10 DECEMBER 11, 2014
RIVER CITIES GAZETTE
Medley holds Toys for Tots reception
By BILL DALEY
Editor
Hundreds of toys and hundreds of dollars were donated to the U.S. Marines Toys
for Tots Foundation when, for the second
year in a row, the back terrace of Medley
Town Hall served as the perfect backdrop
for the Town of Medley Chamber of
Commerce’s annual Holiday Toys for Tots
Reception on Dec. 3.
The event was co-sponsored by
Sabadell Bank, Waste Management and
HDH Medical Centers, and all patrons
who paid the admission fee of $10 or an
unwrapped toy were greeted with delicious
hors-d’oeuvres, a full open bar and live
musical entertainment for the evening.
But the real stars of the evening were the
trio of United States Marines in attendance.
Corporal Jon Stroud, Sgt. Michael Laibe
and Sgt. Mark Gutierrez were all decked
out like a shiny penny in their full colors
and proudly hauled off the toys when the
evening was done. The toys eventually will
be distributed to needy children who otherwise wouldn’t have any toys under their
tree during the holiday season.
“This is an event very important to our
town because of the way it helps bring our
community together and such a tremendous thing the Marines do in coming here
tonight to make this so special,” said
Medley mayor Roberto Martell. “They’re
the ones who defend our freedom, so it’s
only fitting that they are here for this event
tonight. It’s also a credit to our local
Chamber of Commerce, which worked so
hard to put this event on along with the
support of the two co-sponsors, Sabadell
Bank and Waste Management. We want to
keep this going every year.”
After being founded just three years
ago, the Town of Medley Chamber of
Commerce has quickly gathered a great
deal of momentum and has a growing
membership that passed the century mark
during the past year. The Chamber also
has a new president in Gladys Perdome,
the bank manager at Sabadell. Perdomo
replaced outgoing president Juan Rubi,
who was primarily responsible for bringing the Toys for Tots event to Medley for
the first time a year ago.
“What a great cause, what a great
event,” said Perdomo. “I’m very happy
and excited to be working with the Town
of Medley to put on this terrific event.
We’ve had a lot of participation from so
many local businesses who donated so
many toys for the kids and, as a group, we
simply cannot ask for more.
“Children are our most precious resource
and it is our hope that every child knows the
joy of receiving a gift this holiday season.”
Numerous local dignitaries were in
attendance and eventually introduced
when Martell took the microphone to recognize everyone, including Sabadell executive vice president Carlos Bell.
“As part of our general commitment to
the local communities in which we have
locations, we always look to participate in
any events that foster community spirit,
development,” said Bell. “And certainly
this is one of the key relationships that we
have fostered at the bank, are privileged to
be a part of and wish to continue.”
Perdomo indicated that the Chamber
has every intention of making the event an
annual tradition.
“It’s amazing what we’ve been able to
do tonight and hopefully this will continue
because the potential in this town is
immeasurable,” said Perdomo. “Jose Marti,
our national figure in Cuba, once said that
children are the hope of our world and I’m
very glad that the Medley Chamber is supporting the hope of the world tonight.”
Flanked by U. S. Marines and showcasing some of the toys donated to Toys for Tots at the Medley
Chamber and Town of Medley Holiday Reception are (from left) Chamber Director Benny Hevia;
Councilwoman Griselia DiGiacomo; Vice Mayor Jack Morrow; Miss Florida 2014 Victoria Cowen;
Mayor Roberto Martell; Chamber President Gladys Perdomo; Chamber Vice President Andy
Abbate; Councilman Edgar Ayala; and Sabadell United Bank Executive Vice President Carlos Bell.
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