Host Max Tucci was on hand for the Around the World with Unicorn Luncheon at Indian Creek Country Club. Unicorn Children’s Foundation inducteed 4 individuals into the Order of the Unicorn for their contributions to the community and organization.
Also on hand was Entertainment and Lifestyle Reporter for CBS4, Lisa Petrillo makes it her business to mingle with the rich and famous. Uncovering the secrets of the stars is what Lisa does best.
Throughout her years as South Florida’s premiere Entertainment Reporter, Lisa has had the opportunity to interview some of today’s most spectacular stars, among them Paul McCartney, Sting, Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elton John, Tom Hanks, Warren Beatty and the late Audrey Hepburn. It’s this part of the job that appeals to her most, namely “meeting incredibly interesting and talented people, then putting together stories about their lives and careers.”
In addition to reporting on entertainment , Lisa hosts the CBS4 “Taste of the Town “ segment which celebrates South Florida’s growing culinary scene and reports on fashion, travel and other lifestyle trends.
Lisa is an Emmy Award winning journalist. She has received three Emmys: two for writing and on-camera performance for her behind-the-scenes series on soap operas entitled “Love in the Afternoon” and her third for her CBS4 report on the “Chefs Challenge” in 2005.
In 1996, Lisa was named one of the 10 Best Dressed Women in Miami from the American Cancer Society. She is also actively involved in numerous other charities as well, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Diabetes Research Institute, THE DRI, and Cystic Fibrosis among others. She is also on the Honorary Board for Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer.
In 2014 and 2015, Vogue Magazine’s Editor Anna Wintour selected Petrillo as Vogue’s “The Vogue 100”, which is an influential group of leaders known for their distinctive taste in fashion and culture.
In 2015, Lisa Petrillo was honored by the Beaux Arts Group of the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale at their “Golden Age of Television” gala with an award for her dedication and commitments to the arts.
Lisa’s professional career began in 1986 as the Communications Manager for the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Later that same year, she began her television career at WPLG as a producer. Her contacts in the entertainment world led to her being named the station’s entertainment reporter in 1988. Following WPLG, Lisa became a national correspondent on the NBC show “Real Life”. She joined WFOR, CBS4 in 2001 as Entertainment and Lifestyle Reporter.
Lisa and her husband Bill have two children. She received her Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Marketing at the University of Miami.
Benefiting
The profits from this event will support the Unicorn Children’s Foundation Mobile Developmental Clinic. These clinics provide developmental screenings, resources and information to families with limited resources in underserved communities. The first clinic of this type is operated by University of Miami and serves Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Over 20,000 individuals were served in its first year of operation. Fewer than 50% of children with developmental challenges are indentified before starting elementary school despite the fact that symptoms may be spotted as early as 14 months of age.
