Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida and InterContinental® Miami are proud to announce that legendary Grammy Award-winning artist Diana Ross will headline the 27th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball on Saturday, November 5 at InterContinental® Miami, where she will perform a private concert for Ball guests. Actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar will return as Celebrity Emcee for the evening, which is chaired by philanthropist Shareef M. Malnik.
A global humanitarian and superstar whose achievements span an illustrious career of over 50 years, Diana Ross has profoundly impacted the worlds of music, film, television, and theater. Honored with inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Ms. Ross was presented with the Medal of Freedom Award by former President Obama and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She will perform a selection of her chart-topping hits at the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball.
Guests will be welcomed at the star-studded red carpet by Glenn Sampert, Gala Host of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball and General Manager of InterContinental® Miami; Shareef M. Malnik, Gala Chair of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball for the past 17 years, Chairman of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Nightclub for the past 15 years, Chairman Emeritus of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, and Chairman of the Make-A-Wish® Capital & Endowment Campaign; and Norman Wedderburn, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida – the trio affectionately known as the “Three Amigos.”
The InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball is underwritten in part by the generous support of the Ball’s 27-year partner, founder, and in-kind donor, InterContinental® Miami, which has enabled Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida to raise more than $32 million, resulting in more than 6,400 wishes being granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions in the chapter’s region, which includes South Florida, the Treasure Coast, southwest Florida, the Sarasota area, and Tampa Bay.
Event expenses are also underwritten by the Chairman’s Challenge Society, founded in 2011 by Shareef M. Malnik. A dedicated group of business, civic and philanthropic leaders who have each pledged $25,000 annually for five consecutive years to underwrite the Ball, the Chairman’s Challenge Society is comprised of South Florida’s leading philanthropists: Shareef M. Malnik & Gabrielle Anwar, Stuart Miller, The Lennar Foundation, Marshall Ames, Richard Polidori, Todd & Kim Glaser, Geert-Jan & Joyce Bakker, Jim & Sue Oppenheimer, Braman Family Foundation, Wayne & Cynthia Boich, Eugene & Brooke Frenkel, Dennis Crowley & Maria Haupert, Barry Skolnick, Richard & Susan Finkelstein, Andrew & Tatsiana Ansin, Alan Mruvka, StorageBlue, Felipe Lafratta, AssociatesMD, Marko & Shelly Dimitrijevic, Nick & Adriana Ayala, and Michael & Caroline Parrish.
The theme of this year’s InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball is “SUPERNATURE” — an otherworldly realm of fantasy flora and fauna conceptualized by Creative Director Maxwell Blandford. After guests walk the red carpet, they will enjoy an elaborate cocktail reception on the InterContinental® Miami’s mezzanine featuring premium libations and ornate culinary displays, including the popular seafood towers, raw bars, and whimsical ice sculptures created by InterContinental® Miami Executive Chef Jhonnatan Contreras and his team.
During the extended cocktail hour, guests may bid at the Ball’s renowned silent auction, which includes original art, luxury merchandise, memorabilia and dining and travel experiences donated by leading hospitality, entertainment, fashion, and luxury goods brands. King Jewelers will present a large array of glistening jewels and coveted watches for Ball attendees to bid on. DJ MCS will preside during the reception, creating a vibey, supernatural ambience.
A creative performance will usher guests into the Grand Ballroom for dinner, dancing, and wish granting. Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida Ambassador Gabrielle Anwar will return for the 11th year as Celebrity Emcee, joined by her husband and the Ball’s Gala Chair, Shareef M. Malnik. The glamorous proceedings will include a multi-course gourmet meal, performance by singer-songwriter Alisan Porter, and famed Live Auction featuring big-ticket items including custom travel experiences and a luxury car courtesy of THE COLLECTION.
The highlight of the evening will be a private concert by the legendary Diana Ross, who will perform her chart-topping hits for Ball guests inside the Grand Ballroom. Ms. Ross has produced 14 top-ten albums as well as 18 number-one songs, with her music sales exceeding 100 million units globally. Ms. Ross’ exclusive performance at the 27th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball is presented by the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation.
The Ball’s official afterparty – Snow Beast: The InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Nightclub presented by E11EVEN Vodka — will be held immediately after the Ball in the Hotel’s mezzanine, which will be transformed into the Snow Beast Cabaret. Headlining the late-night party will be five-time Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green, who will perform for Nightclub guests. The sizzling cabaret show will showcase the burlesque talents of Les Folies de la Neige by E11EVEN Theatrics, who will be costumed by celebrity designer Skye Yayoi Drynan of House of Skye. DJ Affect will rule the groove, with additional musical performances by Undercover, Gyasi, and Yoli Mayor. Performance artists Forealism, Lux-O-Matic, and Pamela Paz will also make appearances. Grooming for the Snow Beast Cabaret performers is generously provided by longtime Nightclub in-kind sponsors: Celebrity hairstylist Danny Jelaca and Danny Jelaca Hair, as well as Beauty for Real, founded by celebrity makeup artist Leslie Munsell.
Chaired by Shareef M. Malnik and produced by Maxwell Blandford, Clif Loftin, and Nick Zazzera, this year’s InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Nightclub presented by E11EVEN Vodka is pleased to recognize its 2022 committee members: Shareef M. Malnik, Chairman; Glenn Sampert, Nightclub Host; Norman Wedderburn; Ken DeGori, Vice Chairman; Maxwell Blandford, Creative Director and Co-Chair; Nick D’Annunzio, Co-Chair and Ball committee member; Clif Loftin, Co-Chair and Ball committee member; Antonio Misuraca, Co-Chair; Gus Munoz, Co-Chair and Ball committee member; Tara Solomon, Co-Chair and Ball committee member; and Nick Zazzera, Co-Chair and Ball committee member. The Honorary Host Committee members include Violet Camacho, Olga Castano, Eduardo Castillo, Hernan A. Castro, Skye Yayoi Drynan, Robert Fernandez, Luis Fonseca, Gideon Kimbrell and Inlist, Sniders Jean-Jaques, Danny Jelaca, Scott G. Kranz, Jonathan Koerner, Shannon Mackinnon, Harris G. Mandler, Rich Santelises, Danny Santiago, Isaac Seville, Mary Showstark, Emilie Sobel, Jeff
Soulouque, Rick Sykes, Erika Waserstein, and Winston Wood. Creative production for the Nightclub and the Ball is provided by DECO Productions.
Tickets for Snow Beast: The InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Nightclub presented by E11EVEN Vodka are $175 each and include an open bar with premium spirits. This official afterparty will be held from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at InterContinental Miami. Fashionable evening attire is required. Tickets may be purchased at www.eventbrite.com or by clicking here.
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About Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida
Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida has a sole mission: Together, they create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Started in 1983 by the Plantation Junior Woman’s Club, the Southern Florida chapter has granted more than 13,000 wishes. It is their vision to grant the wish of every medically eligible child in the South Florida territory.
Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida anticipates granting more than 600 wishes to local children with critical illnesses in 2022. Additionally, they expect to grant another 200+ wishes in collaboration with other chapters when children come to their territory to experience their wishes. Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida serves children and families in 22 Florida counties in Southeast and Southwest Florida, the Tampa Bay and Suncoast regions and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To learn more about how you can help make wishes come true, visit sfla.wish.org, and connect with them @makeawishsfla on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
