a newsletter for alumni and friends of Broward College

BE OUR GUEST

On Thursday, November 14, Ramola Motwani, and her sons Nitin and Dev, leaders in the South Florida hospitality industry, hosted a sold-out gala that generated $300,000 in support of programming and student scholarships for the new R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Broward College. The Be Our Guest fundraiser, which attracted 300 guests to the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, celebrated the memory of Motwani family patriarch, Ramesh "Bob" Motwani, who passed away 25 years ago.

Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile and Ramola Motwani

"We’re so grateful for our many friends who attended this special gala event in honor of my late husband and our shared dream of growing, shaping and enhancing our industry," said Ramola Motwani, Chairwoman of Merrimac Ventures, the company she and Bob founded together. "We’re also very thankful for the many sponsors who supported the event so generously, particularly our title sponsor Greenberg Traurig."

Broward College students in the Hospitality Pathway
will benefit from the Motwani family's generosity.

In addition to title sponsor Greenberg Traurig, presenting sponsors included Falcone Group, Chieftain Residential, Dula-Kobusch Charitable Trust and Stearns Weaver. VIP sponsors were Bilzin Sumberg, Coastal and ES Windows. Champion and table sponsors included Adache Grouo Architects, Aria Development, Castle Group, Celebrity Cruises, Cube 3, Debt .com, E11EVENMIAMI, Fifteen Group, First Florida, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Educational Foundation, Hotwire|fision, Keefe McCullough, Las Olas Capital, ONE Sotheby's International Realty, One World Properties, Paramount, Rick Case Automotive Group, Schwartz Media Strategies, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Stiles Corporation. At least three of the sponsors were represented by Broward College alumni: Marc Grace of Keefe McCullough, Valerie Schonenberg of Rick Case Automotive Group, and Moises Acosta III of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Nitin Motwani

The successful Be Our Guest gala built on the Motwani family's already significant commitment to Broward College through the Broward College Foundation. Earlier this year, they created an endowment in support of the College’s hospitality and tourism management program, which was named the R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Broward College's Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the Broward College Foundation Nancy O'Donnell-Wilson, Dev Motwani, and Broward College Foundation Chair Bacardi Jackson

"Thanks to the investment made by the Motwani family, Broward College can continue to provide exceptional educational experiences for our students, which results in top talent available to the industry," said Nancy O’Donnell-Wilson, Broward College Vice President for Advancement and Broward College Foundation Executive Director. "As we grow the Academy, the Motwanis are also engaging industry leaders, many of whom attended the 'Be Our Guest' gala, illustrating their strong commitment to the future of the hospitality and tourism industry here in South Florida."

The Shane Duncan Band kept the capacity crowd
entertained well into the evening.

The R. Motwani Family Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Broward College is managed by Dr. Paul Moore, Dean of the Business Pathway, Dr. Thomas Walker, Dean of Academic Affiars for Business at North Campus, Dr. Jesus Fernandez, Associate Dean for Business Administration, and Dr. Robert Donato.

BROWARD COLLEGE NAMED TOP 150 U.S. COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The Aspen Institute has just announced that Broward College was named a Top 150 U.S. Community College and is eligible for a 2021 Aspen prize! Broward College has earned a top ten finalist ranking by Aspen three times since the prize was launched.

The 150 community colleges named to compete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on student outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural and suburban areas, serving as few as 500 students and as many as 75,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. The top ten finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2020. Read more about this honor.

LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON SERIES: SELF CARE FOR LEADERS

Please join Broward College Alumna Nerissa Street for a lively discussion during the inaugural presentation of the Leadership Luncheon Series. Nerissa is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker who knows that great leadership starts with a compelling story, and that can change the world.

As a founding committee member of the Artist As an Entrepreneur Institute, founder of Girls Call the Shots Teen Media Mentorship Project and the creator of the Be Your Own Answer: Self Care for Leaders series, Street empowers her audience to take ownership of their personal growth and transcendence as she shares her book, 31 Days of Yes!

This event is on Tuesday, November 19, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Bailey Hall Café at 3501 SW Davie Road in Davie. Lunch will be served at noon — price is $10 in advance and $20 at the door. Preregistration is encouraged. This event is open to all Alumni & Friends of Broward College. Please respond by November 15.

 

FOUNDATION BOARD REAPPOINTMENTS

The Broward College Foundation reappointed five members of its board of directors to additional terms of service during its September 26 meeting

John A. Benz	Jarett S. Levan	Beverly J. Yanowitch

Appointed to a second term of three years’ duration were John A. Benz, former President and CEO at Community Care Plan, Jarett S. Levan, President of BBX Capital, and Beverly J. Yanowitch, who served as the Foundation’s financial consultant for 11 years.

Ann S. Porterfield		Derrick S. Roberts, Esq.

Appointed to a third term of two years’ duration were Ann S. Porterfield, whose relationship with the College goes back many years, and Derrick Roberts, Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General.

Harlan Hodes, Executive Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton Investments and a Foundation director in good standing, was named to honorary, non-voting status.

The Broward College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the officially designated means of making private, charitable contributions to Broward College. Its purpose is to change lives through education by providing community awareness, advocacy and funding to the College. Members of the Foundation’s volunteer board of directors work closely with the College’s Office of Advancement to raise money to support scholarships, academic programs and learning facility enhancements. We believe every person who is determined to change their life through the pursuit of higher education should be afforded that opportunity. Go online for more information.

ALUMNI EVENT: HOLIDAY BEACH SWEEP

Join us at the corner of Las Olas Boulevard and A1A in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 14 at 9 a.m. for the BC Alumni Care Holiday Beach Sweep!

 

We will be given buckets and pickers and meet back at the starting point, and our results will be sorted and measured as a team. The categories are recyclables, straws, cigarette butts, and trash. Let's do this and have our beaches looking gorgeous for the holidays. Registration is free. Please wear anything (shirt, tank top, etc.) that's "Broward Blue" for our photo op. Your family and friends are welcome and encouraged to join us.

Participants may take advantage of complimentary parking in the Las Olas Intracoastal Garage, 6th floor.

ALUMNI CONNECT HAPPY HOUR

The Broward College Alumni & Friends Network hosted an Alumni Connect Happy Hour at the Riverside Market Plantation on November 6.

 

This is one of several events organized to engage alumni with Broward College.

33rd ANNUAL BROWARD COLLEGE GOLF CLASSIC

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club. Additional information is forthcoming.

BAILEY HALL PRESENTS

Classical, international and jazz music, independent cinema, theatre, dance – there’s something for everyone! Go online and see what’s in store.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS NETWORK

Check out the benefits on the Alumni & Friends Network site. One of them is insurance through GEICO. The Broward College Foundation benefits from each quote requested. To make your request for a quote count, identify yourself as an affiliate of Broward College at the beginning of the process. Even if you decide not to purchase your insurance through them, GEICO will credit your activity to the foundation's tally.

Did you know you could save money, save time, and help students become Empowered by Broward all at once? When you buy your gifts, clothing, food, and other products through Amazon Smile, you can direct a percentage of your purchase to the Broward College Foundation and support the students at Broward College.

Prices on Amazon Smile are identical to those on the regular Amazon site. You’ll enjoy the same convenience and help make a student’s dream of higher education a reality.

Learn how easy it is to set up your Amazon Smile account.

PROVIDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

When you include the Broward College Foundation in your financial and estate planning, you ensure your legacy of providing opportunity to students who are determined to change their lives through the pursuit of higher education. Help someone become Empowered by Broward!

For more information, email Scott Rivinius or call 954-201-7490.