The Givers: Philanthropy in Action
The Art of Giving Back
As the season of giving approaches, we find ourselves once again reflecting on our good fortune to be part of the Coral Gables community, and all the good that the community has done this year. And as we do each year, we’ve profiled a handful of the Gables’ most prolific givers, all of whom have donated time, effort, and money to the causes closest to their hearts. Through volunteer work, anyone can be a giver, regardless of income or station. As one of our profiled givers, Alirio Torrealba, commented, “Start small. Find a cause that resonates with you and take the first step. You’ll quickly see how impactful even the smallest actions can be.” If you do choose to donate, we recommend using the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Donor-advised funds like those offered by the CGCF are an increasingly popular tool for philanthropists, offering tax benefits, simplicity, and investment growth. By creating a DAF through the Foundation, givers receive immediate tax benefits without having to make immediate donations, allowing them the time to be thoughtful about their charitable contributions. And the CGCF handles all the paperwork! However you choose to give, we hope you are inspired by the leaders in our community profiled in the following pages. Some have a particular focus, some are all over the place; some serve on local organizations’ boards, and some travel the world in their giving adventures. All are making an impact on our City Beautiful. As another of our profiled givers, Judy Zeder, says, “I believe a city is only as good as the people who live in it. We have gotten so much from this city, my family and myself; we are so blessed and so grateful for all the city has given us… How could we not but give back?”
ASHLEY CUSACK

Focus: Community
“I DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY. BUT I WAS LIKE, ‘I’LL DO IT!’”
EWM realtor Ashley Cusack has been involved in philanthropy since she was 23. Arm-in-arm with a friend, the two were searching for a way “to do something good.” “We thought, ‘How are we going to get involved?’” says Cusack. “We had no idea. We had no skills. But we got involved in Junior League Miami and we learned so much.”
The Junior League is an international organization of women committed to advancing women’s leadership and improving community. Cusack joined the League’s Inn Transition program, which provides housing and resources for women and children survivors of domestic violence. She volunteered to fundraise, despite having no experience. “I’d never asked anybody for money. I didn’t have any money,” says Cusack with a laugh. “But I was like, ‘I’ll do it!’”
Cusack remains on the board, for years donating 15 percent of her realty commissions to the League. She has also joined other organizations. She was chair of the Beaux Art Festival and the annual fund at Ransom High School, where her children attended (and where she was a volunteer varsity lacrosse coach). Today, she’s on the Orange Bowl Committee; co-chair of the capital campaign at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School; on the board of the Coral Gables Community Foundation; on the Board of Trustees at Sewanee/The University of the South (another school her children attended); and a volunteer at Breakthrough Miami, an afterschool program for underprivileged students.
“Organization was never my strong suit,” Cusack admits after she rattles off her various positions. “I just kind of say yes to people.” When asked what she would put for her philanthropic focus, she jokes, “I think unfocused is probably the theme.” – Kylie Wang
MITCH KAPLAN

Focus: Literacy
“YOU COULD SEE THEIR FACES JUST LIGHT UP. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE’RE DOING THROUGH OUR FOUNDATION…”
On Small Business Saturday last year, Mitch Kaplan realized a dream years in the making: the launch of the Books & Books Literary Foundation. With over 40 years of experience in the bookselling business and five Books & Books locations in South Florida, Kaplan has been giving back to his community for decades. The Literary Foundation is just his latest pursuit.
“A trend among independent bookstores is to have a not-for-profit arm to allow them to continue to do all the good work they’ve been doing,” says Kaplan, who uses the Literary Foundation to bring authors to underserved schools and community centers. Through the foundation, Books & Books also donates books to children who attend the author events, which Kaplan calls “Meet an Author, Build a Library.”
At a recent event at Books & Books, two school buses full of middle and high school children unloaded at the bookstore. Each child attended an author talk with food and then got “a golden ticket” worth three books. “You could see their faces just light up,” says Kaplan. “Those are the things we’re doing through our foundation. One of them to is to enable readers in all kinds of settings. The next thing is to build community. The last thing is to give unfettered access to books, whether it’s because of financial reasons or book banning.”
Kaplan is particularly passionate about removing books bans in libraries and schools. “Florida is now ground zero for restrictions given primarily to students,” the bookseller says. “[It’s] anathema to freedom of speech. I believe in the power of books and the empathetic power of being able to learn other people’s stories.” – Kylie Wang
DR. ALYSA HERMAN

