On Thursday, June 9, InterContinental Miami hosted its annual kick-off celebration in honor of the upcoming 17^th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, to be held on Saturday, November 5. The palpable excitement in the room came as a result of presentations by Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Southern Florida; Shareef Malnik, Ball Chairman and proprietor of The Forge Restaurant | Winebar; and Robert Hill, Ball Host and General Manager of InterContinental Miami.  The “Three Amigos” gave short yet poignant speeches about the Ball’s mission and success to date and kept the crowd of 200 abuzz about the main gala, themed – and dubbed – “The Party of the Century.” 

“We are very excited about our continued partnership with Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida. In recent years, the Ball has always sold out months in advance as it has become the event of Miami’s Social Season” said Hill.  “This year will certainly not disappoint with an over-the-top affair.”  Having raised $9.6 Million in the history of the Ball, we are delighted that with your support this year will mark the $10 Million Ball, to deliver hope to children with life-threatening medical conditions in our community.” Malnik continued, “It’s only fitting we celebrate this phenomenal feat to the tune of one of history’s most unforgettable events – Truman Capote’s famous ‘Black & White Ball’ also known as ‘The Party of the Century.” Guests can also expect an action-packed live auction emceed by Scent of a Woman Tango dancer and Burn Notice star, Gabrielle (Hoo Ah!) Anwar, who has made a career out of provoking her co-stars and fans with her tempting ways. 

Esteemed guests at the kick-off celebration included Founding Benefactors Howard and Barbara Glicken; former Make-A-Wish Foundation Chairman of The Board Robby Elias; philanthropist Dr. Sanford Ziff; Ball sponsor and owner of Primp Salon, Jonathan Babicka; Dr. Leonard Tachmes; Lady Monica Heftler; Baroness Beatrice Clancy; Aristotle and Diane Ares and Tara Solomon, all of whom enjoyed musical entertainment, cocktails and an elegant spread by InterContinental Miami’s Executive Chef Alexander Feher. 

Tables for the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball range from $5,000 to $20,000, and for the past five consecutive years, seats have been sold out two months prior to the event. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children who have life-threatening medical conditions. Wish Sponsors range from $5,000 to $100,000. Tables, wishes and other sponsorship opportunities can be purchased by calling 954.967.9474 extension 318 or by visiting www.sfla.wish.org.

Debbie Murcarsel-Powell, Dr. John Rock, and Debbie Tano

In celebration of Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s (HWCOM) current and future growth, prominent female philanthropists attended a luncheon and fashion event to support the school and kick off the second-annual benefit dinner that takes place on Friday, November 4. The invitation-only luncheon, part of the college’s ongoing initiative to raise money to support student scholarships, took place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Neiman Marcus at the Village of Merrick Park. The event was hosted by philanthropists Gloria Sesana and Debbie Tano and included a brief presentation from Founding Dean John Rock, M.D. and an exclusive fashion presentation of designer collections by Neiman Marcus.

Shareef Malnik, Gabrielle Anwar, and the beautiful brood

One event to which we look forward every year is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida Garden Party which kicks off THE most anticipated event of the year, the Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball.  The elegant garden party took place on Sunday, April 10 and was hosted by Lifetime Benefactors Al and Nancy Malnik at their oceanfront estate, which ranks at the poshest pad in Palm Beach, and is the perfect setting for any affair- well worth the drive up from Miami (and just about anywhere, really). 

As if this spectacular event required additional props, the 200 gorgeous guests in the garden mingled and posed among enormous, inflatable “Friends With You” Wish Characters, created just for the occasion, which added bright colors and whimsy to an already magical afternoon- in celebration of the Ball’s magical mission. 

Ball Chairman, Shareef Malnik, surprised the crowd by announcing that Burn Notice star Gabrielle Anwar would serve as the celebrity auctioneer at this year’s Ball, to be held on Saturday, November 5.  (In past years the auctioneer has remained a secret until just before the big event.)  Shareef introduced the beautiful and charming Anwar who took the microphone and said, “I guess that’s what happens when you are sleeping with the chairman” to the delight of the crowd, and shock of Shareef, who turned beet red.  Anwar then tapped him loving on the backside and went on to encourage guests to “make space in their beautiful couture for a wallet full of wishes.” 

