Close to 600 business and community leaders were on hand for the YMCA of South Florida’s annual Beach Ball Gala, presented by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.  It was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, a Titanium Sponsor for the event.

The YMCA of South Florida’s signature fundraiser, the Beach Ball raised more than $720,000 to benefit the Y’s Aquatic Financial Assistance program, which provides free swim lessons and water safety instruction in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties for at-risk children, teens, families, caregivers and children with special needs who are a part of the Y’s Swim Buddies program.  It also includes the Y’s Mobile Aquatics program, the distribution of water watcher tags to encourage adult supervision as well as other components which help to expand the reach of water safety instruction in the community and emphasize its importance.

Since 2016, funds generated have made it possible to provide swim lessons and water safety education to more than 150,000 children in local communities.

Brown & Brown Insurance Miami-Dade was presented with the YMCA of South Florida’s Lifesaver Award, which is given annually to a community member or organization who exemplifies the spirit of commitment to drowning prevention, providing significant support to the cause.

Themed “Rock with Us!,” the Beach Ball treated guests to a magical evening offering both live and silent auctions, as well as a night filled with dancing and live musical entertainment highlighted with a remote performance by the grandfather of hip hop, Grandmaster Flash, thanks to the Y’s friends at Winterfest.

In addition to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Beach Ball 2023 was proudly supported by Brown & Brown Insurance Miami-Dade, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Bacardi USA, Delta Air Lines, Miami Heat Charitable Fund, Publix Super Markets Charities, Related Group and Milner Inc., among many others.