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Shoes That FitNeat Stuff Every Child Deserves |
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Special Affairs MagazineThe Philanthropist
The new design is based on drawings provided by local children and will serve more than 500 children in the community. “[It provides] a quality environment where everyone can ‘Play, Learn, Imagine and Create,’” said Deborah Spiegelman, museum CEO. “The addition of this fun, beautiful and safe playground adds another totally wonderful dimension to the MCM experience that will become a focal point for all the children that visit our facility.” Monumental Cleanup
Volunteers from local business and school organizations traveled in boats and kayaks to Island View Park to get to Monument Island. Located directly across from MSB, the historic landmark and the exotic species that make up its ecosystem will be maintained with the help of $28,174 per year donated by Morgans Hotel Group, which includes the coordination of volunteers, monthly cleanups and the installation of new trash receptacles. Once again, South Florida’s business community takes a stand to protect one of our most important assets, Biscayne Bay. Miracle in the Making
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Donald J Pliner Taps Shamaine Klein Design for National LineHouston Jewelry Designer Creates Silver Pendants, Bracelets for Pliner Peace for the Children Foundation HOUSTON - February 4, 2009 - Today, Shamaine Klein DesignTM announced that renowned fashion designer and philanthropist Donald J Pliner has enlisted the talent of Shamaine Pleczko, founder of Shamaine Klein Design, to create a line of sleek, modern pendants and bracelets for his Beverly Hills, Miami, Houston, Las Vegas, San Jose and New York stores, and online at www.donaldjpliner.com/store/foundation/. Shamaine's designs are striking and timeless," Pliner said. "Once I saw her pendants and bracelets I knew they would be a great addition to the Pliner Peace for Children Foundation line." The proceeds from the sale of the Donald J Pliner pieces benefit the Pliner Peace for the Children Foundation, which helps advance peace, care and welfare to children in need all over the world. "Showcasing my designs in the Donald J Pliner stores is such a thrill and helping children in need is even more fulfilling," said Shamaine. "Women play many roles today - wife, mother, businesswoman, athlete - and through my jewelry I hope to make them feel glamorous on any occasion." Shamaine designs her pieces for women to wear all day, from workout to work, from carpool to a night out. The glamorous, yet, simple jewelry works well dressed up or dressed down and reflects her athletic lifestyle, her faith and her family. Shamaine's silver pendants and bracelets feature designs such as her Lucky Kitty, Lotus Flower, Yoga Girl and her signature Peace Symbol. Shamaine is also at work designing a new collection, which she will introduce during the first quarter of 2009. The Shamaine Klein Design collections can be seen at www.skleindesign.com. Shamaine was raised in Houston to one of the city's most prominent jewelers. Her father opened cornerstone Michael Klein's Fine Jewelry in Houston in 1969 where Shamaine remembers talking to customers as she stood on tiptoes to look over the counter. Shamaine started Shamaine Klein Design in 2007. |
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Esquire Magazine ArticleClick to view a larger version
Cover Article Click here to see The Miami Children's Museum Playground Gallery |
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Selecta Magazine ArticleClick to view a larger version
Cover Article Click here to see The Miami Children's Museum Playground Gallery |
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In one day, Donald J. Pliner helped build a playground for the Miami Children's Museum.Click to view a larger version
Cover Article (PDF) Click here to see The Miami Children's Museum Playground Gallery |
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Miami Children's Museum has new playground built in one dayTHE MIAMI CHILDREN'S MUSEUM HAS A NEW OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND THAT VOLUNTEERS PUT TOGETHER IN ONE DAY. THE ATTRACTION WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN OCTOBER September 28, 2008, MIAMI, FL - With 175 volunteers, lots of water and a gracious donor, a playground sprang up in Miami in one day. The volunteers gathered at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at the Miami Children's Museum, and by 2 p.m., the children of South Florida had one more play space to call their own. "When they say built in a day, they mean built in a day," said Lisa Pliner, who, with her husband Donald J. Pliner, funded 90 percent of the $150,000 project. The couple made the project happen in conjunction with KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that has built playgrounds in various cities throughout the United States since 1995. The Miami Children's Museum helped fund the rest. "It's an incredible feeling to know your hands built something that will give children happiness and peace," Lisa Pliner said. The Pliners, couture shoe and leatherwear designers based in Miami, made the playground project a reality through their Peace for the Children Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded last year. "This playground was our launching," said Donald Pliner, adding that he didn't hesitate to suggest the Miami Children's Museum, located right off the MacArthur Causeway, for the playground. Since KaBOOM's mission is to build playgrounds "within walking distance of every child in America," Donald Pliner said some people were offended when he decided on the museum site. 'They asked, `Why build this in such an affluent area?' What they don't realize, however, is that around 200 underprivileged children get bused in here every day," he said. Donald Pliner was referring to the children from Overtown and Liberty City who attend the museum's after-school program. The playground design originated from the crayon drawings of 30 of those children who were asked to design their dream playground. The result is a multicolored wonderland of tunnels, wavy slides, a butterfly garden, and a mini rock-climbing wall (no harness necessary). The museum is the site of the 1,500th playground the group has helped build. It also marks the eighth playground KaBOOM! has built in Miami, said Roopal Saran, the group's director of client services. The other playgrounds are located at private and public facilities, including Charles Drew Elementary and West Perrine Park. "No two playgrounds are ever alike," Saran said. Every playground starts out the same way, however, from about 40 2-foot wide holes in the ground. That's what the space, located just outside the museum entrance, looked like when volunteers showed up armed with wrenches, rakes, shovels and a can-do spirit. The workers, which included volunteers from the museum, parents, and students from local colleges and high schools, assembled the colorful puzzle of metal and plastic, first by anchoring tubing in the holes and then by layering them piece by piece. Jessica and Sarah Garrido, 17, and 21, helped construct the rock-climbing wall. Jessica came from West Palm Beach to help her sister at the event. "I think it's a very good cause," Jessica said. "We put together some yellow tubing and added some rocks to the wall using wrenches," added Sarah, who baby-sits the Pliners' 4-year-old, Starr. Although the playground won't be open for children to use until Oct. 15, the after-school children were excited to see it in place, said Museum Director Deborah Spiegelman. "We have an on-site charter school, an after-school program, and an early childhood institute, so this playground will be utilized every day," said Hannah Hausman, director of External Relations at Miami Children's Museum. Click here to see The Miami Children's Museum Playground Gallery |
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Donald J Pliner to be honored for his philanthropic and business contributions to Miami-Dade CountyFriday, September 19, 2008Media Contact: Aurelia Vasquez, Communications Manager September 19 will now be known as Donald J Pliner Day in the City of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County
“It is an honor to be recognized by Miami-Dade County and the City of Coral Gables. Lisa and I have a tradition of giving back to this community which we love and enjoy. There is no greater good than serving others and we would hope to be an inspiration to all those living and working in Miami so that they too will contribute within their means to making this an even greater city than it is now,” stated Donald J Pliner. In 2007, Donald J Pliner of Florida Inc. consolidated operations in Miami-Dade County through the assistance of The Beacon Council. In addition to offices and a warehouse distribution center, the company also has two major retail locations in our community. Pliner’s entrepreneurial drive came to fruition in 1967 when he opened his first footwear store in Beverly Hills, California. By 1989, he had designed his first footwear collection and has been creating since. His products now include footwear and leatherwear for men and women, as well as handbags and belts. In this spirit, the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce are issuing their respective proclamations to Donald J Pliner for his company’s corporate citizenship and commitment to our community. Donald J Pliner and his wife Lisa are also known for their charitable contributions to the Miami-Dade community. Their philanthropic involvement spans numerous local and nationwide organizations that support the arts and children’s causes, such as the Miami City Ballet, Make-a-Wish Foundation and Jackson Memorial Children's Hospital. In September 2007, they established the Peace for the Children Foundation, a non-profit which funds deserving projects and initiatives that advance peace, care, and welfare to children in need. Miami-Dade County is honoring this ongoing and long-lasting mark by issuing its proclamation in honor of Donald J Pliner’s vision, hard work and dedication to the community. WHAT: Donald J Pliner Proclamation Event “Working together with Donald and his team in the effort to relocate their office to Miami-Dade County was unique in that the Pliners have taken ‘investing in Miami’ to a new level. Their commitment to creating jobs and investments in our community is underscored by the dedication they have for improving the well-being and quality of life of the residents of Miami,” stated Frank Nero, President and CEO of The Beacon Council. “It is an honor to join Miami-Dade County, the City of Coral Gables, and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce in celebrating September 19 as Donald J Pliner Day.” About The Beacon Council Fashion and Lifestyle Industry About The Miami Dade Beacon Council |
