Legendary Publicist Charlie Cinnamon to Receive 'Champion of the Arts Award' on March 11th in Miami

On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the 'Citizens Interested in Arts' Membership Luncheon in Miami Beach, Florida, the prestigous organization's first-ever 'Champion of the Arts' Award will be presented to legendary publicist Charlie Cinnamon at the newly renovated, historic Eden Roc Hotel, in the Ocean Tower Ballroom. Presenting him with the award will be longtime friend, director/producer Richard Jay-Alexander. 

Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc. (CIA) has made an impact on the arts community in South Florida by giving Grants for the past ten years, to well-deserving performing and visual artists and arts organizations. For more information on Citizens Interested in Arts, Inc and on the gala, visit http://www.cia4arts.org/.

While Richard Jay-Alexander was at his home in Miami Beach for the holidays, he found out that Charlie Cinnamon was the honoree for this event and sought out Lenore. He called her at home to see if anyone had yet been scheduled to actually "present" the award to Cinnamon. When he found that no one had been "set" but that certain individuals were under consideration, he said to Lenore, 

"Please ... Let me do it. I'll re-arrange my work schedule in Los Angeles to come to Miami and present this to Charlie. It's so personal to me. Charlie and The Arts go hand in hand for me. I first met him back in 1977, working on the Broadway Touring Production of PORGY AND BESS and we've been friends ever since. He has been an amazing mentor to me, for over 30 years and handled all the Broadway shows I was ever associated with, when they toured South Florida. Please let me do it! I'm happy to say ... she said YES!"

A little known fact is that Charlie's Godson is Broadway producer Adam Epstein (Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Cry-Baby). Reached by phone in Los Angeles, Epstein said "He's the reason that I went into the business. He took me to my first show when I was 6 years old and that was Sandy Duncan in Peter Pan, and since then, he's always been a council to me. He's family, he's responsible for my parents getting married - he's a divine inspiration. He nurtured my passion and my life and I feel so lucky to have had him to look up to as the crown jewel."

Charles Cinnamon is a native New Yorker who, for the past fifty years, has resided in Miami. Strongly identified with legitimate theater, Cinnamon launched his career as Public Relations Director for Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse moving directly into a 26-year professional relationship with Broadway producer Zev Buffman where, as National Press Representative, he represented a national theatrical circuit which in addition to Buffman's Broadway ventures, counted nine theaters across the country.

It was during those years that Cinnamon also launched his personal involvement with the arts communities of South Florida. Credited with having created Miami's now internationally famed Coconut Grove Arts Festival and soon after, the Miami Beach Festival of the Arts, he represented a variety of other clients including Judy Drucker's Concert Association of Florida; the formative years of Miami City Ballet in which he joined founder Toby Lerner Ansin; successfully launched the national campaign which brought the NBA franchise and the Miami Heat to Miami; and brought Elizabeth Taylor to South Florida for the Community Alliance Against AIDS first fund-raiser which resulted in $2.1 million for AIDS research, the largest amount ever raised in a single night in the country.

Cinnamon also orchestrated the Royal visit of Her Serene Highness, Princess Caroline of Monaco to benefit the Miami City Ballet and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA; was Publicity Chairman of the Miami Centennial Ball; designed and executed "A Tribute to Ted Arison" which raised over $5 million for the New World Symphony and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and for which, in 2006, he was press representative of NFAA's 25th Anniversary "An Affair of the Arts."

Recipient of the coveted Carbonell Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, now named the George Abbott Award, Cinnamon has through the years been frequently acknowledged by the community as a major contributor to the arts. He has been honored by the City of Miami Beach Fine Arts Board as "Man of the Year," was the first to have his footprints placed in the Jackie Gleason Theater's "Walk of Stars," and was later to receive a Proclamation from the city in honor of the Festival's 10th Anniversary.

Cinnamon has also been the recipient of a "Maxie" by the Miami Arts Exchange and the New World School of the Arts; was noted in the Florida Business Journal's "Who's Who" as one of the "100 People Who Make Things Happen in South Florida;" was honored by Ronald MacDonald House as one of the "Twelve Good Men of South Florida;" was awarded the Jan Pfeiffer Distinguished Service Award by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce; was twice named "Best P.R." by the New Times "Best of Miami;" was named one of the "The Top Movers and Shakers in Miami " by Ocean Drive Magazine;" and was twice listed among "100 Power Players in Florida" by Florida International Magazine.

Among his many activist activities, Cinnamon concluded eight years as a member of the Board of Directors of NPR's Friends of WLRN, Inc. In 2006, Cinnamon was awarded a Proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County as a "Role Model" during A Tribute to Arts and Culture Day; was honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award by the Coconut Grove Playhouse during its 50th Anniversary Gala;" and was named recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor awarded by the City of Miami Beach.

Among other high profile clients, Mr. Cinnamon continues to be engaged in the arts and leisure activities of South Florida as Florida Press Representative of "Broadway Across America;" as special consultant to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; Miami-Dade County; Director of Public Relations of the PlayGround Theatre; as special consultant to Florida Grand Opera's Met "Superstar" series; consultant to "Destination Fashion" to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis; as press representative of The World Erotic Art Museum; and press representative of prominent events impresario and restaurateur, Barton G. Weiss.