American Red Cross celebrates 29th Annual Ball

Commemorating its 29th year of fundraising with the help of an extraordinary committee, this year’s ball raised more than $530,000 in support of the local disaster response programs and other life saving programs offered by the Red Cross in South Florida.
Since 1992, the Red Cross ball has been established as one of Miami’s most prestigious social fundraising events. Chairmen Frances and Eugenio Sevilla-Sacasa continued the tradition of excellence and elegance this year. WPLG Ch. 10 anchor Laurie Jennings returned once again as mistress of ceremonies.
Guests enjoyed fine, hand-mixed drinks all night from the posh Bacardi Lounge and décor by Petal Productions with Flowers by USA Bouquet. Those who made an extra donation during the evening were eligible to win a Locman Tonneau diamond watch donated by Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour.
New to the ball this year was an electronic bidding system that allowed guests to bid wirelessly from individual iPods for silent auction items including a Celebrity Galapagos Cruise, a Yachts of Seabourn Cruise, artwork, wine and other fabulous prizes.
The 30th Anniversary Ball, next year, promises to be an affair that simply cannot be missed. It is scheduled for March 24th at the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne. For more information contact Kenia Tedesco at 305-728-2512 or tedescok@usa.redcross.org.
2011 Red Cross Ball Committee
Grand Humanitarians Dan & Trish Bell
Humanitarians Pam Garrison & Kirk Landon
Humanitarians representing Bank of America, Yoly & Bank of America Miami Market President, Gene Schaefer
Benefactors Jack & Jeannie Pfleger, Jim Murphy, Humanitarian Bunny Bastian
Mistress of Ceremonies, Laurie Jennings, Humanitarians Paul & Swanee DiMare
Humanitarians representing Flagler, Jose & Barbara Hevia
Humanitarians Marie-Ilene & Thomas Whitehurst
Chris Pedersen with Humanitarian and 2012 Red Cross Ball Chair Terry Buoniconti
Red Cross CEO Sam Tidwell & Nancy Tidwell, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart & Tia Diaz-Balart
Red Cross Board Chairman Marielena Villamil, US Southern Command Commander, General Douglas Fraser
Dan & Trish Bell, Paul Frascella, Betty Brody
Chris Pedersen and Terry Buoniconti, Aura Reinhardt, Ken Sutter
Benefactors Jack & Natasha Lowell, Tony Villamil
Benefactors Robert & Ana Codina Barlick
Chris & Ed Joyce, Northern Trust’s Region President of Miami-Dade County
Candido Quintana and Betty Lopez-Castro
Laurie Jennings, Alicia Cervera Lamadrid, Maria Beguiristain, Brenda Castellano
Michael Spetko, Vivian-Patricia Garcia, Santiago J. Alvarez and Maria-Rosa Lopez Muñoz
Mike & Margaret Eidson, Bill & Barbara Reese
Stacy and Thomas Briggle, Benefactor Rita Michel
Liz & Adolfo Henriques, Darlene & Jorge Perez
Christian de Berduore, Jennifer Valoppi, Leslie Lott, Michael Moore
Humanitarian Sponsor Bacardi USA's special drink, the Humanitini
29th Annual American Red Cross Ball
American Red Cross Board Members