Al Malnik had the crowd in stitches when he took over the mic, saying, “I don’t think I’m old enough to have a kid this big (pointing to Shareef) and I didn’t know she was sleeping with my son (addressing Anwar).” Then looked over to his wife Nancy and said, “Did you know they were sleeping together?” He complimented everyone at the party by saying they looked as if they were part of a glamorous movie set then thanked Shareef and the two other amigos, Norman Wedderburn, President/CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida  and Robert Hill, Ball Host and General Manager of InterContinental Miami.  He also thanked his young children (six under the age of 12!) because he is certain that when they grow up they will be involved in Make-A-Wish as well, before introducing Wedderburn and Hill, who also gave inspiring speeches. 

Guests at the annual spring soiree included Star Benefactor James Ferraro, Belkys Nerey, Fernando Wong, Merle and Danny Weiss, Lady Monica Heftler, Nick D’Annunzio, Tara Solomon and Wish Characters Rainbow King, Buddy Chubb, MR. TTT, Malfi, and Zoo-Zoo. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida grants the wishes of children who have life-threatening medical conditions, to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Covering a 13-county territory of Southern Florida, the chapter’s goal is to grant more than 500 wishes in 2011. For more information, contact the Foundation at (888) 773-WISH or log on to www.sfla.wish.org.

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Maryjoshore@aol.com

The New World Symphony held its official housewarming party to celebrate its new home in the shiny new architectural marvel designed by Frank Gehry last week with much fanfare by way of nightly concerts, a picnic on the lawn and grand opening gala.  On Tuesday, January 25, guests were invited to the first official concert in the hall followed by cocktails on the lawn for the inauguration of the state of the art external video wall, SoundScape and premier of Chronograph, a NWS-commissioned video mural on the New World Center’s projection wall by artist and filmmaker Tal Rosner and artist C.E.B. Reas.  Throngs of guests and passers-by gathered to enjoy the party on the front lawn of the building -which is actually a city park.  Invited guests were given a picnic mat, boxed dinner, and free flowing cocktails and invited to partake in the celebration on the grass or the picnic tables while enjoying the video installations and later dancing to the Latin sounds of the band Tiempo Libre.   Read the rest of this entry »

Barbara Herzberg, Bonnie Clearwater, Diane and Alan Lieberman

by: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

There are kick-offs and there are kick-off bashes, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, a.k.a. MOCA, knows a thing or two about the latter. Although the big event is less than 3 weeks away, MOCA threw a preview for its upcoming “Surf’s Up!” gala just last week at the Catalina Hotel & Beach Club for 400 guests.  The party featured free flowing Grey Goose cocktails, beach grub, dance music and discounted tickets to the gala to be held on February 19^th.   The gala is a bargain, at only $150 per ticket. As anyone who’s been to a MOCA Bash will attest, this is one of the highlights of the social season every year, as the museum is transformed to fit the theme- a casino one year, a bohemian pad another, a Bollywood stage set another- and the artsy guests dress to fit the theme. Read the rest of this entry »

The Adrienne Arsht Center celebrated its 5^th Anniversary with a fabulous black and white gala in the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. The evening was divided into five “acts,” one for every year the gala has been open, starting with a posh cocktail and the unveiling of the grand donor wall, honoring the Center’s greatest supporters and visionaries (Acts I and II). A fabulous Barton G. dinner experience on the stage (Act III) was followed by a show-stopping performance by Miami’s own, four-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza (Act IV) at the end of which the secret setting for Act V was revealed: an elaborate Latin dance club at the rear of the stage.

In keeping with the 5^th Anniversary Season theme, “Every great performance begins with you,” the gala celebrated the dedication of several “grand honorees” including: Adrienne Arsht, Lin Arison/Arison Arts Foundation, Alberto and Susana Ibargüen/Knight Foundation, Parker and Vann Thomson, Woody and Judy Weiser, and Sanford and Dolores Ziff. Other notable guests included gala chairs Mike and Margaret Eidson, Marvin Ross Friedman, Adrienne bon Haes, Adrienne Arsht Center President and CEO John Richard and co-chairs:  Ana and Rob Barlick, Trish and Dan Bell, Nancy Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey H. Loria, and Penny and Roe Stamps.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Manny Hernandez and Seth Browarnik