Hundreds of Casa Valentina supporters, including dignitaries, donors, sponsors, volunteers, families, children and even a few dogs, attended Casa Valentina’s Grand Opening on February 24, 2007. The Saturday afternoon backyard barbeque, held at our Coconut Grove property, celebrated the launch of Casa Valentina’s affordable housing and support services program for young women who age out of foster care.

On March 31, 2007, a complete landscape makeover took place at our Roads property. Joyce Meyers, one of our Board members, spearheaded an amazing volunteer project with friends and colleagues from St. Philip’s Church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Droves of volunteers spent the day beautifying the property by planting trees, plants and flowers, and cleaning and screening the backyard patio. The makeover was completed on Saturday May 5th when volunteers erected a beautiful, shaded canopy and delivered new patio furniture. Thank you to everyone involved!

“Home sweet home” was on everyone’s mind at Casa Valentina’s February 23, 2006 cocktail reception sponsored by Gibraltar Bank. More than 100 Casa Valentina supporters attended the cocktail reception and enjoyed passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks under a clear night sky on Gibraltar Bank’s outdoor terrace. At the party, Honorary Chairs Ellen Catsman Freidin and Julie Catsman Simon presented highlights of Casa Valentina’s extraordinary first year. Event Chairs Hollie Altman, Kadie Black and Kimberly Feinberg mingled with guests, and the Casa Valentina Leadership Team – Sharon Langer, Marcia Reisman, Susan Lampen, Lisa Schejola Akin, Sharon Socol and Claudia Kitchens – gave thanks and encouraged continued support for Casa Valentina’s housing and support services project.

On September 13, 2006, an "Extreme Makeover" took place at Casa Valentina’s newly purchased apartment building in Coconut Grove when nearly 100 BellSouth employee volunteers tackled several restoration projects to kick off their 2006 United Way/Hands on Miami campaign to help others. From sunrise to sunset, volunteers undertook countless tasks, including painting the building, landscaping the front and back yards, installing a fountain and wiring the building for phone and Internet services. The end result was a beautiful property – inside and out. Thank you to everyone involved!

On November, 21 2005, Casa Valentina produced an exclusive benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues. The sold-out performance was attended by more than 1,600 people and was performed by a local cast of notable South Floridians, including Patricia Ireland, Claudia Potamkin, Hunter Reno, Marleine Bastien, Tracy Wilson Mourning, Commissioners Sally Heyman and Katie Sorenson, Representative Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall and Senator Nan Rich. Eve Ensler also made a special appearance and performed an original and stirring monologue during the show. The extraordinary event brought much needed attention to our community’s most at-risk girls, and it raised an astounding $165,000 for Casa Valentina.