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USF Celebrates the Mumas
The University of South Florida’s billion-dollar “Unstoppable”
fundraising campaign reached $1,034,668,503, as USF System President
Judy Genshaft and USF Foundation CEO Joel Momberg welcomed
Pam and Les Muma to the stage during a recent celebratory event in
Tampa. The Mumas, who attended USF as students, announced their
new $15 million gift to the university. The money will benefit three areas
there — the business school, the athletics programs and the school’s
health programs. The Mumas are the largest cumulative individual
donors to USF at more than $56 million. This new gift will be divided
between the Muma College of Business, a women’s health center at
Tampa General Hospital and the rest to USF Athletics, with $5 million
targeted for a new football center. The Mumas let everyone know that
the “Unstoppable” campaign, which began in 2009 and reached its
initial goal in 2013, is not over. Go Bulls.
USF System President Judy Genshaft and USF Foundation
CEO Joel Momberg applauded the $15 million gift given by
Pam and Les Muma.
MATT MAY
Sartori Wines
at Alfano’s
Alfano’s Restaurant in Clearwater
invited guests recently to a wine
dinner called “Venetian Nights: The
Evolution of Amarone.” At the six-course
meal, wine ambassador Luciano Castiello
discussed the four wines from Sartori Di
Verona Wines in Italy that were being
paired with the food. Guests savored
Sartori’s Ferdi Bianco with Frutti di
Mare, seafood baked in parchment;
their Valpolicella with Risotto ai Funghi,
mushroom risotto in a cheese wheel;
Satori’s Amarone with Lasagne con Agnello
e Bessciamella, pasta squares in béchamel
sauce; and Corte Bra Amarone with Osso
Bucco, veal with white beans. Encore!
Ruth Eckerd Thanks Tiedeman and Cotton
38 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
Kate Tiedeman, left,
and Ellen Cotton
were honored
by Ruth Eckerd
Hall’s President
Zev Buffman for
their meaningful
contribution to
the hall during a
reception in the
hall’s Murray
Theatre.
An Evening with Nick Dukas
Nick Dukas sang the soundtrack of his life
at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater to a
soldout house to fulfill his lifelong dream.
Olivia Romano opened the show, followed
by Tanya Lewis and her daughter. Once Nick
took the Murray Theatre stage, it was a trip
through his musical life, from the songs that
earned him medals from the Global Music
Awards organization to the Greek music of
his youth and the rock ‘n’ roll songs that he
first performed as a teenager. The audience
enjoyed these great performances.
Nick Dukas and his wife Connie met
when he was performing at a resort
while she was still in high school.
Chefs Frank and Linda Alfano served
mushroom risotto that was finished in a
huge wheel of Grana Padano cheese.
Kate Tiedeman and Ellen Cotton have donated $1.5 million to Ruth Eckerd Hall in
Clearwater for its ongoing expansion. The gift will be used to fund a 250-seat cabaret
theater in the hall’s new lobby area, where students will have an opportunity to
perform prior to regular performances. Zev Buffman, the president of Ruth Eckerd
Hall, said the theater will be named in honor of these two generous and wellknown
philanthropists.
NORAA
GRAM
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