DAR honors mother for preservation work; brothers seek student volunteers for camp
Mothers can do anything they set their minds to do. They can passionately and tirelessly raise children and grandchildren, and they can also do the same to make change in their community.
Frances “Dolly” MacIntyre is one of those mothers.
At 85, still active in The Villagers and Dade Heritage Trust, she was honored with the prestigious preservation award given by the Daughters of the American Revolution. This important national award is presented to “a person who has done extraordinary volunteer work over a long period of time,” as stated in the notification letter.
“She is a titan of preservation in our community and I could not be prouder to have recommended and presented her with this National Award,” said Coral Gables DAR Chapter Regent Dana Pezoldt who gave the certificate and medal to a surprised MacIntyre during a recent meeting.
“The DAR honors her life’s work of preserving, saving, and practically standing in the path of the wrecking ball to protect some of Miami’s most historic places,” Pezoldt said.
“I am truly grateful she created many preservation policies along with amazing organizations and institutions to continue this important work for years to come through The Villagers and Dade Heritage Trust. By being a member, Dolly brings her vast historical knowledge, wisdom, and guidance to the preservation work that still needs to be done.”
MacIntyre joined the DAR-Coral Gables chapter over a year ago after waiting many years to break through some challenging barriers in proving her lineage to a Revolutionary patriot.
She is a charter member of The Villagers, our area’s oldest preservation organization founded in 1966. She was also at the forefront of the establishment of Dade Heritage Trust in 1972.
MacIntyre’s leadership enabled the important documentation of historic sites in Miami-Dade County, as well as education programs and tours for students, educators, elected officials, and the general public.
Always fully committed, MacIntyre has donated personal funds to preserve and restore sites. She has personally advocated to recognize and save often-hidden historic gems in Miami-Dade through her “powers of persuasion and quiet influence.” Get involved at www.thevillagersinc.org.
Brothers to run STEAM camp
Students Helping Hands MB is the brainchild of brothers Jonathan and David Tamen, both 19, who grew up in Miami Beach and want to give back to their community.
They recently received a $10,000 grant from the Davis Foundation Projects for Peace to run a four-week STEAM enrichment camp for low income and underrepresented students in a partnership with the City of Miami Beach Parks & Recreation.
Now, they just need help from student volunteers who want to assist in the mentoring program.
High school students looking for a fun, meaningful opportunity can earn up to 150 Community Service hours. A limited number of paid positions are also available for college students who are bilingual and/or are majoring in education, film, or STEM.
The four-week program will run June 20 to July 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at rotating park facilities of the City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation. It aims to support low-income students with hands-on STEAM learning activities during the City’s regular summer day camp programming. Each week, 60 campers will participate.
“It is not a level playing field for struggling students,” Jonathan said. “While I am appreciative of my educational opportunities – what of peers who slipped through the cracks because of language, financial, immigration and family issues? Had someone helped them, they, too, could be in college.”
Jonathan is an economics major at Clark University in Worcester, MA. David is a mechanical engineering major at Boston University.
The brothers graduated in June 2022 from Miami Beach Senior High School where they helped launch a FIRST Robotics team and started a 3D Printing Club that made 3D-printed prosthetics for children missing limbs in Haiti.
Jonathan also created and led a community outreach program that brought high school volunteers to a Title 1 elementary school to teach robotics and coding.
“For many of us, that was the highlight of our week when we got to mentor the third graders,” Jonathan said. “I want to duplicate the success of that program with our summer enrichment camp.”
Proud mom Joan Tamen said, “Jonathan enjoys engaging and empowering others, while David, who is playfully called ‘our engineer’ makes things happen.”
Together, they selected the educational materials for the 4th and 5th grade students to build a Smart City and explore STEM careers while learning about climate change, solar energy, and sustainability.
David will also lead workshops on 3D printing for middle schoolers in the final week of the program.
“Maybe because we shared a bedroom for 18 years,” said David. “But we have always been each other’s biggest supporter. I might spend hours at my 3D printers and have engineering expertise, but it is Jonathan who sees the potential in making a difference.”
Interested high school and college students can email volunteer@helpinghandsmb.org. There is a one-week to four-week commitment. Volunteers must complete background checks with the City of Miami Beach two weeks before the start of camp. To see past projects, visit www.helpinghandsmb.org
Orchestra plans fundraiser
Orchestra Miami’s Spring Fundraiser on May 20 will be an evening of food, fun and music to benefit the community group founded in 2006 by Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi.
It begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvre, and musical toasts from operas “Hamlet” and “Don Giovanni” performed by Philip Kalmanovitch. At 7 p.m., dinner will be served with a performance of Bernstein’s song cycle “La Bonne Cuisine” performed by tenor Gerardo José Ortega.
Then at 8 p.m., there will be decadent French chocolate cake accompanied by a performance of Lee Hoiby’s one-act opera “Bon Appétit!” in which Erika Vasallo stars as master chef Julia Childs.
Tickets are $100 per person for drinks/dinner/dessert. If you can’t make it for the full evening come for dessert. For $25, you can enjoy Hoiby’s comic opera along with access to the cash bar and a slice of cake.
The event is at the Miami Scottish Rite Temple, 471 NW 3rd St. For more, and to buy tickets, visit www.OrchestraMiami.org or call 305-274-2103.
Reach out to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column
This story was originally published May 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM.