Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez settles friendly Miami Heat wager with San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro
(MIAMI, September 24, 2013) – Following the Miami HEAT’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals series this past season, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will settle their friendly wager on Wednesday, September 25th, from 9:15am – 12 noon. Both Mayors will participate in a beautification project with City Year corps members that will benefit the residents of Miami-Dade County. The beautification project will take place at Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary School, 2000 NW 46th Street, in Miami.
Immediately following the enhancement project, Mayor Gimenez and Mayor Castro will join Chefs Michael Cortez, Cariño Cortez, Gerardo Carvajal, and Raul Salazar from Mi Tierra restaurant in San Antonio, as they prepare and serve Tex Mex meals to U.S. military veterans and their families at the Fisher House located at Miami VA Healthcare System, 1201 NW 16th Street, in Miami.
“Watching our Miami HEAT win a thrilling NBA Finals against the Spurs felt great, and I expect that teaming up with Mayor Castro for a day of service will be an equally fulfilling experience,” said Mayor Gimenez. “We’re both looking forward to rolling up our sleeves with City Year and lending a hand to our neighbors here in Miami, as well as to our brave military veterans and their families at the local VA Hospital.”
"While we San Antonians will never forget the grit displayed by the San Antonio Spurs, we are gracious competitors," said Mayor Castro. "The Miami HEAT deserve to be congratulated, and I can think of no way better to do that than by doing community service for City Year and honoring our brave men and women in uniform."
The Miami VA Healthcare System Fisher House is a home away from home for families of Veterans and military service members receiving care at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center. The Fisher House enables family members to be close to their loved one during hospitalization by providing comfortable lodging, in a beautiful and relaxing setting, only steps away from the Medical Center. There is no charge for families staying at the Fisher House.
City Year is an education-focused nonprofit that partners with public schools in 25 cities across the country including Miami and San Antonio. City Year Miami is a proud partner of Miami-Dade County Public Schools where it serves in 17 schools. City Year corps members provide targeted intervention for students most at risk of dropping out by focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs that keep students in school and on track to graduate.
The Miami HEAT earned their third NBA Championship earlier this year by defeating the San Antonio Spurs.