Gisele Bündchen and Karlie Kloss Just Had a Million-Dollar Night in Miami

Gisele Bündchen and Karlie Kloss know how to command a room. On October 29, the spotlight came with a shared purpose: helping Lotus House raise $1 million for women and children experiencing homelessness.

The supermodels and philanthropists were honored at Lotus House’s 16th annual gala, benefiting the Miami nonprofit and its initiatives to end and prevent homelessness. Held at The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse in Wynwood, the evening brought together the city’s business, civic, and philanthropic community for a Halloween-inspired “Sparkles and Costumes” celebration. Dressing up, doing good, and a seven-figure fundraising total? A productive Thursday night.

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

Both members of the Lotus Endowment Board, Bündchen and Kloss received the organization’s It Takes a Village Award in recognition of their leadership, philanthropy, and hands-on commitment to its mission.

“I’m so grateful to be part of the Lotus House family, where an incredible team and volunteers work with so much love to give women and children hope for a brighter future,” Bündchen said while accepting the honor. “It reminds me that even the smallest acts of kindness can grow into something extraordinary.”

Kloss echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the many ways people can contribute.

“That’s what makes Lotus House so special. It’s a reminder that we all have something to give, whether it’s our time, our resources, or simply showing up for one another,” she said. “Because a village isn’t just something we’re part of. It’s something we build together.”

That idea has been central to Lotus House since it opened in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood in 2006. Described by the organization as the nation’s largest women’s homeless shelter, it has provided shelter and support to more than 13,500 women, youth, and children over nearly two decades. Along the way, it has served more than three million meals and given over 400 newborns their first home.

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

Today, Lotus House shelters more than 520 women, youth, and children each night. A safe place to sleep is the starting point for a broader network of services, including therapy, education, and employment support, designed to help guests build stability beyond their stay.

Some of the evening’s most powerful moments belonged to people who have experienced that work firsthand. Three short films shared the stories of Lotus House alumni, tracing their journeys from crisis toward independence and showing how access to shelter, counseling, education, and job support helped them move forward.

The gala also recognized Miami Innovators Who Care, spearheaded by Lotus House board members Seth Cassel and Rachna Bhasin, with the Community Impact Award. Libby Klein was remembered with the Legacy of Love Award, while Lotus House alum Za’Niyah Huffman received the Youth Volunteer Award.

The organization’s next chapter is already taking shape beside its shelter. Opened in 2025, the 71,000-square-foot Children’s Village brings nonprofit partners together under one roof to provide education, therapy, healthcare, and social support. Its reach extends to both Lotus House families and the wider Overtown community, with services intended to help at-risk families remain housed.

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

That focus on prevention expands the possibilities of what a shelter can accomplish. Helping a family before it loses its home, supporting a child’s development, and giving a mother the resources to regain her independence all form part of the same mission.

“From our earliest days, our vision has been to give women and children the safety, care and opportunities they need to build a brighter future,” said Lotus House founder Constance Collins. “The opening of Lotus Village, followed by the Children’s Village, has allowed us to deepen that support and reach more families in our Overtown community.”

In 2025 alone, Lotus House served more than 1,450 women, youth, and children, providing 182,000 bed nights and 10,000 counseling sessions. The organization reports that 86 percent of Lotus Village guests successfully exited the shelter system—a meaningful measure of the work happening long after a gala’s final toast.

Funds raised during the evening will support Lotus House, the Children’s Village, and the National Women’s Shelter Network, extending the impact of a Miami institution whose ambitions reach well beyond its own neighborhood.

“When we help a mother regain her independence or a child heal and thrive, the impact extends across generations,” Collins said.

The evening had its sparkle. The $1 million raised gives that generosity somewhere concrete to go: meals, shelter, counseling, and the support a family needs to begin again.

Photo Credit: World Red Eye

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For more giving back in style, explore Haute Living’s philanthropy coverage, and look back at the 99th annual Miami Beach Ball.