The InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball will celebrate 30 years of magic, generosity, and life-changing wishes on Saturday, November 1st, with its most spectacular gala event to date.

For over three unforgettable decades, this premier philanthropic gala has become a beacon of hope and joy for children facing critical illnesses – raising more than $47,000,000 for Make-A-Wish®  Southern Florida, and granting over 8,700 life-changing wishes.

Being Chaired for the 20th year by philanthropist and Chairman Emeritus of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Shareef Malnik, the iconic gala is Co-Chaired by acclaimed actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar, Malnik’s wife. Together, the couple will bring their passion, influence and signature style to the star-studded evening – a beloved South Florida tradition which is regarded as the start of Miami’s charity season.

In true Ball fashion, the 30th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish Ball will be a lavish cinematic affair inspired by the silver screen’s golden age – promising dramatic elegance and show-stopping surprises. The night’s theme – ”Cleopatra” – will be an opulent spectacle unlike any other, promises Ball Creative Director Maxwell Blandford. The gala evening will reimagine “the last epic silent film directed in Hollywood in the 1920s, with guests treated to a magical night of vintage glamour in La La Land.

The black-tie affair will bring together an extraordinary roster of guests, celebrities, and philanthropists for an evening of glamour, purpose, and entertainment. The program will feature a world-class performer – always a closely guarded secret until days before the Ball. Past headliners have included megastars Diana Ross, Jennifer Hudson, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Steven Tyler, Marc Anthony, Adam Lambert and Sting.

Guests will dine on a gourmet menu created by InterContinental® Miami Executive Chef Francesco Martini and his team, paired with premium cocktails and spirits supplied by long-standing sponsor Southern Wine & Spirits, which has supported the Ball since its inception.

The InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish Ball has flourished over the past three decades thanks to an unwavering partnership between Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and the InterContinental® Miami. At the heart of this enduring alliance are the Ball’s beloved “Three Amigos” — a trio of visionaries who have shaped the Ball into one of South Florida’s most anticipated and successful philanthropic events:

  • Shareef M. Malnik, Gala Chair, has served as Chair of the Ball for the past 19 years, Chairman of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish Nightclub for 17 years, and continues to serve as Chairman Emeritus of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and Chair of its Capital & Endowment Campaign. His leadership and passion have elevated the Ball’s fundraising, impact, and glamour year after year.

  • Glenn Sampert, General Manager of the InterContinental® Miami and Gala Host. Under his leadership, the hotel has become a vital cornerstone of the Ball’s success, donating its resources, staff, and venue to support the heartfelt mission of granting wishes.

  • Norman Wedderburn, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, has overseen the organization’s constant growth and active community engagement, ensuring that every dollar raised brings joy, hope, and strength to children when they need it most.

Together, these three leaders have cultivated a culture of generosity, creativity, and compassion that has inspired so many to give, attend, and support the cause. Their 30-year collaboration is a testament to what can be achieved when community, vision, and purpose unite.

This milestone year promises to elevate the Ball’s impact even further, uniting the South Florida community in a shared mission: to create hope through the power of a wish.

For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more, please visit sfla.wish.org.

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