The glamorous 27^th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball was held last month and raised in excess of $5.4 million, net of expenses – setting a new record for the event. The evening was headlined by the legendary Diana Ross, who performed her chart-topping hits including “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down.” Actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar returned for the 11^th year as celebrity emcee of the Ball, which was chaired by her husband, philanthropist Shareef Malnik.

Notable attendees included Miami Mayor Francis Suarez with wife Gloria Suarez, Food God (aka Jonathan Cheban), Alisan Porter, John Carter Cash; and Real Housewives of Miami stars Kiki Barth, Lisa Hochstein, Adriana de Moura, Larsa Pippen, and Dr. Nicole Martin.

Making Ball history, Peter and Tatiana Cancro, the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, and Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida Lifetime Benefactors Al and Nancy Malnik each made a transformation gift of $1 million, for a total of $3 million. Funds raised from the evening benefited Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, the non-profit organization that grants life-changing wishes for critically ill children.

This year’s Ball theme was “SUPERNATURE,” featuring an otherworldly realm of fantasy flora and fauna conceptualized by Creative Director Maxwell Blandford and creatively translated by DECO Productions. The hotel was transformed into an ethereal universe, the entrance dripping in green vines framing a crystalized tunneled walkway transporting guests to the white carpet where they were welcomed by Gala Host Glenn Sampert; Gala Chair Shareef M. Malnik; and Norman Wedderburn, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida – the trio affectionately known as the “Three Amigos.”