Lyric Society Impresarios
88 | FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
season
TRUST, MARY SHORT, PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE
Five principal founders established the Mary Jane Harlow
Charitable Trust in December 2009; Mary Jane Harlow, Vera
Smith, Charles Lawson, Mary M. Short, and Eugene M. Short.
Mrs. Harlow and her family supported numerous charitable
causes in the arts, education, and children’s organizations. In
addition to her philanthropic involvement, Mary Jane was an
accomplished ice skating star who also found time to open and
manage a popular supper club in Beverly Hills, California.
The trust is presently managed by Mary M. Short, President
and Trustee. Under Mary’s direction, the Trust supports many
children’s activities, including the building of an organic garden and
playground at the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development
of Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The Trust also supports
the Cystic Fibrosis Gold Coast Guild, Royal Dames of Cancer
Research 1000+ Club, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment
Center, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project,
and United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO).
In addition, the Trust supports the Broward Center for the
Performing Arts, Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Inc., The
Crockett Foundation, Symphony of the Americas, and the Coral
Ridge Yacht Club Sailing and Water Sports Foundation, Inc.
The Trust also funds scholarships for exceptional children in
New Jersey, Florida, and Maryland and a scholarship for the
NSU Medical School. The Mary Jane Harlow Charitable Trust
commends Florida Grand Opera for its commitment to educational
opportunities for the children of South Florida.
Myriam, a native of Cali, Colombia is a great lover of the arts and
has a special place in her heart for the Florida Grand Opera.
Once established in Florida, Myriam became a season subscriber
of the Florida Grand Opera and this became one of the great
highlights of the year for her.
her horizons and obtain her college education in the States.
Myriam married and settled in Hartford Connecticut. In addition to
her various professional positions, Myriam is a very active volunteer.
She has been a translator in a maternity clinic for the disadvantaged
in the Spanish speaking community of Hartford; she has worked
with young children in a group home exposing them to games,
books and educational activities; thereby, giving their low income
mothers time to rest after a busy day at work. One of her favorite
volunteer opportunities has been as a teacher's aide at Village
Academy in Delray Beach, where she worked with kindergarten and
process expanding their world through play and reading.
Myriam believes in doing whatever she can do to make the world
a better place. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the causes she
believes in such as teaching tolerance and understanding among
places great importance on the value of early childhood education
and educational opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Myriam is a great contributor to many diverse charitable causes.
One contribution she is especially proud of is her "adoption" of
three youngsters in Kenya through Matanya's Hope who are now
thriving in the development of their careers. Other charities that are
important to Myriam include the Anti Defamation League, Children's
Hospital Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Jewish Theological
Seminary, World Jewish Congress, Donna Klein Jewish Academy,
Feeding South Florida, Mazon, Family Promise of South Palm
Beach County, Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Metropolitan
Opera in NYC and the Aspen Institute.
Myriam considers herself very blessed and is grateful to have a
wonder family including a son, daughter and four grandchildren.
Wishing the Florida Grand Opera a fabulous 79th season and more
grand ones to come!