InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball Celebrates its 30th Year with a VIP Kickoff Soiree

Photo Credit: WorldRedEye.com

Supporters of the InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball attended an invitation-only kickoff soiree at InterContinental® Miami to toast the most spectacular gala to date – the 30th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball, to be held November 1, 2025.

For three unforgettable decades, this premier philanthropic event has become a beacon of hope for children facing critical illnesses – raising more than $47,000,000 for Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida and granting over 8,700 life-changing wishes.

Photo Credit: Manny Hernandez

The Ball’s glamorous theme, with references to both “Cleopatra” and “Old Hollywood,” was incorporated into the kickoff party, with clever film set vignettes featuring director’s chairs and branded clapboards.

InterContinental® Miami Executive Chef Francesco Martini and his team created theatrical culinary experiences, including butler-passed gourmet popcorn, Mediterranean hors d’oeuvre stations featuring individual charcuterie boards and crudites, and savory risotto and farro served from massive wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Welcoming remarks were given by Gala Host & InterContinental® Miami General Manager Glenn Sampert; Gala Chair & Chairman Emeritus of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Shareef Malnik; and President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Norman Wedderburn – a.k.a. “The Three Amigos” — as well as Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Chairman of the Board of Directors Eugene Frenkel.

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After the uplifting speeches, Wish Kid Courtney Priede, now 24, gave her wish testimony — telling guests of her long bout with Ulcerative Colitis, and her restorative wish in July 2016 “To explore the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.” Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs, Courtney and her family found a renewed sense of peace and wonder, allowing them to reconnect with the world beyond hospital walls – in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

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The evening’s entertainment was an avant-garde dance performance of voguing Cleopatras, presented by New Century Dance Company and Deco Productions. DJ Jovana kept the high-energy vibe going strong as guests including artist Romero Britto and Real Housewives of Miami star Adriana De Moura raised their glasses to the transformative power of a wish.

Photo Credit: Manny Hernandez

Tickets for the 30th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish Ball are limited; please visit sfla.wish.org. Make-A-Wish Southern Florida has granted more than 15,000 wishes in its 40-plus-year history. The charity grants more than 500 wishes annually to local children with critical illnesses, plus another 350+ wishes in collaboration with other chapters.