Stars shined on downtown Miami on Saturday, May 14, when just over 500 guests filled the InterContinental Hotel to celebrate the carnival-themed 14 annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala. Thanks to events like this one, families never receive a bill from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. the event raises $1 million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The evening recognized Cuban-born American
This year, the evening was happy to welcome back gala co-founder & model and entrepreneur Daisy Fuentes, whose husband, legendary Grammy Award winner Richard Marx, performed a special set for the crowd. Guests also dined & danced the night away to a lively set by Venezuelan pop duo Chino y Nacho, with DJ Mauricio Parra spinning late into the evening. The event was all in the name of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancers and other life-threatening diseases.
Additionally, Miami based business woman and philanthropist Patty Gutierrez was also honored for her longtime fundraising work with St. Jude. Gutiérrez’s son Stephan is a former St. Jude patient who at the age of 11 was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor in his stomach. Stephan, now 21, is finished with treatment and is currently pursuing a college degree in Boston and returns to St. Jude for checkups annually.
Patty Gutierrez was was quoted sayinf during her acceptance speech “As a mother of a St Jude cancer survivor, I’m deeply touched by the live saving mission of the hospital,” said Gutierrez “I have experienced firsthand the darkness of the cancer. St Jude gave me my son’s live back, and also gave me the opportunity to help brighten up the lives of other families that are going through difficult times.”
The lively event was co-hosted by actress and TV personality Karla Monroig and Enrique Santos, host of the nationally syndicated “Enrique Santos Show” on Univision Radio. Additional presenters included actress Elizabeth Gutierrez and CNN’s Ismael Cala. The gala counted with the support of some television and music’s brightest stars, including Alberto Sardiñas, Alejandro Chabán, Alexandra Pomales, Candela Ferro, Enrique Acevedo, Francisca Lachapel, Franser Pazos, Irma Martínez, Jomari Goyso, Jorge Bernal, Khotan Fernández, Luis Alfonso Borrego, Oscar Serrano, Paula Arcila, Poncho de Anda, Raúl González, Scarlet Gruber, Tony Dandrades, Ximena Córdoba, Maity Interiano, Alina Robert and Zuleyka Rivera to name a few.
In the past, the gala has honored some of the most recognized and celebrated artists in Latin music and entertainment for their humanitarian work, such as Don Francisco, Romero Britto, Juanes, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Tommy and Thalia Mottola, Chef Adrianne Calvo and Coach Don Shula.
This year’s gala sponsors include: FedEx Express, Gutierrez Family Foundation, Mosteiro Family Foundation, Carnival Foundation, Gloria Estefan Foundation, Neutrogena, Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Anthony Abraham Foundation, International Dermatology Institute, Grupo CIMA, Yezz, Del Monte Fresh Produce, Diario Las Américas, Univision Radio, C-ComGroup Inc., American Tower Corporation, Arteasan, Arven Financial, Ernst & Young, HSBC, Omnicom Media Group, Rana Furniture, Wellmax, Tu-Be Global Spirits, FUNKSHION, Event Design Group, Nuage Designs, Ocean Drive Magazine, Casa Diris and The Dream Team Agency.
