22nd Annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball


John Legend performing
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/.
Norm Wedderburn, Al Malnik, Alisan Porter, Gabrielle Anwar, Shareef Malnik, Robert Hill
The Make-A-Wish Ball featured a La Nuit De L Animal Theme
Alisan Porter performing
The La Nuit De L Animal Theme
Gala Chair Shareef Malnik and Celebrity Emcee Gabrielle Anwar
Bob & Alysia Press
Alex de Armas & Marina Diez
The La Nuit De L Animal Theme
Fashion Show by Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour
Norm Wedderburn, Shareef Malnik, Robert Hill
Roberta & Harvey Chaplin
Danny Perez, Jr., Danny Perez, Ken Gorin
Brian Holland
Al and Nancy Malnik
Joe Perez, David Perez, Jr.
Fashion Show by Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour
Greg & Brenda Baty
Gabrielle Anwar, Drew & Lisa Mandala
DJ Jermaine Dupri
Norm Wedderburn, Shareef Malnik, John Legend, Eugene Frenkel
Robert & Breda Hill
Gabrielle Anwar & Sandra Moss
Gala & Stanley Cohen
Jonathan Babicka, Missy Babicka, Angela Santamaria and Aaron Resnick
Carly & Steve Patterson
Silent Auction
Kamal Hotchandani & Wayne Chaplin
Alex De Armas, Shareef Malnik, Gabrielle Anwar
The Make-A-Wish Ball featured a La Nuit De L Animal Theme