22nd Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball

Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida and InterContinental® Miami celebrated the 22nd Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball. The theme of this year’s ball — “La Nuit de l’Animal: A Fairy Tale” – was inspired by enchantment, majestic animals and fantasy. In what has become a Ball tradition, the dramatic opening involved a procession of creatures summoning the 900 attendees from the lavish cocktail reception to the Grand Ballroom for dinner. Welcoming the evening’s guests were the Ball’s “Three Amigos” – Shareef Malnik, philanthropist, Chairman of the Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida Board, and owner of The Forge Restaurant; Robert Hill, Gala Host and InterContinental® Miami General Manager; and Norm Wedderburn, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. Actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar served as celebrity emcee for the sixth consecutive year.

The star-studded celebration was headlined by nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend, presented by Finker-Frenkel Legacy Foundation, with an opening performance by Alisan Porter, winner of “The Voice.” The Ball, hosted by the InterContinental® Miami, in-kind donor for the past 22 years, raised donations for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The fantastical ball was followed by the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Nightclub, presented by E11EVEN MIAMI, featuring DJ Jermaine Dupri, hip-hop recording artist and producer. An extravagant runway show was curated by Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour, with models coifed by Danny Jelaca Hair and faces groomed by Beauty for Real, Belle and Co.

For more information about Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida’s programs, and to find ways to get involved, visit sfla.wish.org/.