South Florida Community Raises Record-Breaking $3 Million At Diamond Ball For Surgical Tower At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

Published on: 04/05/2022

Hundreds of South Florida philanthropists gathered at the Loews Miami Beach over the weekend, raising a record $3 million to support pediatric healthcare at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The funds are to be dedicated to the construction of a five-story, 116,000-square-foot pediatric surgical tower to rise above the hospital’s Emergency Department. The tower will include state-of-the-art operating suites and welcoming spaces for patient families, supporting surgical care to benefit the next generation.

During the Havana Nights-themed gala, presented by Ensemble Health Partners, attendees made record donations during the live auction and “Bid from the Heart,” which featured the heart-warming story of Nicklaus Children’s patient Graceston. The event also honored Dr. Marcelo Laufer, infectious diseases specialist and the recipient of the hospital’s Excellence in Pediatric Medicine award, as well as hospital supporters Vivian and Juan Carlos (JC) Mas, who were inducted into the Ambassador David M. Walters International Pediatric Hall of Fame and honored for their decades of service and support of Nicklaus Children’s. 

Jack and Barbara Nicklaus present Excellence in Pediatric Medicine Award to Dr. Marcelo Laufer

“We were honored to celebrate together with our friends, supporters and the South Florida community,” said Matthew A. Love, President and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “Vivian and Juan Carlos (JC) Mas are true champions for children’s health and their passion is reflected in the support we received from our community this past weekend. This generosity will support our commitment of advancing surgical care and creating a healthier future for all children.”

Matthew Love and Perry Ann Reed present award to Vivian and Juan Carlos Mas
This year’s Diamond Ball was hosted by ABC News correspondent and Emmy Award-winning journalist, John Quinones, alongside benefit auctioneers Jason Alpert and Vallye Adams. After the program, guests enjoyed a special performance of ‘Patria y Vida’ by two-time Grammy award winner and Latin music artist Yotuel and his wife Beatriz Luengo, before hitting the dance floor to party with Miami’s legendary DJ Laz from iHeartMedia radio station 93.9 MIA.

This year’s Diamond Ball was made possible thanks to record sponsorship from community supporters: Ensemble Health Partners, CNN en Español, Maserati of Fort Lauderdale, Stearns Weaver Miller, American Airlines®, Baptist Health, CITI®, City National Bank of Florida, MasTec, Inc., Robins & Morton, AVANCE, Calamos Investments, CVS Pharmacy y Más and Navarro Discount Pharmacy®, Ernst & Young LLP, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC., Greenberg Traurig, Hometown Foundation, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Kidz Medical Services, Mario Murgado & Murgado Automotive Group, Perry Ellis International, PNC Bank, Premia Global Advisors, West Coast University, Badia Spices, BDO, Dr. & Mrs. Phillip T. George and Mr. and Mrs. Phillip T. George, Jr. and Family, Falk, Waas, Hernandez, Solomon, Mendlestein & Davis, P.A. Florida Power & Light Company, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Gibson Dunn, Health Foundation of South Florida, Jupiter Medical Center, Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, First Horizon Foundation, Polen Capital, Polsinelli PC, Prudential, Wells Fargo, Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel Media Group and WLRN Public Media.

Visit the Diamond Ball page to learn more.


About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Children Matter Most ™ (2024)

Founded in 1950 as Variety Children's Hospital, Nicklaus Children's is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

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