Educate Tomorrow’s “Gala-ry” at the Rubell Family Collection
Benefiting their programs to serve current and former foster youth


Virginia Emmons McNaught, Will Osborne and Karen Betchel
Several neon decorated electric-violin players, paired with a DJ, set the mood, while artwork, fittingly by teenage artists, provided the backdrop for the Educate Tomorrow’s 12th annual fundraising event. Allowing the exhibit to provide the color, the over 350 guests wore only black, white and neutral colors. The only attendees wearing color were Educate Tomorrow College Graduates, the organization celebrates it’s 100th in 2016, making them easily recognizable and encouraging guests to engage them in conversation.
The evening’s program, emceed by City Year Senior Vice President Charlie Rose, featured a special presentation to the night’s Honorees, the Simkins Family, the Market President for Bank of America, Gene Schaefer, announced Educate Tomorrow being named a 2015 Neighborhood Builders Award winner, which includes a $200,000 investment from the bank, and the highlight of the night: five Educate Tomorrow Alumni who shared their stories of overcoming, seemingly insurmountable, challenges to break cycles of generational poverty and become college graduates, mentors, graphic designers, educators and in one young woman’s case, a lawyer! Their stories awed and inspired all in attendance; after they finished speaking, there was not a dry eye in the house.
In addition to Bill Hansen Catering, Smith and Wollensky along with Jaguar Spoon Bar and Latin Grill provided delicious tapas style plates while drink sponsors Bacardi USA and Concrete Beach Brewery provided the open bar.

Ryan and Brett McNaught
Event sponsors, individual donations and a silent auction, featuring everything from artwork, to weeklong cruises, to exclusive hotels and restaurants, raised a record amount for Educate Tomorrow to continue to offer, as well as expand, the critical life changing interventions it provides to over 500 highly vulnerable young people in Miami.
The Rubell Family Collection was a perfect venue, so much so that Educate Tomorrow plans to hold the event next year, and for many years to come, at The Rubell. This is definitely an event you do not want to miss in 2017!
Andrew Falsetto, Daniel Radrizzani and Carlos Fornaris
Roy & Alexandra Emmons
Guests enjoying Educate Tomorrow's cocktail reception
Guests at the cocktail reception
Guests at the cocktail reception
Sara Camacho and Ritu Duffy
Educate Tomorrow's guests at the cocktail reception
The scene at the Rubell Family Collection
Tom & Ginger Foulger, Chris Damian and Oscar Carvallo
Argon Perry and Kele Stewart
Entertainment by Litus Music
Educate Tomorrow's evening program
Educate Tomorrow's Silent Auction
Guests awaiting Graduate Fellows' testimonials
Steve Rios and John Lopez
Jennifer Pakradooni, Judge Eig, Amy Federman, Tom Culmo and Melanie Damian
Guests walking Educate Tomorrow's red carpet