Aretha Franklin, Courtney Love and Gloria Estefan Turn Up The Heat at Blacks’ Annual Gala 20th Anniversary

VIPs in attendance included Courtney Love; Gloria and Emilio Estefan; special guest host Ross Mathews of E!;  Flo Rida; Grey Goose ambassador Swizz Beatz; Amy Purdy of Dancing with the Stars; Lisa and Lenny Hochstein of The Real Housewives of Miami; gubernatorial candidate Charlie Christ; Nick Loeb, entrepreneur and socialite; Greg Lotus, famed editorial photographer; David and Jacqueline Siegel of The Queen of Versailles; race car driver Helio Castroneves; and socialite Tinsley Mortimer.

Guests enjoyed a GREY GOOSE cocktail reception and silent auction which featured items like a one-year lease on a 2015 Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe courtesy of Warren Henry Jaguar, exotic trips, special sporting events, fine jewelry, and other high-ticket items. Afterwards, a gourmet dinner was served while a special video presentation with personal video messages from gala supporters Andy Cohen, Mario Lopez, Andrea Bocelli, Rush Limbaugh, Heather McDonald, Amy Philips, Congressman Patrick Murphy and Lennox Lewis, was played.

Mayor Levine also proclaimed October 25th as “Lea Black Day” and presented her with a key to the city as recognition for 20 years of fundraising and philanthropy. This event has raised several million dollars over the last two decades and benefitted The Consequences Charity, Teach for America, Breakthrough Miami and other worthy causes that support at-risk youth.

Sponsors which made the event possible included Haute Living, Warren Henry Auto Group, GREY GOOSE and the Mariano Foundation.