Fifth Annual “Wild About Kids” Gala
Benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade
It was a magical night for the 330 guests attending Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Fifth Annual “Wild About Kids” gala, not only because they enjoyed an elegant evening of dinner, dancing and more, but also because they raised more than $115,000 net for positive programs for area children who need them the most. Proceeds from this year’s gala exceed the amount raised at the 2010 gala.
Guests, many of whom were South Florida’s top community leaders, were welcomed to the gala at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove with glamour: as they entered the event on a red carpet, they were served champagne from a woman displaying the champagne on her dress and “dazzled” at a red carpet step and repeat.
The gala program began with the colors presented by the United States Southern Command and U.S. Army Color Guard Recruiting Battalion-Miami. followed by the pledge of allegiance.
Guests danced the night away to the sounds of Junior’s Band, in the spirit of celebration of youth in the South Florida community. An exceptionally touching aspect of the gala was the documentary-style videos produced by WSVN-TV Channel 7 Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and Comcast, which showcased success stories about a few children in Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.
Attendees participated in a silent auction, which raised significant funds. In addition, many guests pledged to sponsor a child of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade for $250 each.
Upon leaving the gala, all attendees received a special goodie bag including special notecards designed by children who attend programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and items from the new Miami Marlins. Sugarsweet Dreams Cake Company displayed a “sweets table” consisting of cake pops, cupcakes and cookies emblazoned with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade logo, accompanied by hot chocolate.
Gala sponsors included Presenting Sponsor The Miami Marlins, Gold Sponsor Carmen Rebozo Foundation, Inc., Silver Sponsors Verizon and Comcast Cable, Bronze Sponsors Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm and Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra LLC; Media Sponsor WSVN-TV Channel 7, Beverage Sponsor Bacardi, In-kind sponsors Winn-Dixie and Eppa Sangria and Car Display Sponsor The Collection. Lynn Martinez, anchor of WSVN-TV Channel 7 Miami/Ft. Lauderdale’s Deco Drive, served as the evening’s emcee.
“We’re very pleased that this year’s gala was a great success,” said gala chair and Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade executive board member S. Shawn Khosravi, president of Bankers Companies. “The funds raised will help us to continue to change the lives of local children, instilling in them a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and power or influence.
