Yolanda Berkowitz, Carlos & Lourdes Gimenez, Leyla Portela, Brittany & Christian Slater, & Jeff Berkowitz

Miami, FL – January 17, 2015 – Voices For Children Foundation, a Miami not-for-profit organization advocating for children in foster care, and Harry Winston, Inc., the international fine jeweler and watchmaker, served as hosts to approximately 500 of Miami’s most influential and philanthropic individuals for the organization’s 30th anniversary “Be A Voice, Feel The Passion” gala. The premier annual fundraising event, which this year raised $770,000 – the highest amount Voices For Children Foundation has raised at a gala – kicked off with a cocktail hour at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami. Film and television actor Christian Slater and his wife Brittany Slater served as honorary co-chairs, while WSVN’S Belkys Nerey was the evening’s emcee. $179,000 were raised in donations to the Angel Society, the organization’s annual giving program – also a historic high for the organization. During the gala, longtime Voices For Children Foundation supporters Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz were presented with the organization’s 2015 Humanitarian Award for their advocacy on behalf of the organization and the foster children it serves. Throughout the evening, guests were given the opportunity to preview Harry Winston’s latest high jewelry collection, Secrets by Harry Winston. Guests also participated in live and silent auctions for luxury goods and travel experiences, providing desirable and unique items for guests and supporters. GREY GOOSE Vodka cocktails, as well as wine and cava provided by Cava Spiliadis, the North American importer of premium wines from Greece, hydrated the crowd as they enjoyed a special performance by dance phenomenon Charles “Lil’ Buck” Riley, a Los Angeles-based dancer from Memphis, Tennessee, who specializes in a style of street dance called jookin’. Fortunately everyone was able to have a safe and fun evening thanks to the gala’s partnership with RedCap, who provided guests safe rides to and from the gala in the guests’ own cars.

Jeff Berkowitz, Carlos Gimenez, & Christian Slater

Brittany & Christian Slater

Yolanda Berkowitz & Belkys Nerey

Yolanda & Jeff Berkowitz

Charles “Lil’ Buck” Riley, Yolanda & Jeff Berkowitz

Yolanda & Charles “Lil’ Buck” Riley

Jennifer Valoppi & Don Brown

Stephen Brunelle & Irene Pariserband

Brittany & Christian Slater, & Belkys Nerey

Oscar & Carole Seikaly

Mario Dones, Alejandro Portela, & Raul de Reguero

Richard & Beth Tasca, Sandy & Barry Gertz

Richard Fields, Brandy Colleta, Leyla & Alejandro Portela, Yolanda & Jeff Berkowitz

Nicole Del Castillo, Leyla Portela, & Kateryna Bobrovska

Irien Pariserband, Swanee Dimare, Bronwyn Miller, & Carol Surowiec

Suzanne Legon, William & Lisa Schuss

Theresa & Marc Sarnoff

Michael, Jolie, Yolanda, & Jeff Berkowitz

Carlos & Lourdes Gimenez, Yolanda & Jeff Berkowtiz

Nelson & Carolina Hincapie, Lourdes & Carlos Gimenez

Alain and Debbie Rosenthal, Gail & Stewart Appelrouth, Monique & Don Rosenthal

Lourdes & Carlos Gimenez

Sandra Santiago & Alex Fernadez

Trudy Courey, Anick Vorbe, & Jean Marie Kouri

Leslie Wolfson, Adam Koffler, & Lisa Heiden-Koffler

Nelson Hincapie & Bronwyn Miller

Vince Castro, Jay Shapiro, Rodrigo Melendez, Brian Goldmeier, Michael Rosenberg, Roberto Gadala-Maria, Angel Ferrer, Jolie Balido, Blain Heckaman, Simone Boayue-Gumbs, Richard Goldstein, Marco Tejada, Nelson Hincapie, Gail Appelrouth, Stephen Owens, Sheila Reinken, & Jorge Gonzalez 

GALLERY SLIDER