Record-Breaking 33rd Annual American Red Cross Ball Raises Funds for Disaster Prevention & Preparedness Efforts
The Sold-Out Event Hosted Prominent Community Officials and Influencers


The 33rd Annual American Red Cross Ball, presented by FPL, was held at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. Guests were treated to a reception and silent auction, courtesy of the Bacardi lounge, and enjoyed a magical evening produced by WOW Factor Marketing featuring a monochromatic red theme. Notable event attendees included Miami-Dade County District 13 Commissioner Esteban Bovo, City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and numerous influential philanthropists.
Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., were this year’s 2015 Red Cross Ball Chairs and named this year’s theme: ‘In Giving, We Receive.’ The American Red Cross Ball is an elegant fundraising event focused on building awareness and raising funds to help South Florida prevent and prepare for disaster. This is one of South Florida’s most prestigious social affairs and a continuously successful event for the American Red Cross. Due to its popularity, the event was sold-out months in advance. More than 500 prominent leaders of the South Florida social and corporate communities attended.
Speakers at the Ball included Chairs, Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq.; Alfred Sanchez, Regional Executive for American Red Cross South Florida Region; and Ed Joyce, American Red Cross Board Chair of Greater Miami & The Keys.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) was the Ball’s presenting sponsor. Trish & Dan Bell, as well as Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., were recognized as Grand Humanitarian Sponsors. The following were also acknowledged as Humanitarian Sponsors: AT&T Florida, Bacardi USA, Baptist Health South Florida, Bunny Bastian, The Batchelor Foundation, Betty Brody, Teresa Buoniconti and Chris Pedersen, Ana and Tony Figueroa-Cisneros, Swanee and Paul DiMare, Teresita and Michael Haskett, Meg Wright/ The Garner Foundation, Betty Lopez-Castro, Miami Marlins, Northern Trust, Mayi De La Vega/ One Sotheby’s Realty, Ryder System, Robin and Susan Shelley, Teco, Christy and David Martin/ Terra Group, U.S. Trust, Rita and Gary Wilder/ The Wilder Foundation.
A group of socially prominent women volunteers started this annual Ball in 1982; their tradition continues today with a committee of steadfast leaders who work tirelessly to support and deliver the American Red Cross mission.
For more information about the 33rd Annual American Red Cross Ball presented by FPL, contact Kenia Tedesco at 305-728-2512 or Kenia.Tedesco@redcross.org.
Grand Humanitarians Trish & Dan Bell
Humanitarian Sponsors Paul & Swanee DiMare
Candido Quintana; Humanitarian Sponsor Betty Lopez-Castro
Board Chair Ed Joyce representing Humanitarian Sponsor Northern Trust; Executive Director Alfred Sanchez, Irene & David White representing Presenting Sponsor FPL; Marile & Jorge Luis Lopez
Dan & Trish Bell; Margaret & Mike Eidson; Frances Sevilla-Sacasa
Humanitarian Sponsor Bunny Bastian; James Murphy
Alfred Sanchez; Phillis Oeters representing Humanitarian Sponsor Baptist Health South Florida; Mayor Tomas Regalado & Ana Cristina Regalado; Jorge Luis Lopez
Humanitarian Sponsors Betty Brody and Paul Frascella
Humanitarian Sponsors Chris Pedersen & Terry Buoniconti; Christine Lynn, John Gallo; Benefactor Sponsor Rita Michel
Venny Torre; Aura Reinhardt, representing Humanitarian Sponsor Bacardi; Matthew Meehan; Coco Palenque Torre; Rod Hildebrant
Humanitarian Sponsors Nancy & Jon Batchelor; Barbara & Bill Reese
Eugene Gordon & Ileana Bravo; Alex Montague; Maria Alonso representing Humanitarian Sponsor Bank of America
Carrie Bodin; Julia Underwood; Meg Wright representing Humanitarian Sponsor Garner Foundation; Chris Lane; Carole Cookson
Humanitarian Sponsor David & Christina Martin; Alfred Mesa representing Humanitarian Sponsor Miami Marlins
Benefactor Sponsors Carlos Arriola & Cristina Miranda; Benefactor Sponsors Zayda & Jose Hernandez
David & Julia Bianchi; Betty Lopez-Castro; Candido Quintana
Jorge Luis & Marile Lopez; Lilliam & Gus Machado
Benefactor Sponsors Carlos & Marta Ligia Lopez-Cantera; Maggie & Ernie Diaz
Dr. Patricio & Yuri Rossi; Marile & Jorge Luis Lopez
Cesar Mendoza; Alex Villoch; Marile & Jorge Luis Lopez
Adriana Bermudez; Marile & Jorge Luis Lopez; Nora Bulnes
Brian & Jane Mormille; Eugenio & Frances Sevilla-Sacasa; Paul & Swanee DiMare; Yolie & Gene Schaefer
Guests Dancing to the Soul Survivors Band
Guests enjoying DJ Robin
American Red Cross Board Members
Top row: Teresa Haskett, Jeny Parker, Zayda Paz Hernandez, Rita Michel, Kimberly Anzivino, Eilah Beavers, Suzy Buckley Woodward, Daniela Swaebe, Christina Martin, Linda Levy Goldberg, Susannah Shubin Middle row: Mari Grimalt, Barbara Reese, Janelle Patty, Jeanie Pfleger, Marta Ligia Lopez-Cantera, Lee Damus, Kristine Wenzel, Stacy Briggle Bottom row; Ana Hernandez, Debbie Campbell, Betty Brody, Trish Bell, Marile Lopez, Swanee DiMare, Terry Buoniconti, Mary Frances Irvin, Marie-Ilene Whitehurst Not pictured: Maria Beguiristain, Julia Bianchi, Paula Brockway, Tina Carlo, Brenda Nestor Castellano, Pamela Cole, Joyce Dickerson, Barbara Hevia, Carol Iacovelli, Jean Jenkins, Beth Johnson, Betty Lopez-Castro, Maria Rosa Lopez-Muñoz, Natasha Lowell, Ginger Mead, Cristina Miranda, Phyllis Parsons, Frances Sevilla-Sacasa, Rita Wilder, Michele Wiseheart