Miami's Future Philanthropists Gathered To Party For A Cause

For the third year in a row, Miami’s young business professionals and future philanthropists gathered at the Loft on Bayshore to put the fun in fundraising at Party For A Cause.  This event is not your typical fundraiser.  It is a high energy, club-like atmosphere where 250 guests danced the night away to DJ Dago while sipping cocktails courtesy of Bacardi, the evening’s liquor sponsor.  Guests were also treated to tasty bites courtesy of Black Market and El Rey de la Paella as they snapped pics in the photo booth and bid on unique items during the silent auction.  “It’s just a fun event” said Olivia Sanchez, guest and host committee member.  “We get to bring people together and at the same time bring some happiness to people who haven’t had it as good as some of us have.  I am grateful for the life I have been given and it is a privilege for me to be involved in this way.”  The event not only provides a means to raise funds but also an opportunity for these future executives and entrepreneurs to network and establish the kinds of relationships that not only furthers business but the community as well.
Guests that evening included youth who have already aged out of the foster care system and wanted to share their personal experiences growing up in foster care and how Voices made an impact in their lives.  In turn, these youth who have faced so many challenges growing up were able to see what an alternative future could look like for them.  They were able to make connections with people who have the potential to mentor and inspire them.  “Those of us starting out in business world are looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and watch it grow as we grow in the corporate world” says 26-year-old Christopher Gonzalez-Jacobo, Voices For Children’s youngest board member who chaired the event for the third year in a row with fellow board members Vince and Deborah Castro and Angel and Lynnette Ferrer.
Sponsors of the event included Platinum Sponsors: Loud and Live and TotalBank, Gold Sponsors: Brown & Brown Insurance and Green Monkey Yoga Silver Sponsors: Blain & Jill Heckaman, KPMG, Quirch Foods, The Ramage Charitable Fund, Michael & Diane Rosenberg Family Foundation, The Russell and Ronalee Galbut Family Foundation, Stearns Weaver Miller, Suncoast Construction, and Templeton Family Fund.
All in all, the event raised $65,000 for Miami-Dade County’s abused, abandoned and neglected children as well as a newly created awareness for many of these young people about some of Miami’s most vulnerable youth.
Photographs from the event can be viewed online here.