Read more about the woman behind the Calle Ocho Festival and Carnival on the Mile
With much sadness, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana shared the news of the passing of their Director of Business Development & Marketing, Teresa Callava. She died at age 64, on April 7, 2021, after a long battle with cancer.
In her role, Callava had numerous breakthrough accomplishments for the organization. She was fundamental in the planning and execution of various events, including the Carnaval on the Mile, and the famous Calle Ocho Music Festival. Her arduous dedication to the community and Kiwanis of Little Havana during 36 years touched many lives and provided help to thousands of young people.
“Teresa was the epitome of passion and lived her life every day that way. Words cannot describe the sadness our board, staff, volunteers, and organizational partners are experiencing over the passing of this inimitable and loving individual. Teresa’s fervor for the Kiwanis of Little Havana’s cause was infinite, and her legacy will always be honored.”, said Jorge Fernandez, President of the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana.
Through her hard work, Callava raised over $70 million to spend on the young minds of the community. She put together community project initiatives, scholarships, summer camps, sports leagues, back-to-school drives, and much more. Her motivation was inspiring and driven by the goal of giving the children of the community access to higher education possibilities.
Her wish was to leave a legacy in the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation, which she very much did. She continues to inspire all that interacted with her to do acts of kindness and work to improve the lives of others. The family requested that instead of flowers, donations be made in her honor to the Teresa Callava Legacy Fund.
Callava’s family shared, “Terry had a zest for life that was contagious; her spirit infectious, and the love she shared with so many profound. She fought a long, hard, and courageous battle against cancer with grace, determination, and a will like no other. Terry was an amazing friend, colleague, sister, tia, family member, and above all mom. She was the epitome of living life to the fullest and seeing the beauty in all it had to offer; for her “La Vida es un Carnaval”. The heart and soul of our family, the nucleus of it all, we are forever blessed to have had her in our lives and her absence will be forever felt. We are humbled and thankful for the outpouring of love and support we have received and continued to receive from everyone she touched.”
Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation is part of Kiwanis International, a non-profit organization established in 1975 to assist the financially underserved Hispanic children of Miami-Dade County. Through a network of volunteers, the organization gives thousands of young people the opportunity to learn, dream, grow and succeed by putting together different initiatives.
To learn more about the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation, be sure to visit their website and follow them on Instagram.