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Anatomy of a Philanthropist's HeartBy Sergio Leon June 13, 2008, MIAMI, FL - Philanthropist Lisa Pliner is well known for her glamorous looks, for being the inspiring muse and model of her husband's collection of shoes, and for her outgoing and pleasant personality; but above all, for her devoted involvement with charity to benefit children in every way imaginable. Her extensive charitable endeavors add up to starting along with her husband, The Toe Box Foundation for the Miami City Ballet, her active participation in the Make-Wish Foundation, The Humane Society, and Jackson Memorial Children's Hospital to mention just a few. Lisa did not wake up one day and decide to become a celeb philanthropist. She always felt an innate love for children and a drive for the cause of helping them grow peacefully and happily. For reasons of the heart, this motherly feeling for the most vulnerable members of society grew even bigger and stronger after Lisa lost her own child at birth. This traumatizing experience exposed her to excruciating pain, sorrow, and frustration; however, Lisa evolved in her understanding of the role the universe had in store for her: Becoming the mother of not just one child, but of millions of children in need. "Donald and I always had a soft heart for charity; we always love donating whether it be shoes or clothes for Dress for Success or for many other causes. The loss of my child and later the adoption process, which is a whole different experience, made me want to go out there and Give! Give! Give!" exclaimed Lisa. The decision to adopt her baby daughter Starr Emmanuelle from an orphanage in Kazakhstan three years ago added to the compassion she felt for all these children who were living in inhumane conditions in a country at war. From that feeling grew Peace For The Children Foundation, a nonprofit organization, founded by Donald and Lisa. The foundation is funded with proceeds from their collections. Every time an item with the peace sign is sold, the Pliners donate a percentage to the foundation. In addition, DJP retail stores donate 10 percent of the total sales to the foundation from each of Donald's personal in-store appearances. Since the foundation was created, the Pliners have made this commitment another of their passions. Channeling resources and support to initiatives that advance peace, care, and welfare to children in need is at the center of their mission for charity. "My life completely changed when I went to Kazakhstan and saw all those children who could not even enjoy playing outside. I chose my daughter, but some of these kids will never be adopted. Everyone in this country should see the extreme poverty there is where Starr was born. We have our freedom in America, but in many other countries, kids grow up deprived of many things that could make their lives better. So we wanted to help kids in this situation, and also in America, to have a better life by providing whatever would bring quality to their lives, and have fun in the process. Doing charity work makes you appreciate life more," admits Lisa with a splendid smile. Out of her visit to Kazakhstan, another noble idea to improve the lives of children surfaced. Lisa and Donald wanted to create a sanctuary for children where they could enjoy themselves. This past March, Peace For The Children Foundation partnered up with KaBOOM! To build a fairy tale-like playground that will be designed based on selected drawings submitted by children at the Miami Children's Museum. "We are in the process of designing T-shirts, jewelry, hats... you name it... for a big charity event to be held at the M.C.M. once the playground is built. I'm very excited to be part of this project. The museum is one of my daughter's favorite spots, and mine too." Recently, Lisa has adopted a new baby. The years she has spent as a model in the shoe business for her husband heightened her skills as a shoe designer. She is now ready to launch her own high-end line of shoes for women, which she carefully put together from the logo to the heel. "I basically kept what Donald is all about with his shoes: comfort. But making it a point they will be very sexy and high. I went through our archives and selected some of our best shoes that will never go out of style and added real alligator skin, also beads and jewels here and there. I did some in gold, silver, and in other metallic colors. I sexed it up! And to be in tone with today's concern about a greener world, they will have green soles, so that people feel good walking on green. All