Miami, FL – March 14, 2015 – It was all about celebrating for a cause as The Little Lighthouse Foundation (LLF) hosted the Hearts & Stars Gala: Casablanca at a beautiful waterfront home on Star Island. This invite-only charity event was sold out for the 5th year in a row and was a huge success with all the proceeds going towards LLF’s mission to assist South Florida children and their families that struggle with educational, financial, and medical hardships. This year’s event brought together celebrities, a whose who of  local, national and international business leaders, models, professional athletes and South Florida movers and shakers including Jill Martin, Jonathan Cheban, Lawrence Timmons, Gabrielle Anwar, and Shareef Malnik, who received the Credit Suisse Shining Light award for his philanthropic endeavors.The evening featured a top shelf open bar all night provided by Diageo, featuring Kettle One, Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, and Zacapa Rum as well as Dos Equis, Tita Italia sparkling wine and FIJI Water. There was a spectacular culinary experience with amazing hors d’oeuvres provided by Siena Tavern, Fuel Foods, Green Bites, Midtown Oyster Bar, Rosa Mexicano, Il Mulino, Lyon & Lyon, Lyon Freres, Titis Treats, Todo Dulces, El Rey de la Paella.

Highlights of the evening include performances by Drums of The Sun, Tita Italia sparkling wine on on the award winning VanDutch yachts, the #MyHublot experience in the Hublot Lounge, SLS LUX casino gaming and two raffle prize baskets gifting over $60,000 in value. Warren Henry Automotive featured the brand new Range Rover Discovery, which had never before seen publicly. The night’s highlight was an announcement from the Keener Foundation for Giving that it would match donations that night dollar for dollar up to $50,000. That pledge was fulfilled within minutes, and continued on to eclipsed over $150,000 helping make the 2015 Gala the most successful LLF fundraiser to date. Nicolo Tita of Tita Italia provided a massive 15L bottle of Antica Fratta Franciacorta Brut to toast those who donated during the program. LLF Board members Aaron Resnick, Robert Sena, and Charlie Venturi joined pledge donors and special guests on stage to share their appreciation for everyone who helped support the matching donation program.

Charlie Venturi

Charlie Venturi, Aaron Resnick, & Nicolo Tita

Charlie Venturi, Robert Sena, & Nicolo Tita

George Walner, Nicolo Tita, Simonne Middelton, Justin Keener, & Robert Sena

Adrian Allez, Vanessa Nunez, & Nicolo Tita

Aaron Resnick & Nicolo Tita

Nicolo Tita

Aaron Resnick & Justin Keener

Aaron Resnick, Robert Sena, & Charlie Venturi

Justin Keener, Simonne Middelton, Debora Scardovelli, Aaron Resnick, Angela Santamaria, & Katya Aksyonova

Robert Sena, George Santana, Charlie Venturi, & Aaron Resnick

Shareef Malnik, Charlie Venturi, Aaron Resnick, & Robert Sena

Buster Cox

Louis Dee & Buster Cox

Louis Dee

Jonathan Cheban

Shareef Malnik & Gabrielle Anwar

Lyndsey Cooper, Jill Martin, & Stacy Josloff

Kaila Mardoyan, Alexis Vrba, Yoslyn Bencosme, & Kita Tiam

Loren Loverde, Nora Delgado, Erica Korman, & Jared Shaprio

Jay Varma, Jenny Bethm, & Arthur Percy

Charlie Venturi, George Walner, & Robert Sena

George Walner & Robert Sena

Jay Varma & Robert Sena

Jared Shapiro, Dara Michelle, & Price Shapiro

Jay Varma, Jenny Bethm, & Arthur Percy

Adrian Allez, Vanessa Nunez, Giada Baselice, & Nicolo Tita

Robert & Natalia Semaan, Oksana Lugovaya, Bari Rosen, & Tom Dean

Rich Santelises, Ira Lang, & Sam Herzberg

Ximena & Tony Cho, & Jamil Bouchareb

Marcel van Gemerden & Jared Shapiro

 Amir Benish

 

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