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VACC Camp
BlogCorporateShort FilmsSound and Vision

VACC Camp: Miami’s Most Remarkable Camp for Special Needs Children [VIDEO]

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

For those of you that follow my blog, you know that I’ve been a volunteer at VACC Camp going back 8 years now. I’ve filmed it and I’ve photographed it and I’ll be back this Spring for the 2020 edition of the camp. For those of you who don’t know, VACC Camp is a free week-long overnight camp in Miami for ventilation assisted children (children needing a tracheostomy ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing) and their families. Overnight campers come from throughout the United States and internationally.

South Florida families and youngsters from local residential care facilities join in as day campers. The unique camp, hosted by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, is a life-changing experience for not only the special needs campers but the many young volunteers who give up their Spring Break in South Florida to be of service to the camp.

I’ve completed a short video that better illustrates what this camp is all about and I’m also in the process of editing a feature documentary film about VACC Camp that I’ve been working on the past four years (hoping to have it completed by the fall). Enjoy the video – and please feel free to share it. For more information or to donate to this truly remarkable camp, visit vaccamp.com.

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BlogCorporate

From Guatemala to Miami: Mayra’s Story (Video)

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

I’ve been producing videos for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation for over 10 years and in that time I’ve been fortunate to help tell so many remarkable stories and Mayra’s story is no exception.

Mayra is a two-year-old girl who was born in Guatemala with a case of cloacal malformation, a rare developmental disorder that affects nearly one in every 50,000 babies. Mayra’s life was at risk due to impending renal failure and the lack of resources at her hospital in Guatemala. Mayra’s mother had no choice but to leave Guatemala and travel thousands of miles to Miami where she was admitted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Under the care of the hospital’s Colorectal Center, Mayra underwent an extremely complicated surgery.

What happened? Watch the video below to find out…

Consider making a donation that could help save the lives of children like Mayra. Visit nicklauschildrens.org/mayra

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Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many programs routinely ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report.

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BlogCorporate

2019 National Philanthropy Day in Miami

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

National Philanthropy Day is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November. The purpose of this day is to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy—and those people active in the philanthropic community—to the enrichment of our world.

National Philanthropy Day was originally conceived of and organized by California tax lawyer Douglas Freeman in the 1980s. His lifelong work has revolved around advising high-net-worth individuals and families, public and private foundations and nonprofit institutions – with an emphasis on philanthropy. His efforts led to then President Ronald Reagan proclaiming November 15th National Philanthropy Day®.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals was officially chartered by the state of New York on June 21, 1960 (it was originally called the National Society of Fund Raisers). Its goal was to aid, unite and promote those individuals engaged in the profession of fundraising. By the end of 1965, NSFR had almost 500 members from 26 states, including Hawaii; and by the end of 1999, membership surpassed 22,000 members in 157 chapters.

Today, the Association of Fundraising Professionals advances philanthropy through its 31,000 members in more than 240 chapters throughout the world. AFP has inspired global change and supported efforts that have generated over $1 trillion. AFP’s individual and organizational members raise over $115 billion annually. Which brings us back here to Miami.

2019 Award Winners

This past November 12, the Miami Chapter of AFP celebrated their 34th National Philanthropy Awards Luncheon. The event honored Morgan Stanley Wealth Manager Richard Bermont, the law firm of Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., the Green Family Foundation (a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting social programs that positively impact global health and alleviate poverty), arts advocate Sarah Arison and teenage environmental advocate Oskar Garcia.

Now, when I’m hired to produce honoree videos for a business or organization, it’s usually a video of the honoree. But the Miami Chapter of AFP does things a bit differently. Their honoree videos consist of community and business leaders speaking on behalf of the honorees. It’s an interesting twist and one that has served them well for the past decade.

So here are the videos for the 34th edition of the Miami Chapter of AFP’s National Philanthropy Day Luncheon. Special thanks to event coordinator Arely Ruiz of ArelyPR and 2019 event Chair Jaime Bayo, Director of Corporate Relations at Pérez Art Museum Miami (where these videos were filmed), for their support and assistance in making these videos possible.

