PRESIDENT'S CORNER

The Coral Gables Art Cinema is now a reality. This project has been in development since November of 2006.

If anyone had told me that this would have taken nearly four years to complete I would have dismissed this as totally ridiculous.  But then again if someone had said to me in 2006 we would have a financial crisis in our country, would still be two Wars, and that our political system would be tested to its limits, I would have also said impossible.

It is a testament to the determination of our community and its leaders that we have completed this project at a time like this.

I would like to commend and thank a number of people, organizations and companies.

Special thanks go to our Board of Directors and the Executive Advisory Committee for their loyalty and support. A Majority of our Board/EAC have made the commitment to become founders as well. Their names appear on our founder’s plaque to be installed shortly as a permanent way of recognizing their vision in making our dream a reality.

Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick and his Wife Jeannette have been great proponents, donors and founders of the theater since the inception of this idea. The Bacardi Corporation believed in us when there were so many skeptics for this we are forever grateful. The Perrin Fund of the Coral Gables Community Foundation was responsible for a $275,000 matching gift. This money was put into the Bricks and Mortar along with the City of Coral Gables who also invested over $250,000.00 in Bricks and Mortar and offered us a very low rental on the space for 20 years. Miami Dade County for our Wheel Chair lift, Portable stage and hearing impaired system which cost over $40,000.00 and to Magna-Tech Electronic Company who either gifted or enabled gifts of nearly $400,000 of furnishings and fixtures for our Cinema. Special thanks to the Law Firm of Bilzin Somberg for their Pro-Bono work on our legal matters along with Barry Chase who helped us create and obtain our 501c3 status with the IRS and to Ed Siler who prepared our Tax Returns Pro-Bono.

Where would we be without Board Member Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark who worked with us tirelessly for over three years to make the Cinema a reality.

I want to express special thanks to Board/EAC members and friends Susan Serrell, Melissa Bassett, David Smith, Mitchell Kaplan, Marshall Pasternack, Carmen Argamasilla, Irela Bague, Tony and Aura Reinhardt, Sergio Leymarie, John Challenor and Paul Posnak. Your support and advice are and continue to be a pillar of strength to our goal of creating a hub of Culture in the City of Coral Gables.

It is one thing to have an idea and another to execute the ideas. Our professional staff is second to none. Kudos to Robert Rosenberg, our Cinema Director, for all the hard work, dedication and loyalty, and to Dr. Charlie Micheals, our Project Manager. I would be remiss if I did not say a special word of thanks to Arturo Quintero our Design Consultant, Julio Urbay our Webmaster, Francisco Blanco our technical Director, and to our entire staff.

To all of you who have contributed so generously of your time and money thank you so very much.

Lastly to my wife Midge, who is also Chair of our Children's & Youth Committee, for continuing to support my efforts and to believe in my passion for the Cinema. None of this would have been possible without you.

Best Wishes,

Steven Krams
President