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Donna Karan headlined largest United Way Women's Leadership Breakfast

International fashion icon and philanthropist Donna Karan offered the keynote address to a record gathering of 1,200 women at the 11th Annual United Way Women’s Leadership Breakfast, Sept. 28, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. Since 2001, the community’s most powerful women gather at this annual breakfast, bringing together hearts and resources in support of United Way of Miami-Dade’s work in education, financial stability and health.

This year’s program included inspiring words from Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Debbie Wassermann Shultz; Women’s Leadership chair Gladys Reed and incoming chair Kathleen Woods-Richardson; breakfast co-chairs Sue Miller and her daughter Leslie Miller Saiontz; University of Miami President Donna Shalala; and United Way board chair, Jayne Abess among others.

In her keynote address, Karan explained that throughout her career in fashion design, she learned she needed to not only “dress people, but to address them,” which meant focusing on the heart, body and soul. She founded the Urban Zen Foundation in 2007 to focus on advancing wellness, preserving culture and empowering children and, “to create a community of consciousness and change.” Karan shared her passion for merging philanthropy with commerce and how currently she is collaborating with Haitian artisans as a means of helping the Haitian people rebuild their country.

Karan applauded the contributions of women gathered and the work of United Way of Miami-Dade. “It is through connecting and collaborating that we can create change,” Karan said.

Longtime supporters of United Way, Miller and her daughter Miller Saiontz shared their personal family history of being involved with United Way, and the importance of passing the spirit of giving and volunteering from generation to generation.

Reed, who currently spearheads the Women’s Leadership group, expressed her gratitude to all current members and welcomed new ones. Currently, there are 2,500 women members who contribute $1,000 or more annually to United Way and enjoy networking, volunteering and professional development opportunities, as well as a number of events.

In her salute to the breakfast attendees, Abess, who chairs the board of United Way, noted how the face of philanthropy was changing. “Strengthened by increasing economic power and education, women are the rising wave of philanthropists,” she added.

A short video told the story of six individuals whose lives were changed through the help of United Way. Danielle Cabo, a young woman featured in the video, thanked the audience for giving to United Way and in doing so, helping her overcome adversity, escape abuse, find shelter, a family and safety and today pursue her dreams of a college education.


Nohemi Alarcon, regional director of community relations and urban marketing for AETNA Health Inc., the presenting sponsor of this year’s breakfast, accepted a thank you plaque as a token of appreciation for their continued support. Also sponsoring the breakfast were: Assurant; BankUnited; Bijoux Terner; The Biltmore Hotel; Bilzin Sumberg; Covanta Dade Renewable Energy; Macy’s; Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP; UPS; Waste Management, Inc; Waste Services of Florida; World Waste Recycling; and media partners, The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald.

The breakfast raises funds to support United Way’s community plan, which focuses on education, financial stability and health, the United Way Endowment and the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education.


For more information, please email womensleadership@unitedwaymiami.org or call (305) 646-7031.

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