Reid & Florentino Acordis Call of the Game Dinner Honors South Florida’s Sporting and Community Heroes
On Saturday, April 9, 2016, the Acordis Call Of The Game Dinner brought together some of the region’s biggest names in sports and entertainment for the Reid & Fiorentino annual benefit dinner supporting two of the most recognized Florida-based non-profit organizations – Lauren’s Kids and Dade Schools Athletic Foundation. Hosted by longtime Fox Sports Sun HEAT TV broadcasters, Eric Reid and Tony Fiorentino, the Call Of The Game Dinner honored leading sports icons and philanthropic heroes for their achievements both on and off the playing field.
More than 800 guests attended the sold-out affair at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida emceed by Johanna Gomez. Following the cocktail reception, guests entered the seating area of Hard Rock Live which had been transformed into a beautifully decorated ballroom with plush dark draping and Britto art adorning the room. At the center of each table was an electric guitar centerpiece painted by famed artist Romero Britto – which guests could purchase as the ultimate keepsake.
Nationally renowned sportscaster Dick Stockton received the Sonny Hirsch Excellence in Sports Broadcasting Award. Named after the longtime voice of the Miami Hurricanes, the award honors an outstanding sport broadcaster who has had a great impact in their field, while making notable accomplishments within the community.
Other 2016 Award Honorees were Pat Riley, Miami Heat Coach winning the Don Shula Sports Legend Award; Matt Sandusky, winning the Ted Arison Community Service Award; and Troy Vincent, Miami Dolphins CB, winning the Jim Mandich Courage & Commitment Award.
At the heart of this event, two charities: Lauren’s Kids and the Dade Schools Athletic Foundation (DSAF). benefited from the generosity of all that attended.
Lauren’s Kids Lauren’s Kids is a Florida-based organization aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and healing survivors through education and awareness. It was started by Lauren Book, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who endured abuse at the hands of her nanny for six years. Most recently, Lauren’s Kids received $3.8 million from the Florida Legislature to develop and implement the state’s first-ever sexual abuse prevention curriculum called Safer, Smarter Kids. Additionally, her organization offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, an annual awareness walk and speaking engagements.
Dade County Athletic Foundation
The Dade Schools Athletic Foundation is a 501(c)3 created in 1994 through the Miami Dade County School Board to allow the private sector to support and augment the athletic programs in the Miami-Dade County Public School system. Miami-Dade schools operate their athletic programs with very few actual tax dollars with the majority of funds being raised by the principals, athletic directors and coaches. Every school has been forced to eliminate programs and severely restrict the number of students who can participate in athletics at every level.
Funds raised by the Foundation are passed on directly to Dade County public high schools as well as middle school athletic programs to provide grants for the purchase of equipment, uniforms, and training aids. In addition, the DSAF annually provides scholarships for outstanding student-athletes.
Dick Stockton, pictured below, after receiving the Sonny Hirsch Excellence in Sports Broadcasting Award.
Pictured below are Lauren Book, M.S.ED. – Founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, along with Ronald Book, P.A. – President of Lauren’s Kids.
