EN LA COMUNIDAD
Spanish Heritage Project “ The Love of Spain ”
C omposer / Pianist Robert Moffa , founder of the “ AMERICAN IDEALS FOUNDATION INC .,” has created a project that will benefit the Tampa Bay area . The project ’ s name is the “ SPANISH HERITAGE PROJECT ,” and the theme is “ THE LOVE OF SPAIN .” This foundation is 23 years old , based in Florida and has contributed a great deal to the arts . The goal of the foundation is to recognize all the arts ( visual , performing , literary and dance ) and promote the artists .
The large national project that Moffa originated and co-founded was the creation of one of our latest National Memorials , “ THE NATIONAL FARMERS ’ MEMORIAL .” Moffa composed the music for this project , a five movement orchestral suite , “ THE AMERICAN FARMER ”. Moffa conducted the Kansas City Symphony in the world premier of this historical music . The “ AMERICAN IDEALS FOUNDATION ” and Moffa received much recognition from this event . The 99th Congress
A Letter from the King of Spain , regarding this monumental project : The Love of Spain ” sent to Mr . Robert Moffa .
By MARY BRADBURN , President of the “ AMERICAN IDEALS FOUNDATION INC ”
recorded his efforts in the Congressional Record .
The Spanish Heritage project was a dream of Moffa ’ s for over 12 years . He first presented the idea to Ybor City resident , musician , and performer , the late Alberto Carbonnal . Alberto loved the idea and met with Moffa several times in Ybor City . After Alberto ’ s death , Moffa stopped work on the project . When I became president of the foundation in 2004 , I was able to revive Moffa ’ s love and interest in this noble endeavor , “ THE LOVE OF SPAIN ”.
The project will have about a two year journey with monthly promotional activities . The finale will be a two and a half hour performance in Tampa with his own “ AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ”. This concert will have dance , classic Spanish music , and the Romantic / Contemporary Spanish music composed by Moffa . October 2008 is the target date for this aggressive project ’ s finale , of the arts and businesses , recognizing our Spanish Heritage .
This project is going to take a community effort involving all organizations , clubs , businesses , corporations and individuals in the Ybor City , and Tampa Bay area .
If you would like to learn more about this project and the foundation , please call to attend a future meeting . 1-813-641-2513 .
Tito Nieves Live @
Summer Fest 07
M y name is Margo Sultenfuss , when I was in the sixth grade , my ninth grade sister and I organized The Gift of Food project to benefit a local food bank called RCS . We had heard about the problems the RCS Food Bank was having in the wake of the 9 / 11 attack in New York when the director spoke at our church . The food bank feeds 4,000 people monthly , mostly single working mothers and their children , and funds were drying up . We decided to do something and created a charity organized and run by students to raise money for the food bank to buy food in bulk .
We thought that our initial goal was ambitious for 11 and 14 year old sisters : $ 500 . But the community surprised us with its generosity , and we raised over $ 14,500 . Excited by the success , we began to recruit friends from local schools to help us . The next year we raised $ 22,500 , and the year after that over $ 31,000 . To date we have raised over $ 120,000 for the food bank , all the money used exclusively for food , and have 13 core student volunteers . The Gift of Food soon became the food bank ’ s largest cash contributor , and I was appointed to the board of directors when I was 12 . It was interesting to see firsthand what serious business running a charity really is .
In 2005 , we started an endowment for the Food Bank , planning to raise $ 200,000.00 . The endowment is funded through an annual concert called Summerfest as well as grants and contributions . In its first year the plan generated almost $ 30,000 . This year ’ s Summerfest Concert will be an International Music and Food festival . This year ’ s entertainment line-up will feature exciting cultural performances and includes a LIVE performance by the legendary Grammy winner Tito Nieves as well as several other great performers . Join us and enjoy an array of delicious cultural dishes , dance lessons and performances , and an international line-up of performers which includes Mariachi ’ s , Cumbia Bands , Merengue , Reggae , Salsa and much , much more . This year ’ s event will also offer an exciting foreign film festival and art exhibits !
Event Schedule : Saturday , April 21 , 2007 . 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM . The event will take place at the Largo Cultural Center and is free to the public . For information on how your company can be a part of this event , please contact : ( 727 ) 586-6267 .
8 LATINTIMES www . latin-times . com a publication for the elite latino