Foundation History – 2012 CGCF Annual Report
On June 17, 1991, a group of community leaders met to create the Coral Gables Community Foundation: Kent Abney, Donna Abood, Jim Barker, Bob Bauchman, Jeanne Becker, Willy Bermello, Tom Bovee, Tom Bradley, Gabe Bustamante, David Case, Tom Chegin, Terry Claus, Denny Fast, Michael Fong, Gail Goggin, Willie Gonzalez, Seth Gordon, Mort Guilford, Allan Heard, Roberta Hulce, Joel Karp, Bill Kerdyk, Jr., Michael Lewis, David Lieberman, Kay Little, Elliott Lowenstein, Derek Lyth, Steve
Magenheimer, Lolita Manchero, Lee Mandell, Victoria Mendaro, Ralph V. Moore Jr., Mel Morganstern, Janelle Patty, Georgian Prats, Ron Robison, Neil Rollnick, David Rowe, Laura Russo, Jerry Santeiro, Ron Shuffield, Walt Stanton, Karl Steene, Ron Stone, Cathy Swanson, Bud Thompson, Bob Trescott, Eileen Vargas, Guillermo Villar, Ellen Wacher, Dorothy Weaver, and David Wind.
Established in August 1991 as the “Greater South Florida Charitable And Educational Foundation, Inc.”, the Foundation’s first officers were: Wendell E. Ray PRESIDENT, Len Pagano VICE PRESIDENT, Gabriel Bustamante, TREASURER, and Susan McMahon, SECRETARY.
In September of 1991, the Foundation’s name was changed to “Coral Gables Foundation”, and the new officers were: Ronald W. Robison PRESIDENT, David R. Winick, VICE PRESIDENT, L. Kent Abney VICE PRESIDENT, Thomas J. Bradley TREASURER, and Melvin C. Morganstern, SECRETARY. The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce played a key role in establishing the Foundation. The first Foundation offices were housed in the Chamber, and the Chamber provided a $16,700 loan to cover start-up administrative costs. According to the Foundation’s first Chair, Willy Bermello, “Without the Chamber’s leadership and foresight, the Foundation would not have been possible.”
Mr. Bermello’s leadership, along with support from other business leaders, such as Albert H. Friedman (the late “Mr. Miracle Mile”) forged a long lasting friendship between the Chamber and the Foundation.
On June 15, 1995, the Foundation’s Board voted to change the name of the Foundation to “Coral Gables Community Foundation” in order to better describe its purpose, and to distinguish it from private foundations.
For more than 20 years, the Coral Gables Community Foundation has worked to improve the quality of life in Coral Gables by addressing community issues, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to critical, local needs such as education, culture, and historical preservation. Over $4 million has been awarded since 1991.
