Key Biscayne, FL – October 16, 2022 – Meg Nocero, the founder of S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc., hosted the fifth installment of its one-of-kind community event entitled S.H.I.N.E. Bright Ball on October 16, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:33 p.m. in the beautiful ballroom at the Rusty Pelican with her Board of Directors Frank Simone, Esq., Aimee Nocero, Esq., and Team S.H.I.N.E. Hon. Denise Lane, Lisa Rosen, Julissa Polanco, Berta Medina, Mike Zubi, Jadee Giudice, Alejandra Rodriguez, Cristina McGarvie, Selsy Soto, Julissa Polanco, Tanya Mikaela, Randee Lehrer, Nikki Hamer, Dr. Jessica Mosley, Laura Kelley, Jessica Quesada and volunteers Ava Simone, Emma Sundblad, Cami Echeverri, Ceci Alwine.
The theme was “You I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D.,” with an invitation to embrace your inner shine with Lola’s Events S.H.I.N.E. Bright Ball photo booth, claim your tiara, and celebrate from the start as Joanne Jones entertained during the networking hour with lite jazz. Decorations by Eva Bayas of Fun Inspiration Events set an incredible scene with a golden butterfly tunnel and a red carpet leading to the S.H.I.N.E. step and repeat decorated by wisteria. Then, on to an elegant stage with the word INSPIRED in bright lights, themed balloons, the gorgeous floral decor at each table, giant S.H.I.N.E. letters, and Lady S.H.I.N.E.’s Society Papers. Our sponsors, Diana Gilbert with Kendra Scott Jewelry, She She’s Closet, Rose B. Thompson P.A., and Teadora Mitova of Zartgefuhl Natural Cosmetics, engaged our guests followed by the best D.J. in South Florida, Lawrence Newberg inviting all to Brunch moving to the Bridgerton Ball Theme. Up-and-coming Broadway star Ava Simone called everyone to attention by singing Funny Girl’s “Don’t Rain on my Parade.”
Inspired in 2014 by Oprah’s immensely successful “The Life You Want Conference,” since 2015, Meg Nocero and Team S.H.I.N.E. have invited the community to Claim their Tiara, Journey to Bliss, Dream, Believe, Create, S.H.I.N.E. Love, S.H.I.N.E. Happy and now S.H.I.N.E. Bright. We also celebrated our 2022 win of the Bronze Award for Best Networking/Community Organizations in the Education, Art, & Culture category from the Inaugural Anthem Awards for its 4th installment: S.H.I.N.E. Love: Love is all We Need. Together, it has been an honor to unite our strengths and talents and serve each other in our community with excellence in mind and start a ripple effect beyond our wildest imaginations.
In that vein, S.H.I.N.E. Networking Inc., a Florida not-for-profit, awards educational scholarships to support and encourage young innovative leaders whose unique ideas offer solutions that make a difference in our community. They are called our S.H.I.N.E. Ambassadors. This honor went to S.H.I.N.E. Ambassadors Enzo Fouquet, a Senior at Mast Academy, and Gabriela McGrath Moreira, a Junior at Coral Gables Senior High, for Environmental Sustainability initiatives in South Florida. We also presented a donation to Betty Pena of SHINE MSD to support our 2019 S.H.I.N.E. Ambassadors, Andrea Pena & Sawyer Garrity’s, initiatives to help the community through the arts.
After all the challenges the last few years have given us, we invited our community to stand at the beginning of a new chapter- looking out over the horizon – time to celebrate and get inspired to live the incredible life of your dreams!
In addition to our S.H.I.N.E. Ambassadors, we also recognized leaders in our community. We presented Florida Green schools advocate Michele Drucker, Esq., with our 2022 S.H.I.N.E. Inspiration Award. This award is given in remembrance of the late Mary Jo Nocero in service to teamwork, encouraging strength of character, kindness to others, a solid faith in the greatest good, and a desire to make this world a better place. We presented #LoveForAll founder Raquel Giorgio for creating a movement of inclusion with our 2022 TAZ GROUT S.H.I.N.E. Good Neighbor Award. This award is given to honor the memory of Taz Grout, the daughter of 2015 S.H.I.N.E. speaker Pam Grout. Pam established the 222 Foundation, remembering her for creating relentlessly, loving fiercely, and doing quiet, kind things for the underdog.
Thank you to all the incredible sponsors who made this event possible: Platinum Sponsors include Dr. Mary Scanlon, D.O., The Allen Family, The Simone Family, & Florida Trust & Estate Counsel. Gold Sponsors include Butterflies & Bliss, L.L.C., Fun Inspiration Events, Inc., Lisa Lajes Rosen, P.A., The Law Offices of Sandra Echevarria, P.A., and our partner Kendra Scott. Silver Sponsors include Laura Kelley of The Joyful Attorney, Rose Thompson of Rose B. Thompson, P.A., Berta Medina of Dreamers Succeed, Pamsco, Inc., Julissa Polanco of Crown Connections, She She’s Closet, Cristina & Hair, Teadora Mitova of Zartgefuhl. Raffle Donors include Kathy Santangelo of Park City Granola Co., Albert Ghitis of RedBike, Sage Hoffman of Mary Kay, Jacky Maya of Healthy & Beautiful, Pavlova Express, Tim & Beth Fath of Miami Childrens Theater, Dea & Cathy Muhletaler, Lady D Lane, Tanya Mikaela, Meg Nocero of Butterflies & Bliss, L.L.C., Berta Medina of Dreamers Succeed, Laura Kelley of The Joyful Attorney, Cristina McGarvie, The Lisa Rosen Group, Diana Gilbert of Kendra Scott and Brigette Areces of Rusty Pelican. After a successful and uplifting event, we cannot wait to continue to inspire and do it again in 2023!