City Year Miami’s 3rd Annual Red Jacket Ball

“Celebrating Everyday Heroes”

More than 400 of Miami’s most influential corporate, political, and community leaders came together in support of City Year Miami at its 3rd annual Red Jacket Ball. Widely considered one of the most high-energy, highly-anticipated events of Miami’s benefit season, the Red Jacket Ball celebrated the work of 134 City Year Miami volunteers, also known as “corps members”, and raised funds for the organization’s in-school outreach programs.

Businesswoman and philanthropist Ravneet Chowdhury, Esq., served as the chair of the gala committee, which consisted of eight renowned leaders from within the Miami-Dade community: Ivette Arango, JC Del Valle, Gloria Fonts Suarez, Will Freyre, Dr. Anthony Japour, Cristina Llorente, Ben Moss, and Gillian Smith.

This year’s event began at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Brickell, beginning with a lively cocktail reception in addition to a silent auction. During the programming portion of the evening, City Year Miami honored Univision news anchor and EMMY-award winner Maria Elena Salinas and Miami-Dade County Public School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho for their longtime support of the

organization’s work in schools. Corps Member Keely Hanson was also invited to the stage to deliver a testimonial on her commitment to serve the students of Miami-Dade public schools. Her powerful story inspired Ms. Ravneet Chowdhury to give a generous personal gift of $100,000 to the organization that night. A special ‘After Hours Gala Post Party’, hosted by City Year Miami Board member Jose Fuentes of Fuentes & Rodriguez Consulting Group, took place at Segafredo’s in Brickell following the gala.

“City Year Miami’s impact within the Miami-Dade County Public School system has grown exponentially in recent years, and we have bold plans to expand our reach even further in 2012,” said Saif Ishoof, Executive Director of City Year Miami. “The financial support we received through our Red Jacket Ball provides the funding necessary for recruiting additional corps members and entering new schools next year. That involvement will make a direct, positive difference in the lives of students attending at-risk schools across our community.”

The Red Jacket Ball is City Year Miami’s largest fundraising event of the year, with 80% of all event revenues going directly to the organization’s programs. Corps members serve full-time in schools, providing academic support, mentoring, and after-school programming to students. They also lead various community-based service initiatives throughout the year. Currently, the corps includes 134 members at 13 schools across Miami-Dade County; plans are underway to expand to 200 corps members in 16 schools for the 2012 academic year.

Gala sponsors included Walmart as Title Sponsor; Comcast as Presenting Sponsor; and Brad & Cori Charitable Foundation, Beasley Broadcasting, CSX, Pasha’s, Publix, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Univision as the Gold sponsors. Silver sponsors inclulded Akerman, Bank of America, Becker & Poliakoff, Blanca Real Estate, Brickell Motors, Deloitte, First Student, Greenberg Traurig, Macy’s, Miami Dolphins, Miami Marlins, T-Mobile and Wells Fargo. Apollo Bank; FCT Technolgies; Ivette Arango Interior Design; and Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra sponsored the event at the Bronze level. The Miami Herald served as the official media sponsor, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. sponsored all the printing for the event. WLRN served as Lead Media Sponsor of City Year Miami.