J.C. Newman Family Selected for

Ybor City Chamber's Prestigious Gonzmart Award

(Tampa, Florida) The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce will present the Adela and Cesar Gonzmart Award to the J.C. Newman Cigar Family at its Annual Gala to be held at the Columbia Restaurant Saturday, September 21^st beginning at 6:30 PM.  Owners and operators of J.C. Newman Cigar Company, the Newman Family, will receive the community's highest honor at the Chamber's 48^th Annual Gala.

Founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1895, J.C. Newman relocated his family cigar business to Ybor City in 1953 purchasing the Regensburg Cigar Factory.  Today, brothers Eric and Bobby run the family business from this same 2701 North 16^th Street location.  The Newmans have restored the famous "El Reloj" clock tower, that graces their historic building.  J.C. Newman is the last operating cigar factory in Ybor City.

"The Newman Family is being recognized for their on-going contribution to Ybor City and the American cigar industry," states Tom Keating, President and CEO of the Ybor City Chamber.  "In 2004, the Newmans, along with the Carlos Fuente Family, founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation that today oversees a primary school, a high school, a health clinic and organic farming operation in one of the most impoverished regions of the Dominican Republic."

The Gonzmart award is named after Adela and Cesar Gonzmart, the third generation of Ybor's Gonzmart family who helped build the Columbia into Florida's oldest and the world's largest Spanish restaurant.  This annual award recognizes an individual, family or corporation who distinguishes themselves through unique achievements to promote the cultural preservation and commercial revitalization of the Ybor Community.

For information on sponsorship, program ads, silent auction donations and attendance contact Anna Ramos, Events Coordinator at aramos@ybor.org or 813.248.3712 x22.

xxxxx