in all, I gave them my touch and got very high compliments from Donald. And of course, like with everything else, a portion of the profits will go to our foundation. I'm not competing with my husband. We are still a team," adds Mrs. Pliner. This modern Superwoman's fiery passion for charity does not seem to run out of fuel. Her striking appearances at charity events, whether it is Cure Autism Now or The Humane Society of Greater Miami - escorted by her pet, Babydoll - are always in the name of a cause. In addition to being a mom, a fashionista, and a wife, Lisa has added a few projects to her dossier lately. She is currently working on a children's book with writer, Hene Hochberg. And if all this weren't enough, she has gotten together with friend Julienne Jacobson to put a Mommy & Me lipstick kit together for the inauguration of the playground. "These days, Starr and I are having a lot of fun decorating a little pony we will donate for the cure of leukemia; we both know that this is going to help a child who's very sick. When it comes to being creative to benefit a child, I love giving my time always. The passion for charity has to come from within you. That's what makes you who you are. Making a child happy is my greatest joy," Lisa concludes. |
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Donald & Lisa Pliner's Peace For The Children Foundation partners with KaBOOM! to build Miami playgroundMarch 1, 2008 MIAMI, FL - The Peace for the Children Foundation, founded by Donald & Lisa Pliner, have partnered with KaBOOM! to build a new playground in Miami this year. The playground will be designed based on drawings submitted by children at a Design Day event held prior to the build. A locally formed playground planning committee will work closely with the two organizations to prepare for the build. KaBOOM! and The Peace for the Children Foundation will be joined by hundreds of volunteers from the Miami community to build the playground. The Peace for the Children Foundation supports initiatives to advance the peace, care and welfare of children in need to bring the light of hope back into their lives. "There are millions of children in need of assistance and hopefully we will, through this foundation, make a difference in lives that will make a difference in the world", says Donald J Pliner. "This partnership is a culmination of our dreams for this organization. We have always wanted to create a sanctuary for children-somewhere they can enjoy themselves and find a little peace." KaBOOM!, a Washington D.C. based non-profit, has helped build more than 1,300 playgrounds, skateparks, ice rinks and sports fields across North America since its inception in 1995. "We're ecstatic about this partnership and excited to be working with such a great organization like The Peace for the Children Foundation," KaBOOM! CEO & Co-Founder Darell Hammond said. "Both of our organizations have made a tremendous commitment to continue to improve the lives of children and I can't think of a better way to strive toward our goal of doing so than by working together." Peace for the Children Foundation Donald J Pliner KaBOOM! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Kaboom! is involving Miami in a national project aspiring to build a place to play within walking distance for every kid in America. Since its inception in 1995, KaBOOM! Has built more than 1,500 play spaces across the country, annually serving more than 750,000 children. More than 200 volunteers from the Donald and Lisa Pliner’s Peace for the children Foundation, museum organizers from KaBOOM! and members of the community gathered for one day to build a new safe playground at the Miami Children’s Museum. “This partnership is a culmination of our dreams. We have always wanted to create a sanctuary for children somewhere they can enjoy themselves and find a little peace,” added Donald Pliner.
Coastal Cleanup Day, Morgans Hotel Group property Mondrian South Beach (MSB) and The Environmental Coalition of Miami Beach (ECOMB) announced a three-year agreement to partner in cleaning up and maintaining Miami’s Monument Island. More than 100 volunteers including Miami Beach Mayor Mattie Bower, City Commissioner Saul Gross, and MSB General Manager Maria Elena Rubio participated in the first monthly cleanup.
The Down Syndrome Association of Miami, an organization that promotes positive acceptance of individuals living with Down syndrome, strives to illustrate that living, learning, and working with individuals with Down syndrome is a natural part of our daily lives, held its Second Annual Miracle Walk. The proceeds from the event are allocated to welcome parents of new babies with Down syndrome, provide funds for speech, occupational and physical therapy for victims of the disease, offer advocacy workshops for parents of children with Down syndrome and to provide support on a national level of the National Down Syndrome Society. The organization also hosts a number of activities throughout the year to raise awareness about inclusion of people with Down syndrome into the mainstream of society.
September 16, 2008 MIAMI, FL - Renown for his inimitable design and style, long time Miami resident