By: SEBASTIAN PHILLIPS
Through its support for the Coral Gables Tour of Kitchens, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty is helping to groom tomorrow’s generation of chefs.
When Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty looks to get involved in a philanthropic cause, the company ensures said cause adheres to its corporate ethos of working with entities that help the communities Berkshire is part of. That’s why the Coral Gables Community Foundation (CGCF) checked all the boxes. After all, the charming Spanish-Mediterranean homes of the Gables’ tree-lined streets make up a significant amount of Berkshire’s listings in South Florida, and no other entity does more philanthropic work in said city than the CGCF.
“We are privileged to have the generous support of Berkshire,” says Mary Snow, president, and CEO of the CGCF, which was established as a nonprofit in 1991. “Their year-to-year support is invaluable.”
In its 31 years of operation, the CGCF has, through its discretionary, donor-advised, and scholarship funds, helped youth, elderly, and disabled people in South Florida by providing dental care for children in need, sponsoring cultural activities and music scholarships. One of the foundation’s signature (and most popular) events is the Tour of Kitchens, wherein Gables residents open their homes to ticketholders to showcase their magazine-quality kitchens. At each of these homes, guests mingle over hors d’oeuvres and champagne as they enjoy various happenings along the way. Proceeds from the culinary gathering help the CGCF’s scholarship initiatives, including the Culinary Arts Program and its students at Coral Gables Senior High (young men and women who have shown a desire to pursue careers in the culinary arts).
As Ron Shuffield, president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty, sees it, underwriting the Tour of Kitchens makes plain altruistic sense. “Since we are in the business of assisting home buyers and sellers with their real estate needs and purchases, the Tour is an ideal event for us to be part of,” he says.
“The South Florida community is well-known for the culinary skills of its top chefs. And the culinary instructional opportunities being offered to these students not only strengthen the economic base of our entire community but also provide solid lifelong income opportunities for them.”
As was expected, the most recent Tour of Kitchens drew large crowds and increased ticket sales, which years from now will translate to dozens of professional dreams coming true. This brings a big smile to Snow’s face. “The event provides the perfect marriage for two organizations to come together and [help the youth of South Florida],” she says. “The support of Berkshire Hathaway makes all this possible.”