Sixth Annual “Wild About Kids” Gala
Raises over $115,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade


Live Red Carpet
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade hosted its sixth annual “Wild About Kids” black-tie optional gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Brickell. Net proceeds from the gala, totaling more than $115,000, will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade and its many positive programs for 10,000 area children who need them the most.
Danell Leyva, who won the bronze medal at the London 2012 Summer Olympics for men’s gymnastics, was honored with Boys & Girls Clubs Hometown Hero award during the event.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s Youth of the Year Ahbria Marshall was honored and spoke as an alumna of the organization about what she accomplished thanks to Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.
The gala was emceed by Lynn Martinez of WSVN’s Deco Drive and celebrity chef Ralph Pagano. Guests enjoyed a unique “live” red carpet welcome (a model was attached to the end of the red carpet) as they entered the cocktail reception and silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind items. The gala included a dinner program, live music, dancing and much more.

Alex Rodriguez-Roig, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Director, Christina Rodriguez-Roig, Elizabeth Elias, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Alumni, Lynn Martinez, WSVN Channel 7 and Anchor DECO Drive, Nicholas Olson
Miami’s own South Florida celebrity artist David “LEBO” Le Batard, who previously created a “Wall of Art” for Kendall Boys & Girls Club with LeBron James, donated a piece of his original artwork inspired by the organization’s mission statement to the silent auction.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade alumna and singer, dancer and model 14-year-old Elizabeth Elias sang the National Anthem to kick off the dinner program and wowed attendees with her vocals following the official program. Children from the Hank Kline Club performed to a choreographed dance routine to Celebration.
Attendees, including South Florida’s top community leaders, had the opportunity at the event to sponsor a child through donations.
For the first time, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade held an after party at the Four Seasons Hotel Brickell, which included music, dancing, a full bar, tapas-style food and entertainment by a Frank Sinatra impersonator who “jazzed up” the wee hours. The party continued until 3 a.m. Members of Club Blue, Young Professionals for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, enjoyed the after party and encouraged other young people to participate.

Olga Guilarte, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Special Event Chair, Eris Thomas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Co-Chair, Lana DeSimone, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Co-Chair, Danell Leyva, Olympic Bronze Medal Gymnastics, Irene Korge, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Co-Chair and Alex Rodriguez-Roig, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Director
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Board of Directors Chair Barry Stein said, “The sixth annual gala was the best we have hosted yet. We are very thankful to all attendees for raising a great amount of funds to support our programs.”
The gala was chaired by Lana DeSimone, Irene Korge and Eris Thomas, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Chair of Special Events Olga Guilarte. Sponsors included: Presenting Sponsor Miami Marlins, Gold Sponsor Carmen Rebozo Foundation Inc., Silver Sponsors DeSimone and Academica, and Bronze Sponsors James T. Bernhardt, Irene Korge, Bermont Advisory Group/Raymond James/Morgan Keegan, Comcast, Matty’s Sports, Ocean Bank, Coral Gables Executive Physicians, Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm, and Discovery Latin America.
Andres Guilarte, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade “Club Blue” founder & Pamela Navarro Wright
Elizabeth Elias, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Alumna
Nina and Dr. Constatino Mendieta
Celebrity Chef Ralph Pagano of Alba on Miami Beach, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Co-Emcee
Rodolfo Lleonart, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, “Club Blue” Chair & Aimee Cabrera
Dr. Steve Roth & Jeanie Hernandez, Comcast
Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Hank Kline Club “Dance Team”
Howard Dreitzer, Susan Renneisen, Jennifer Wengert, Debbie Pisano, Alexander Hernandez, Steve Pyle, and Henry Wengert, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Eddie Lacasa, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala committee member and his wife Silvia
Jessica Gutierrez, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade “Club Blue” Chair & Eric Goldberg
Judy & Robert Kramer, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Committee and Board
Olga Guilarte, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Special Events Chair, Claudia Rabuffo & Alba Uribe
Lazaro Elias, Elizabeth Elias, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Alumna & Mary Elias
Lynn Martinez, WSVN Channel 7 and DECO Drive anchor
Joan & Jim Bernhardt, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Committee & Chair Emeritus
NBC Meteorologist John Morales and his wife Carmen Morales
Irene Korge, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Gala Co-Chair, Eris Thomas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Co-Chair, Danell Leyva, “Hometown Hero” Award Recipient, Barry Stein, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Chair
Dr. Eugenio Hernandez & Ms. Lana DeSimone, BGC Gala Co-Chair
Mr. & Mrs. Fred C. Rebozo, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Committee and Mr. & Mrs. Barfield
Mr. & Mrs. Perez Vidal, Sheila Gonzalez, principal Matter Grove Academy, Vivian Del Valle, Elizabeth Toledo and Daniel Toledo
Flowers by ALORE Event Firm
Jackie Gonzalez & husband Nelson Gonzalez, Miami Children’s Hospital
Christina Lopez & huband Gustavo Lopez, Discovery Latin America
Tom Bezold, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Board Member and Gala committee member and Alina Guasch
Judge Norma Lindsey, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Director and Gene Lindsey
Loriet Bernal, US Bronze Medalist Danell Leyva, Olga Guilarte, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Special Events Chair, Alex Rodriguez-Roig, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Director, and Cristina Rodriguez-Roig
Original LEBO inspired by Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade
Lee Swanger and Amy Vogel
Raul Marmol, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Executive Committee & “Humanitarian Award” recipient, Anna Marmol, Olga Guilarte, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Special Events Chair, Lori Cohen, and Norty Cohen