Focus: Medicine and Education
“PHILANTHROPY IS ACCOMPLISHED IN MANY WAYS, NOT SOLELY THROUGH MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS…”
As a trained skin cancer surgeon and dermatologist, Dr. Alysa Herman has, of course, sworn the Hippocratic Oath, which includes a promise “to do no harm.” The Coral Gables doctor has made another promise to herself: to not only do no harm, but to actively help those who need it.
“There really hasn’t been a particular moment or experience that created an interest in philanthropy for me,” says Herman. “The spark to give was truly one that was lit by my parents, who taught these values to my brother and I by their example.”
In 2005, Dr. Herman and six other physicians formed a team to volunteer their time and surgical knowledge to help doctors in countries that lacked access to advanced training. The team took trips to Chile, Romania, Bulgaria, Columbia, and South Africa, hosting lectures and performing surgeries in front of their local colleagues. “This was my first and perhaps most significant entry into the world of volunteering. It was a phenomenal experience of collaboration,” she says.
Education is also a major part of Dr. Herman’s philanthropic endeavors. She donates to the Coral Gables Community Foundation because of its efforts to provide scholarships for local high school students. She’s also involved with Baptist Health South Florida, donating time and resources to their health-related community projects.
“Philanthropy is accomplished in many ways, not solely through monetary contributions,” Herman says. “To me, the word ‘philanthropy’ is quite intimidating and often implies a certain level of financial success to be able to participate. I honestly don’t see myself as a philanthropist but rather more of a volunteer.” – Kylie Wang
ALIRIO AND DORYS TORREALBA

Focus: Community Engagement
“WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE REMAIN CENTRAL TO THE COMMUNITY…”
For MG Developer owners Alirio and Dorys Torrealba, giving back isn’t just an extension of their work – it’s at the heart of everything they do. The couple has built more than residences in Coral Gables; they’ve created connections, supporting causes that enhance the city’s quality of life.
Alirio’s local philanthropy began with the Coral Gables Community Foundation and the Coral Gables Museum. “It gave us a sense of belonging,” he says, reflecting on how these organizations helped MG Developer integrate into the community, spanning initiatives celebrating art, culture, and youth programs.
Among their impactful contributions was a $2 million donation to the Baptist Health Foundation, benefiting Doctors Hospital. The donation enhances local healthcare resources for residents – including those of their latest project, The Village at Coral Gables. “It’s about more than architecture,” Alirio explains. “We want to ensure that health and quality of life remain central to the community.” The Torrealbas also support FundaHigado, a Venezuelan-based organization providing life-saving liver transplants for children. Dorys, meanwhile, emphasizes the importance of blending art and education to foster community. One of their earliest contributions was the sculpture “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Balboa Plaza, designed as a shared space for Gables residents. More recently, the two helped bring the “Museum of the Moon” exhibit to Ponce Circle Park, blending art, science, and community engagement. “Art inspires connection,” Dorys says.
Giving back is woven into the Torrealba’s lives. They involve their children, encouraging participation in local events and fostering a sense of community responsibility. “We want to teach the next generation that helping others should be a natural part of life,” says Dorys. – Amanda Martell
JUDY ZEDER

Focus: Sports Medicine, Environment
“I’M ALWAYS INVOLVED IN SOMETHING… I GREW UP IN AN EXTREMELY PHILANTHROPIC FAMILY….”
Realtor Judy Zeder is nothing if not the embodiment of high energy. As part of The Jills Zeder Team, she is an integral member of the top-rated real estate sales team in the nation, as ranked by The Wall Street Journal and The Real Deal. She has also been involved for 40 years as an active member in organizations that have included (brace yourself): The Junior League, Beaux Arts, the American Red Cross, the Villagers, Kristi House, the Detroit branch of Women of Tomorrow, United Way of Miami-Dade, The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and The Underline.
“I did a lot of fundraising over the years for the Junior League, Beaux Arts, all of my kids’ schools, and Fairchild Gardens,” she says. “I’m always involved in something… I grew up in an extremely philanthropic family. My parents always had us involved with different charities. I was a candy striper at a local hospital and [later] tutored underprivileged kids in college.”
Today, Zeder sits on the Board of Directors of the Baptist Health of South Florida Foundation and on the Operating Board at Doctors Hospital. “I love the hospital because of its orthopedic [focus]. I did a lot of sports growing up… I am a believer that once you start to sit, you never get up. Keeping your bones strong extends the quality of your life.”
Zeder says her next area of charitable focus will be the Everglades Foundation. “That is one I really love because if we don’t have fresh water, we can’t live here. The entire city needs to understand how precious our fresh water is… that includes what is being dumped [up stream].” – JP Faber
Reflect on the impact of giving in Coral Gables by revisiting stories from previous years.