Women of Tomorrow’s Annual Gala

Philanthropists and community leaders gathered to raise funds for at-risk young women

The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program celebrated 19 years of mentoring in South Florida at its annual gala, welcoming more than 400 of Miami’s most influential and philanthropic individuals for a spectacular evening to benefit at-risk young women.

This is the premier fundraising event for the program founded and headquartered in Miami and held at the Mandarin Oriental Miami. It kicked off with an elegant cocktail reception, where guests had the opportunity to bid on luxury goods and services provided by brands including, Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour, GUCCI, Lafayette 148 New York and The Loews Hotel Miami Beach. The cocktail reception was followed by dinner in the ballroom and a night of dancing to the sounds of Soul Survivors. One lucky guest went home with a 2-year, pre-paid lease courtesy of THE COLLECTION, another will be heading to The American Music Awards. Other live auction items included items from KAUFMANFRANCO, Ingrid Hoffmann, Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour and Daniela Swaebe Fine Jewelry. During the gala, the young women impacted by the work of Women of Tomorrow joined supporters for a special moment of gratitude.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, a not-for profit organization with a mission to inspire, motivate and empower at-risk young women to live up to their full potential through a unique mentoring program with highly accomplished professional women and scholarship opportunities.

The gala is made possible by program founders Jennifer Valoppi and Don Browne; Gala & Philanthropic Chair Marisa Toccin Lucas, founder of LineaLuxe.com; Co-Vice President the Honorable Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade County State Attorney; Humanitarian Honoree Edie Laquer of The Laquer Foundation; Leadership Award Honorees Carol Iacovelli, Daniela Swaebe, and Suzy Buckley Woodward; Legacy Builder Honorees Randy and Gigi Whitman; Mentor of the Year, Local 10 Anchor Neki Mohan; with public relations support from TARA, Ink. Randy Whitman is the Chairman of Whitman Family that owns Bal Harbour Shops, the site of the groundbreaking Women of Tomorrow Sculpture, located in the center courtyard.

For more information about events or Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, call 305.371.3330 or visit www.womenoftomorrow.org.