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Meet one of Coral Gables’ most important matchmakers

Mary Snow

📸: Photo courtesy of Mary Snow

Hi Mary! Let’s start with the basics: Who are you? What do you do?
I have the great privilege of being a matchmaker between the kind and generous individuals, families and companies of Coral Gables and the non-profit organizations and projects that make the community a better place to live, work, learn and play. It’s a ton of work, but it’s my dream job.

How does Miami help you do what you do or influence your work?

I really believe in Miami-Dade as a land of opportunity for all in business and in philanthropy. We have an open door for people at all levels and a willingness to help others. I’m surprised and not surprised when I find philanthropists — or at least generous entrepreneurs — where nobody was expecting them! Sounds corny, but it’s a beautiful thing.

Wax poetic for a minute and tell us: what brings you most alive about this city? 

I feel so lucky to be able to live and work in the City where I was born and raised and am now raising my family. We have the best parks, shopping, dining, cultural centers and activities.

If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Christy’s Caesar Salad! It’s a classic.

Outside of the obvious stop above, share your other top destinations for where you’d go on your perfect Miami day.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the dog park near our house with our dog, Sandy Paws, and Coral Reef Yacht Club.

What’s your favorite local social media account to follow and why?

@coralgablescf for all the great things the Community Foundation is doing, @experiencecoralgables for showcasing shopping, dining destinations and pop ups in the City and @snowsjewelerscg for the best in fine jewelry and repairs – shoutout to my parents still going strong after 49 years!

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about the city?

I have two: Smart growth and the right kind of density are good things as they can help bring down the high cost of some housing. We want the people we rely on most — our police officers, teachers, nurses, fire fighters, non-profit professionals — to be able to live and work in our City. Being anti-everything is not good for the future of our City.

And secondly, kindness is king. Saying unkind and false things about top-of-mind issues, elected officials, development projects, is lame especially when done anonymously in the comments section of blogs and neighborhood chats stoking fear and rumors. We should strive to be truly informed with facts, consider all perspectives and study our past so we can best prepare for our future.

What’s your favorite Miami memory?

Spending time on the boat on Biscayne Bay as a child and now as an adult with my own family is my favorite Miami memory. Crossing to The Bahamas, the Gables Waterway, Matheson Hammock and Lugo Point — Coral Gables has some of the best waterfronts around!

If you could give any one piece of advice to locals, what would it be?

As a working mom: Try to live and work in close proximity.

As a human being: We all have a responsibility to make the place we live better. It doesn’t take a lot of time or resources to be involved in your community. It just takes an interest and a real desire to help. Whether you’re starting your own charitable fund with a foundation like Coral Gables Community Foundation, or volunteering for a nonprofit in your community, get out there!

What’s a project you’re working on, and how can our readers help you with it?

Building on the success of 2018’s Umbrella Sky, we are working on an out of this world public art project for wintertime. Additionally, we are on a mission to better educate our residents on what a Community Foundation is and what a Donor Advised Fund is. Community Foundations locally are doing great work to connect important causes to those who have the ability to make a meaningful impact.

What are you looking forward to this year?

My son Teddy starting Kindergarten!

That’s a wrap on this week’s Locals to Know, sponsored by the Downtown Coral Gables BID. Know someone who ought to be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Reach out by sending an email to [email protected] with the subject line “TNT Locals to Know 2022.” If chosen, you might just see yourself or a friend in a future newsletter.