Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida and InterContinental Miami celebrated the 14th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball raising more than $1.6 million with a mystical-themed dinner, musical performance by actor Adrian Grenier and his band The Honey Brothers, extravagant live auction emceed by reality television star Kim Kardashian, and the debut of the Ball’s InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Nightclub, the latter hosted by Miami nightlife impresarios Michael Capponi and Shareef Malnik. Watching over the bidding war was Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who also appeared as a guest honoree.
“We are overwhelmingly delighted that our 14th Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball has once again raised an extraordinary amount of money for our children,” said Norman Wedderburn, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida President/CEO. “These generous funds will go towards granting hundreds of wishes for children throughout South Florida. I cannot express enough gratitude to all of the generous supporters who donated and contributed their time and efforts towards making this year’s Ball such a success. I consider each and every donor a lifelong member of the Make-A-Wish family. I would like to particularly thank my good friends Shareef Malnik and Jack Miller for their continued hard work, personal support and friendship.”
This year’s Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball was once again made possible by the committee’s star players and “The Three Amigos" – President/CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida Norm Wedderburn, InterContinental Miami General Manager and Gala Host Jack Miller, and Ball Chairman Shareef Malnik, proprietor of The Forge. Also honored at this year’s Ball were Lifetime Benefactors Al and Nancy Malnik, Wish Benefactor James Ferraro, Grand Benefactors Stanley and Gala Cohen, Founding Benefactors Howard and Barbara Glicken, and Corporate Benefactor Robert Press of Trafalgar Capital Advisors.
Following the reception, guests were summoned by performers camouflaged as walking foliage, centaurs, butterflies and mythical creatures into an enchanted ballroom for an indulgent three-course meal consisting of Cold Water Lobster a la Marche with Creole Mayo, Herb and Lettuce Bundle with Citrus Vinaigrette, and Filet of Beef with Gorgonzola on Polenta Disk with Potato Gratin with Madeira Reduction, as well as individual dessert presentations consisting of Rum-Infused Pineapple with Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Cup with Espresso Mousse and Chocolate Bonbon. The dinner portion of the evening commenced with a video presentation by Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Southern Florida President/CEO Norman Wedderburn, 2008 Ball Chairman Shareef Malnik and InterContinental Miami General Manager Jack J. Miller, followed by a surprise musical performance by 16-year-old Jonathan Rios, a Wish Child, who through the help of the Foundation now has an in-home music-recording studio. Longtime Make-A-Wish supporter Jim Ferraro opened the Wish Auction buying 40 wishes at $5,000 per wish, while Grand Benefactor Stanley Cohen successfully challenged his friends to match his purchase of 40 wishes. The wishes auction raised an astonishing $1.3 million.
The dinner gala continued with beats by Miami Heat’s own resident DJ Irie and an action-packed live auction hosted by Kim Kardashian, star of E’s Keeping up with the Kardashians and former contestant on Dancing with the Stars. A-list celebrities and Miami’s top VIPs and philanthropists bid on a series of items, including a 2009 Aston Martin DBS and six high-end vehicle rentals donated by THE COLLECTION; an Aspen home rental provided by Edward Freedman; a gentleman’s watch provided by celebrity jeweler Jacob & Co.; a package of 10 Lasik procedures by “surgeon to the stars” Dr. Cory Lessner of Millennium Laser Eye Centers; a private party for 500 with full bar at Mansion nightclub, courtesy of The Opium Group; a wine excursion provided by Southern Wine & Spirits with accommodations courtesy of InterContinental Buenos Aires; and a walk-on role on the hit HBO show Entourage, courtesy of cast member, actor Kevin Connelly.
In true InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball tradition, the grand finale of the event featured live music entertainment by The Honey Brothers, featuring actor Adrian Grenier, performing a number of tracks that filled the dance floor. The five-member band performed the Florida premier of "Won't Last Long," a single from the band’s forthcoming album that includes Grenier on vocals.
Following the Ball and for the first time in Intercontinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball’s history, the InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Nightclub celebrated the Ball’s endeavors and reintroduced the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida to its next generation of contributors and Miami’s premier buzz creators in the fashion, arts, music and nightlife industries. Hosted by Kim Kardashian and The Honey Brothers, along with Ball Chairman Shareef Malnik and Developer and nightlife impresario Michael Capponi, among others, the InterContinental Miami’s Chopin Ballroom was turned into a swank after-hours venue featuring a fashion show by designer Richie Rich with a performance by New York cult-favorite Tokyo Diiva [sic]. A vision in white, the nightclub was dominated by a long, elevated runway-cum-dance floor, flanked on either side by glowing white Lucite banquets. S&M-clad go-go dancers, progressive beats by DJ Joe Dirt and DJ Joe Santiago, and a light display that kept the crowd of 1300 celebrating until the early morning hours.
More than 900 A-list VIPs, socialites, philanthropists and celebrities attended the Ball, including Florida Governor Charlie Crist and fiancée Carole Rome, Senator Bob Graham, attorney Roy Black and wife Lea; Paris-based Esteban Cortazar, head designer for the house of Emanuel Ungaro; socialite Marita Stavrou, former Major League Baseball player Mike Piazza and wife Alicia, Founders of Market America J.R. and Loren Ridinger with daughter Amber, Managing Partner of The Opium Group, Eric Milon; Lifetime Benefactors Al and Nancy Malnik; attorney Jim Ferraro and wife Patricia Delinois; President of THE COLLECTION Ken Gorin, attorney Dan Weiss and wife, arts activist Merle; Michael Capponi and wife Erin Henry-Capponi, Lady Monica Heftler, Southern Wine and Spirits’ Wayne Chaplin and wife Arlene; philanthropist Norma Quintero; Dr. Julio Gallo, philanthropist Claudine Smurfit, socialites Dan and Tina Carlo, Michael Dreiling,Ocean Drive's Jacquelynn Powers and Suzy Buckley, Miami Herald's Lesley Abravanel, Chip and Allison Weiss Brady, Alan and Diane Lieberman as well as New York-based fashion designer Richie Rich.
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