MAKE-A-WISH® SOUTHERN FLORIDA LIFE TIME BENEFACTORS
AL AND NANCY MALNIK CELEBRATE WITH GUESTS AT ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY
Private affair salutes 2017 and a return to November’s highly anticipated
24th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball
Miami, FL (April 2018) — Al and Nancy Malnik, Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida “Lifetime Benefactors,” hosted their annual Garden Party on Sunday, April 8. The private occasion, held at their Ocean Ridge, Florida residence welcomed more than 200 supporters to celebrate the kickoff of the highly anticipated 24th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball, taking place Saturday, November 3, 2018.
Shareef Malnik, Chairman of Board of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, Gala Chair of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball, and proprietor of The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar, announced this year’s theme will beSummer of Lovewhile rallying excitement for another spectacular sell-out event and what is again expected to be the charity’s largest Ball to date. Shareef also announced the return of Ball celebrity emcee, actress and filmmaker Gabrielle Anwar for the 8th year.
The elegant garden party featured passed canapes and cocktails while guests were treated to a special live performance by Dreams of Crystal Vision band playing classic hits by Fleetwood Mac. Attendees of the annual spring soiree included hosts Al and Nancy Malnik; Ball Chairman, Board Chair and Founder of Chairman’s Challenge Society Shareef Malnik and 2011-2018 Ball emcee and Chairman’s Challenge Society member Gabrielle Anwar; President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, Norman Wedderburn; InterContinental® Miami General Manager and Gala Host Robert Hill and wife Breda Hill; Chairman’s Challenge Societymembers Richard and Robin Weisman, Denise Crowley and Greg Sienema; Make-A-Wish ® Southern Florida Board Members Mayte Fernandez, Joseph Perez, Jodi Siravo, Richard Weissman, Dennis Crowley, Danielle Gonzalez and Miami notables including Laura Buccellati, Fabian Basabe, Linda Levy Goldberg, Lily Zinardi, Christina Termaine, Jolie Balido, Stephen and Deanna Snyder, Jen Montoya, Renee Lopez-Cantea, ElaineLancaster, NickD’Annunzio, Richard and Susan Finkelstein,Howard and Barbara Glicken, Robby Elias, and Jesus Rohena.
The afternoon concluded with an endearing speech by Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida Wish recipient, now an adult, Devon Vickers who was granted the wish of meeting former American President Bill Clinton as a child. The experience inspired her to pursue her dreams of practicing law in order to give back to those in need, much like Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida did for her. Today, she’s a successful lawyer with Greenberg Traurig who collaborates Pro Bono with the wish-granting organization.
Annual Make-A-Wish Garden Party 2018 – Ambiance
Annual Make-A-Wish Garden Party 2018 – Guests
The Malnik Family and the Three Amigos
ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH® SOUTHERN FLORIDA
Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has granted more than 11,000 wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. The nonprofit organization serves families in Southern Florida plus the Tampa Bay and Suncoast areas of Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It receives no federal or state funding and raises money to grant wishes through corporate sponsorships, special events, foundation grants, and individual contributions. The Southern Florida chapter grants a wish every 14 hours, every day of the year, at an average cost of more than $5,000. For more information, to make a donation, volunteer or refer a child, contact Make-A-Wish at (888) 773-WISH. www.sfla.wish.org.
The 2017 InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball raised $2.3 million, bringing the total amount raised over the event’s history to $23.3 million dollars, enough to grant nearly more than 4,800 wishes. The annual Ball, which is regarded as one of Miami charity season’s leading events, is the highest grossing fundraising event for the Southern Florida Chapter of Make-A-Wish® Foundation.
To purchase tickets to the November 3rd Ball, please call 954-967-9474 ext. 318.
ABOUT INTERCONTINENTAL®MIAMI
Celebrating over 30 years as an icon of the Downtown Miami skyline, the InterContinental® Miami is located at the crossroads of Miami’s Business and Arts & Entertainment districts. A beacon for business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel rises 34 stories over the city with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami. The hotel features 641 luxury guest rooms, including 34 suites and two presidential suites designed by Venus William’s V Starr Interiors; 35 meeting rooms with over 101,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and exhibition space, including a spectacular Grand Ballroom; multiple food and beverage outlets – Toro Toro, ¡Ole!, Bluewater, Table 40 and the hotel’s interactive digital arts lobby lounge; full-service fitness center and spa at mySpa Miami; and rooftop pool deck with gardens. The InterContinental Miami is a proud corporate citizen of the Miami-Dade community, invested through its annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, and its corporate social responsibility program. For more information or reservations, call 305-577-1000 or visit www.icmiamihotel.com.
