Amigos Compete at Dominos to Help Children

July 5, 2007                                                                      Pageviews:

Amigos Compete at Dominos to Help
Children
Latin culture was prevalent at the ING Miami Celebrity Domino Night '07,
a fund-raising event to benefit abused, abandoned, and less fortunate
children.

From the Latin Grammy-winning musician and the guayaberas worn by most of the attendees
to the domino playing and fake tropical trees that decorated Hall C of the Miami Beach
Convention Center, the Latino community was given several reasons to help support the
nonprofit Amigos for Kids organization during the 10th annual Celebrity Domino Night. An
estimated 2,000 guests answered the call.

"We are delighted with the turnout and support at this year's ING Miami Celebrity Domino
Night," said Amigos for Kids executive director Rosa Maria Plasencia. "The participation of
hundreds of celebrities, community leaders, media, and individual and corporate sponsors is a
true testament to their commitment to the children of our community."

The room featured simple decor, a giant square-shaped silent-auction area in the center, 20
food and beverage stations set up around it, and an empty stage.

Restaurants served dinner by the bite, ranging from Chispa's creamy Manchego polenta with
veal osso buco to the Pasta Factory's three types of pasta (meat lasagna, ravioli mix, and baked
ziti) to Qdoba Mexican Grill's chicken and pico de gallo, alongside rice and beans, cheese, sour
cream, and guacamole. Paellas R Us's chefs used two gigantic frying pans to create the famed
saffron-flavored Spanish dishes, while Papa John's had a pizza-shaped mascot at its booth to
help distribute their cheese and pepperoni slices. The other participating chefs, caterers,
restaurants, and culinary suppliers were Mena Catering, Miami Gourmet, Le Basque Catering
& Productions, 1909 Café, Versailles, Catalina Products, El Sembrador, Giardino Gourmet
Salads, Cielo Garden & Supper Club, Cake Designs by Edda's, Café Pilon, Romanicos
Chocolate, Starbucks, Vino en Casa, Dewar's 12, and A-List Events Inc., which provided the
event's chocolate fountain.

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July 5, 2007                                                                    Pageviews:

Throughout the evening, guests could view the silent-auction tables and bid on items such as a
domino table autographed by members of the 2004-2005 NBA champion Miami Heat; a hot
air balloon ride for two anywhere in the nation, complete with a bottle of Champagne,
courtesy of Soaring Adventures; an autographed Romero Britto poster; five salsa-lovers group
dance lessons, courtesy of Indira Llanos; and a $500 gift certificate toward a custom-made
evening gown by Amilcar Ferrer Designs. Soiree Event Rentals scattered cocktail tables
throughout the room, Over the Top Rental Party Linens topped those with leafy-design linens,
and centerpieces combining branded glass candles with palm leaves complete the room,
which was also appointed with fake coconut and palm trees.

Honorary chairwomen and local celebrities Alina Mayo Azze and Jackie Nespral thanked
guests for coming and introduced the night's entertainment, which included a half-hour set by
Latin Grammy winner Jorge Moreno and Miami's Band, as well as performances by O.L.L.A.
Elite Dance Company, Hot Jam, and Salsa Kings. The latter performances included costumed
Latino characters (including street merchants, dancers, and an old man), a dance routine that
used wooden sticks, and many comical guest interactions.

After Moreno's short set, the eastern end of the ballroom opened to reveal another room,
filled with white couches, wooden tables, ING- and Amigos for Kids-branded wall lighting,
and a stage. Those who had paid the $150 entrance price could sit at their designated table
and play dominos with some of the on-hand celebrities and other guests, while some of the
aforementioned performances took place around them.

Among the celebrities in attendance were Emmy-winning news anchor Maria Elena Salinas,
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 1980s Spanish television host and all-around
entertainer Charityn, and representatives from the six largest South Florida television news
outlets.

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July 5, 2007                                    Circulation: 18,000

                Over the Top supplied leafy-design table linens that
               matched the rest of the decor and helped build up the
               tropical atmosphere.

               Latin Grammy-winning singer Jorge Moreno got the Miami
               Beach crowd dancing by performing a half-hour set of old-
               style Cuban songs.
               Photo: BizBash

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July 5, 2007                                 Circulation: 18,000

               A silent auction area at the center of the room offered
               everything from necklaces and art posters to custom-
               made evening gowns and an autographed domino
               table.

               Simmering together varying combinations of rice,
               vegetables, meat, chicken, and seafood on the spot,
               Paellas R Us provided some of the night's freshest
               food.
               Photo: BizBash

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July 5, 2007                                Circulation: 18,000

               Hot Jam hired Hispanic characters for the night,
               including this salsa queen and a tamales street
               merchant.

               Most food stations were identified by overhead signs,
               but some used giant banners—either way, they all
               catered to the crowd by offering complimentary bites.

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July 5, 2007                               Circulation: 18,000

               The Pasta Factory was serving three types of pastas:
               meat lasagna, ravioli mix, and baked ziti.

                 Table centerpieces mixed branded glass candles
                 with palm leaves.

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July 5, 2007                                                             Circulation: 18,000

                                     Decorative white trees with fake coconuts helped separate
                                     the room's decor from that of other events.

                                        Amigos for Kids-branded domino boxes contained ING
                                        dominos for paying guests to use while competing
                                        against local celebrities during the main portion of the
                                        evening.

Band Miami's Band
Entertainment Hot Jam
Entertainment Jorge Moreno
Event Planner, Public Relations The Agency
Event Production, Lighting, Sound Pete Diaz Productions
Janitorial Services South Florida Maintenance Services Inc.
Linens Over the Top Rental Party Linens

Rentals Soiree Event Rentals
Venue Miami Beach Convention Center