James W. McLamore Outstanding Volunteer: Richard Bermont

Julia Tuttle Award for Community Involvement and Corporate Citizenship: Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.

Outstanding Grant Maker: Green Family Foundation

Outstanding Philanthropist: Sarah Arison

Outstanding Youth: Oskar Garcia


Learn more about the Miami Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at www.afpnet.org/miami/home and National Philanthropy Day at www.afpglobal.org/NPDLove

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BlogShort Films

Flamenco Dancer: Plaza de España, Seville, Spain (Video)

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

Back in December, my daughter and I traveled to Spain and visited the lovely city of Seville. During our time there, we visited the Plaza de España (“Spain Square”) in the Parque de María Luisa (Maria Luisa Park). The Plaza was built in 1928 and designed by the great Sevillian architect Aníbal González for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 (a world’s fair held in Seville from May 9, 1929 until June 21, 1930). González combined a mix of 1920s Art Deco and Spanish Renaissance Revival, Spanish Baroque Revival and Neo-Mudéjar styles to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits.

After more than 2 years under restoration, the Plaza de España was inaugurated in October of 2010. Before the restoration, its original shape was badly deteriorated due to abandonment and vandalism. Some people visiting the square had the funny idea of taking home a souvenir and used to rip off part of the tiles or other ceramic ornaments that adorn a good portion of the plaza. Today the Plaza de España is quite a sight to behold.

Oh, and did you know? The Plaza de España has been used as a filming location, including scenes for the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. The building was used as a location in the Star Wars movie series Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) — in which it featured in exterior shots of the City of Theed on the Planet Naboo.

We spent a few hours there on a lovely December day and it was really hard to leave. There was a charm to this place that was undeniable. We caught a flamenco performance going on inside the plaza so I shot a few minutes with the Fujifilm X-T3 (a very capable little camera). Here’s the video…

Flamenco Dancer: Plaza de España, Seville, Spain from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

You can view my photographs of the Plaza de España over at my photography site danperezphotography.com

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BlogSound and Vision

South Florida Tattoo Expo (Video)

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

The South Florida Tattoo Expo, which just celebrated its 23rd year in 2018, is a three day weekend affair (Friday-Sunday) that was held yet again at the Coral Springs Marriott Hotel, Golf Club & Convention Center. It not only features the best tattoo artists in all of South Florida (and beyond) but a truckload of live bands, a burlesque show, hot body contest, car show, local vendors, and human suspension (the act of suspending a human body from hooks that have been put through the skin!). And here’s the best part: all proceeds benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; and it’s been that way since year one. Good people doing good things.

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CorporateMiami Children's Hospital

From Colombia to Miami: Isabella’s Leukemia Story

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

Isabella was diagnosed with leukemia in Colombia at 7 years old. When treatment failed to put her in remission, her oncologist in Medellin referred the case to Dr. Guillermo De Angulo, pediatric hematology-oncologist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital).

Now, I’ve been producing these patient success videos for Nicklaus Children’s Health Foundation for five years now and I don’t think I’ve ever featured a more engaging character than young Isabella. Check out her remarkable story – and her even more remarkable spirit…

You can help Nicklaus Children’s Hospital continue to provide life-saving cancer treatments to patients from South Florida and all over the world by making a donation HERE or by calling 1-800-987-8701.

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Miami
BlogShort Films

PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy: Live! (Video)

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

Back in the summer of 2008, I documented the inaugural year of a unique four-week summer program for teenagers in Miami that focused on the history and philosophy of Hip Hop and its four main elements: DJing, MCing, B-boying/girling, and Urban Art. The camp was called PATH (Preserving, Archiving and Teaching Hip Hop History) and was the brainchild of long-time Miami hip hop artist Brimstone127 who after several years of trying, finally found a home (and funding) for the program via Miami Light Project, a not-for-profit cultural arts organization.

The film I completed from that first year went on to win the ‘Best Florida Film’ award at the 2010 Sunscreen Film Festival – the award presented to me by none other than John Travolta himself (watch the award presentation HERE and you can watch the original PATH film HERE). The award launched my fledgling video production business to a whole new level while the PATH program continued but struggled to secure funding the next few years.

