Sapoznik Presented its Public School Alumni Achievement Awards at the Event
On May 10, Sapoznik Insurance, a North Miami Beach-based employee benefits agency, helped to raise nearly $215,000 for The Education Fund, at the For the Love of Art Charity Auction and Alumni Celebration at the DoubleTree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center. At the event, hosted by The Education Fund, Sapoznik Insurance presented its Public School Alumni Achievement Awards, which recognize 25 of South Florida’s leading entrepreneurs, public servants and community leaders, all who graduated from Miami-Dade County public schools.
For the Love of Art Charity Auction, presented by Ocean Bank, supports and raises funds for The Education Fund. To date, The Education Fund has raised more than $46 million to support and improve public schools with an emphasis on designing and implementing innovative initiatives. The Education Fund’s largest fundraiser, showcases original student and teacher artwork, using materials from the nonprofit’s Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials, and hundreds of luxury items all up for bid with proceeds benefiting the district’s visual arts programs.
“The Education Fund is very near and dear to my heart, not only because I am a graduate of North Miami Beach High and a former award recipient, but because I believe in its mission - to provide private sector leadership and support for public education. It is important for companies to get involved in and support our community. I take great pride in honoring this year’s 25 individuals. They are amazing and a true testament that with a public school education, you can go on to achieve anything you want,” said Rachel Sapoznik, CEO and president of Sapoznik Insurance, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The 2017 Sapoznik Insurance Public School Alumni Achievement Award honorees are
- Suzanne Batlle, owner, Azucar Ice Cream
- Anthony Brunson, president & CEO, Anthony Brunson P.A.
- Marisel Caceres, vice president, All Florida Paper
- Rachel Diaz, professor, Johnson & Wales University
- Isabel Espinosa, manager, Recruitment and Employee Services, Carnival Cruise Line
- Anne Marie Estevez, partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
- Rudy Fernandez, chief of staff to president, vice president for Government/Community Relations, University of Miami
- The Honorable Rene Garcia, senator, Florida State Senate
- Pamela Garrison, registered nurse, Jackson Memorial, Baptist, South Miami, and Doctors Hospitals
- Taffy Gould, chairman & founder, Oceania University of Medicine
- Gerald E. Greenberg, founding partner, Gelber Schachter & Greenberg, P.A.
- James Haj, president & CEO, The Children’s Trust
- Udonis Haslem, professional basketball player, Miami Heat
- Marco Leyte-Vidal III, senior regulatory counsel, Assurant
- Alex Macias, managing partner & chief operating officer, Macias Advertising
- Marcos Macias, president & chief creative officer, Macias Advertising
- Carol Marbin Miller, senior investigative reporter, Miami Herald
- Nancy Mulshine, director, IT Operations, NextEra Energy
- Darrell Payne, partner, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.
- Randy Peters, commercial relationship manager, Senior Vice President, BB&T
- Barbara Ronda, chief administrative officer, UHealth - University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
- Rosa Santiago, president, The Kirk Foundation
- Gretchen Schmidt, editor, Edible South Florida
- Emilie Sobel, social media manager, Social Thinkking and Blogger, Soul in Stilettos
- Melissa McCaughan White, executive director, Key Biscayne Community Foundation
About Sapoznik Insurance
Sapoznik Insurance is an employee benefits agency focusing on health and wellness education and personal accountability for health. As the largest employee benefits agency and one of the largest independently owned agencies in the South Florida region, Sapoznik Insurance partners with businesses which truly care about their employees. The company transforms its wellness expertise into a healthier bottom line for its clients. The agency was founded in 1987 by native Miamian and published author, Rachel Sapoznik. For more information, call 1.877.948.8887, visit www.sapoznik.com or email info@sapoznik.com.
