organizations chosen by their customers.
This Community Harvest program has
donated more than $1.6 million to nonprofit
organizations throughout the state over the
past 17 years.
Tom James, the executive chair of
Raymond James Financial and the Chi
Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, was
recognized as a Tampa Bay Lightning
Community Hero for which he received
a $50,000 donation to give back to the
community. He shared the Lightning’s
donation with All Children’s Hospital,
Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa General
Hospital and the Chi Chi Rodriguez
Academy.
Stephen H. Heller, board president
of the Community Dental Clinic, which
was established in October, 2012 and
began seeing patients in September, 2013,
has announced that Allison Sapiega is
their new executive director. The Clinic,
which partners with the Salvation Army of
Clearwater, the Clearwater Free Clinic and
The Arc of Tampa Bay, strives to supply the
unmet dental requirements of the needy
and underserved of North Pinellas County.
Julio Esquivel was officially announced
as a Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture
and the Arts IMPACT Awards 2015
honoree during a reception hosted by
Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP in
Tampa, where he is managing partner.
Amy Pfaelzer has opened Beach
House Gallery at 638 Skinner Boulevard
in Dunedin, which sells coastal home décor
and accessories, as well as fine art, vintage
treasures, handcrafted jewelry and more.
Raphael J. Sciullo, president and CEO
of Empath Health’s integrated network
of care headquartered in Clearwater,
announced the opening of the new
HOME 3050 at First Avenue South in
St. Petersburg. The Tampa Bay region’s
first-of-its kind HIV/AIDS comprehensive
Clara Reynolds, the Crisis
Center of Tampa Bay’s
new president and CEO,
was congratulated by Gary
Weisman, the board chair
of this nonprofit provider
of critical services to those
in need, during a reception
held in her honor at the
Tampa Bay History Center
in Tampa.
medical home’s creation is the result of a
partnership between nonprofit HIV care
providers Empath Health’s ASAP (AIDS
Service Association of Pinellas) and Bay
Care’s Pinellas Care Clinic.
Thomas H. Farquhar, board chair of
The Florida Orchestra, reported that
the Orchestra, which has increased paid
attendance by 34% and households served
by 67%, looks forward to growing even
stronger financially and artistically during
the upcoming inaugural season of its new
artistic leader and Music Director Michael
Francis, as well as its Principal Guest
Conductor Stuart Malina and Principal
Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik. They will
lead the Orchestra, as it continues with
its innovative “pop-up concerts” and
doubles the number of its educational
Youth Concerts.
Jeff Eakins, the Hillsborough County
school district’s new superintendent,
appointed Alberto Vazquez, the former
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg’s
school superintendent, as his new chief
of staff.
Diane Gilman, Home Shopping
Network’s longest running and number
one fashion personality, was honored with
a luncheon at the Sundial in St. Petersburg,
which was attended by HSN’s CEO Mindy
Grossman, HSN host Colleen Lopez
and television star and HSN host Kirstie
Alley, as well as by other HSN dignitaries
and guests.
Jane Sweeney, owner of MJ Fashions
& Gifts in Dunedin has been elected the
new president of the Dunedin Chamber
of Commerce.
Stephanie Gularte, the new producing
artistic director of American Stage, will
make her Tampa Bay area directional debut
with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright
Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel that runs
from September 16th through October 4th
to open the 2015-2016 Season at American
Stage.
Jerry N. Smith has become the new
chief curator at the Museum of Fine
Joe Cappello and his daughter Jennifer Cappello Spaulding celebrated their Grand Opening following
the move of Cappello & Co., their family-owned, full-service jewelry store to a larger, freestanding
location at 12941 Park Boulevard in Seminole.
70 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015