Saturday, March 12, 2016 – Hundreds upon hundreds donned their finest gilded masks, elaborate tiered gowns, and suited up to support the Little Lighthouse Foundation (LLF) as it kicked off its signature black tie affair for the seventh straight year in a row. Set against none other than the breathtaking Miami skyline, The Deck at Island Gardens, picturesquely perched along the perimeter of Watson Island, played host to the Venetian Carnival-inspired evening, which raised over $100,000 to fund its pursuit of alleviating the burden of educational, financial, and medical hardship affecting children and their families.
A true beacon of light in the local community of which it serves, the LLF platform sets into motion a self-fulfilling legacy, not only cultivating leaders who act as catalysts for change, but deploying them to propel the LLF’s programming via its esteemed network of charities with which it collaborates. With 100% of the proceeds going directly to sustaining its founding mission, children’s lives are enriched through opportunities for advancement that once proved inaccessible. Each year, the organization honors one activist who truly embodies the prevailing philosophy of LLF, as measured by his or her contributions in championing the cause; this year’s honor was bestowed upon Adam Kuperstein of NBC 6 South Florida, who earned the distinguished Shining Light Award. Kaila Mardoyan was also recognized for her unwavering commitment to the Foundation and its endeavors with the coveted Little Lighthouse Foundation Volunteer of the Year award.
As the evening got underway, guests enjoyed a curated culinary experience with tastings from local favorites, including Red the Steakhouse, French 27, Lique Miami, and TiramesU, accompanied by a top-shelf open bar featuring Antica Fratta Franciacorta, Ketel One, Johnnie Walker, Ron Zacapa and Don Julio. The ‘star’-studded evening unraveled with casino-style games awarding over $80,000 in prizes, from an original Alec Monopoly painting donated by Art of Gallery to a three-night stay at a Villazzo luxury property to a destination vacation package courtesy of the Four Seasons Costa Rica. Perhaps the highlight of the evening came as the Kenner Matching Grant program took center stage; in a contagious display of solidarity, benefactors, advocates, and supporters opened their hearts, and their checkbooks- to the tune of $145,000 more precisely, in an unparalleled outpouring of patronage like never before.
At the pulse of corporate social responsibility, brands particularly active in the South Florida philanthropic circuit also signed on to endorse the LLF’s charitable work: from the entrance adorned with a fleet of brand new $100,000+ Range Rovers crowned by a pristine white Ferrari 458 Spyder from Warren Henry Automotive Group, to the Deck’s winding dock framed by a brigade of VanDutch yachts, each showcasing exclusive HUBLOT haute horology- including the storied VanDutch HUBLOT limited edition timepiece- the barometer of collective engagement for a common good was truly unprecedented.
For more information or to get involved, please visit www.thelittlelighthouse.org.
PHOTO GALLERY
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Photo credit : Sabrina Boasman
