Bacardi Hosts "Evening of Art & Fashion" Honoring "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bacardi Women in Leadership initiative today announced tickets are now on sale for its "Evening of Art & Fashion" taking place on Saturday, October 6, at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora. This evening cocktail event will serve as the official kick-off celebration for the 25^th anniversary of Dress for Success Miami, which provides a network of support, professional attire and development tools, to help women thrive in work and in life. Guests will be the first to preview, "Forever Celia" – the largest exhibit ever created featuring an intimate and immersive look at the life of the legendary "Queen of Salsa."

"We are excited to kick off our 25^th anniversary year with this unique celebration of women," says Sonia Jacobson, founder and executive director of Suited for Success/Dress for Success Miami. "We are so grateful to the Miami community for helping us reach this milestone, and to partners like Bacardi who make it possible for us to continue empowering women across Miami-Dade County."

VIP guests will indulge their senses in a private cognac, whisky and cigar lounge hosted by Bacardi brands and attend an exclusive fashion show featuring a Rene by RR collection, from famed Cuban fashion designer and Miami International University of Art & Design alumnus, Rene Ruiz. Guests will gather on the museum's rooftop terrace for live music and to witness a live mural painting come to life by Ecuadorian artist Alejandra Estefania.

"As we've been bringing people together for more than 156 years, Bacardi is proud to partner with organizations like Dress for Success Miami, that celebrates and empowers women to be the best version of themselves," said Paula Glickenhaus, VP & global head of Women in Leadership for Bacardi. "The Bacardi Women in Leadership initiative jumped at the opportunity to host an event that combines art and fashion, celebrates the spirit of a powerful female music icon, and reinforces our long-standing legacy and commitment to community involvement and philanthropy."

Throughout the evening, the museum will give away tickets to the star-studded opening night of the new exhibit, along with museum passes and merchandise. Guests can also bid via the silent auction on two non-transferable gift certificates redeemable within six months of issuance for a women's dress and a men's shirt and matching bowtie and handkerchief from the current Rene by RR collection.

Tickets for the Bacardi Evening of Art & Fashion are $75 per person for general admission and $199 per person for VIP. VIP tickets include access one hour prior to doors opening, Rene by RR fashion show, and the private cognac, whisky and cigar lounge. Must be 21+ years of age to attend. Net proceeds from the event will benefit Dress for Success Miami. The event is being produced by Charlene Parsons, director of the Fashion Department at Miami International University of Arts & Design.

Tickets can be purchased via: https://noaf.eventbrite.com

About Bacardi Women in Leadership
The Bacardi Women in Leadership initiative was founded with the mission of unleashing the potential of current and future female leaders at Bacardi to drive sustainable top and bottom line business growth. Areas of focus include: programs to strengthen the talent pipeline (i.e., formal mentoring program, personal/professional development activities); networking opportunities and initiatives to empower employees in a winning work environment; and community partnerships centered on helping other women in need. This program positions Bacardi as an employer of choice for talented women and helps establish stronger career paths toward senior leadership. Follow us on Twitter @BacardiWIL and Instagram @SHEBacardi.

About Dress for Success Miami
The mission of Dress for Success Miami is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing training, a network of support, and professional attire to help women thrive in work and in life. Dress for Success Miami addresses every phase of a woman's career—from being unemployed and searching, to recently employed and adjusting, to gainfully employed and succeeding. The programs transition women toward self-sufficiency by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community. Each woman is a success story: she has gone from unemployment to economic independence. Started in 1994 as Suited for Success, Dress for Success Miami has served over 35,000 women in nearly 25 years. Follow us on Twitter @DFSmiami, Instagram @DFSmiami, Facebook @dressforsuccessmiami.  https://miami.dressforsuccess.org/

About American Museum of Cuban Diaspora
The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora is a culturally specific museum of memory, dedicated to showcasing and documenting the history, culture and contributions of the Cuban Diaspora, through the arts and humanities. The museum's mission is to tell the story of the millions of Cubans living around the world, through the eyes of its greatest artists, thinkers, and creators. These individuals, born outside or forced from their homeland, have emerged in distant landscapes, carrying the story of a people in exile. Located in the heart of Miami, just minutes from Little Havana, The Cuban aims to give this story a home. Follow us on Twitter @cubanmuseum, Instagram @cubanmuseum, or Facebook @cubanmuseum. http://thecuban.org/

About Rene Ruiz
Miami's acclaimed Cuban-born designer Rene Ruiz presented his new resort collection and new brand Rene by RR at Miami Fashion Week 2018. With ethical fashion being a global topic, Ruiz's new designs factor in sustainability by putting a glam spin on casual resort wear with upcycled materials. After opening his first studio in the fashionable South Florida enclave of Coral Gables in the 1990s, Ruiz quickly became the go-to designer for celebrities and socialites. His eye for high-quality fabrics and personalized attention to the creation and tailoring of each garment has created an international following for his luxurious, original and sophisticated designs. In blending his own inspirations with Miami's rich cultural heritage in his artistry, Ruiz is also known for creating his own fabrics to accentuate the meticulous detailing which inspires sensuality for the modern woman. Ruiz earned a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design from Miami International University of Art & Design (then the International Fine Arts College in Miami) in 1990. Follow Rene by RR on Instagram @renebyrr and @reneruiz03 and Facebook @renebyrr and @reneruiz03. https://www.renebyrr.com/

About Miami International University of Art & Design
Miami International University of Art & Design is located near the heart of the arts district offering degree programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Visual & Entertainment Arts, Photography, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, Computer Animation, and Film & Digital Production. We also offer Master of Fine Arts degree programs in Interior Design, Computer Animation, Film, Graphic Design and Visual Arts.

The Art Institutes is a system of non-profit schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of Argosy University. Administrative office: The Art Institutes, 1500 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 © 2018 The Art Institutes. All rights reserved. Our email address is [email protected].

Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 2581.

Media Contacts
Victoria Peris, for Bacardi, 305-347-4343, [email protected]
Jennifer Heegaard, Board President, Dress for Success Miami, 305-803-5505, [email protected]

SOURCE Bacardi Women in Leadership