Nicklaus Children’s Young Ambassadors hosted the 10^th annual Fashion Gives Back Fashion Show at Jungle Island for an evening of fashion, fun and fundraising in support of the Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower and healthcare institutes at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The new five-story, 127,000-square-foot surgical tower is set to open in 2024 and will provide world-class quality surgical care to patients in South Florida and beyond.

The “Midnight in Paris” themed celebration was emceed by NBC 6 news anchor Sheli Muñiz. Attendees came out in full force to support the patients and families of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, wearing Parisian-inspired outfits and dancing the night away while helping raise funds in style. During the program, guests enjoyed a special Saks Fifth Avenue runway fashion show with must-have trends of the season, while sampling delectable delights and sipping cocktails.

During the mission moment of this year’s event, guests learned about Stephanie, a Nicklaus Children’s patient who was born in Puerto Rico and brought to Miami for a fighting chance at life. Prior to Stephanie’s birth, her mother, Ivelisse, was told that the baby had a very slim chance of survival, yet the tiny neonate beat the odds after her arrival in the world. Born prematurely, Stephanie needed to be placed on a ventilator for breathing assistance. Her doctors in Puerto Rico didn’t think Stephanie would survive for very long, even with ventilation. But she exceeded all expectations, with help from the clinical team at Nicklaus Children’s. Today, Stephanie is a bright, energetic and kind 18-year-old who loves to help others and give back in any way she can.

“Watching Stephanie shine as she walked the runway reminded me how proud I am of her, and it filled my heart with joy,” said Ivelisse Cortijo, Stephanie’s mom. “After all the painful memories throughout the years, this shows us how much of a brave young lady she truly is.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit surgical care and invest in Nicklaus Children’s Hospitals institutes, which include Brain, Cancer and Blood Disorders, Orthopedics and Heart. Together, the surgical tower and the Institutes are part of an ambitious campaign for Nicklaus Children’s to continue to rise to meet the needs of kids in South Florida, the state of Florida and beyond – becoming a global destination for pediatric care.

“At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital we serve one million children per year, and about 15,000 of them require surgeries just like Stephanie,” said Adam Cava, vice president and chief operating officer of Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists. “Surgeries continue to grow in number each year at Nicklaus Children’s, so the funds raised tonight for the surgical tower are helping us ensure that we can continue to provide excellent surgical care for future generations.”

Guests rose to their feet for the grand finale, cheering Stephanie on as she confidently strutted the runway in support of the nearly one million children who turn to Nicklaus Children’s each year.

About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.