The good news is that PATH is alive and well and going stronger than ever. It completed its 10th year this past summer (and I’ve been documenting the camp yet again these past two years – stay tuned) and celebrated with an anniversary performance right back where it started, Miami Light Project.

Here’s a sample of what this life-changing camp is all about – a performance by the program’s “emcee” class with lyrics they all wrote themselves. Just a little taste before the documentary film is completed sometime in early 2019. To learn more or to support this dynamic program, visit www.pathtohiphop.org. Enjoy the video…

PATH Hip Hop Summer Academy 10 Year Anniversary Celebration from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

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Fort Lauderdale
BlogSound and Vision

Saturday Sessions: Spoken Word Artists Richard “Byrd” Wilson & Mike McCain

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

So, the latest ‘Saturday Sessions’ took place this past weekend and guess who was there with his camera and a few good lenses? That’s right, me. Ever since stumbling upon this event back in June (read how HERE), I’ve returned every month since and I ain’t been disappointed yet.

Saturday Sessions is a free community event held at The Megaphone, an outdoor area in North West Gardens in Fort Lauderdale. The event goes down every first Saturday of the month from 5pm-8pm and just celebrated its one year anniversary this past July. Saturday Sessions brings together up-and-coming and established artists for an afternoon of spoken word, live music, art, local vendors and businesses. The event is presented by Art Prevails Project, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 arts organization committed to impacting South Florida and beyond by providing engaging and authentic artistic and cultural experiences through performance and education.

This month featured a duo of award-winning and nationally recognized spoken word artists, Richard “Byrd” Wilson and Mike McCain. Here’s a small sample of what they delivered at this past week’s Saturday Sessions. And remember, the event is free. Mark your calendar for next month’s event (September 1st!) – see you there…

Saturday Sessions: Spoken Word Artist Richard "Byrd" Wilson from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

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Saturday Sessions: Spoken Word Artist Mike McCain from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

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Miami
CorporateSound and Vision

Life-Saving Heart Surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Justin’s Story (Video)

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

It should have just been the birth of their second child but only minutes after he was born, Drew and Stacey were told their newborn son Justin had a lethal heart condition and needed to be airlifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. That was the beginning of a remarkable relationship that spanned the next thirteen years.

This is Justin’s story, my latest video production for Nicklaus Children’s Health Foundation who raise funds for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital). One of the greatest gifts I’ve been given in my business is to have been of service to this truly remarkable hospital for over 12 years (you can view other videos HERE). This hospital saves lives, help spread the word…

For more information, or to support the hospital, visit www.nicklauschildrens.org

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Saturday Sessions
BlogSound and Vision

Saturday Sessions in Fort Lauderdale: THIS SATURDAY! August 4, 2018

by Dan Perez
written by Dan Perez

For those of you who checked out my previous post on Saturday Sessions, you’ll recall that I kinda stumbled upon it while looking for a nearby event to try out a few new lenses I had purchased. What I ended up stumbling upon was a community event that kinda just blew me away.

Saturday Sessions is a FREE(!) community event held at The Megaphone, an outdoor area in North West Gardens in Fort Lauderdale. The event goes down every first Saturday of the month from 5pm-8pm and just celebrated its one year anniversary this past July. Saturday Sessions brings together up and coming artists for an afternoon of spoken word, live music, art, local vendors and businesses. The event is presented by Art Prevails Project, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 arts organization committed to impacting South Florida and beyond by providing engaging and authentic artistic and cultural experiences through performance and education.

Art Prevails Project

The man in charge (and event emcee) is Darius Daughtry, poet, playwright, director, educator and the Founder and Artistic Director at Art Prevails Project. I let him know after my first visit that I would return and return I did. But this time, instead of just snapping photos, I shot some video that clearly illustrates the type of talent this event draws. Now, like I said before, the event is free but as you can see if you watch the short video below, you’re getting so much more than what you “pay” for.

Check out the video then get over to Saturday Sessions THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 @ 5PM. See you there…

Art Prevails Project presents 'Saturday Sessions' from DanPerezFilms on Vimeo.

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