities, visit www.HoneyShine.org. To get a better sense of the organization's mission, listen to Tracy Mourning during this amazing interview by Plum TV's Jennifer Santiago.