After-School All-Stars South Florida raised over $400,000 at its second annual private VIP charity fundraiser, All-In for All-Stars, hosted by Wayne Boich, Mark Groussman, Bobby Yampolsky and Sean Posner and presented by ECJ Luxe on April 9th. Held in the Faena Hotel’s gilded Theater Room in Miami Beach, celebrities and heavy hitters including Alonzo Mourning, Ray Allen, Romero Britto, Tomi Rose, Mark Strickland and Ace Hood were among the guests in attendance supporting After-School All-Stars South Florida. The chapter is part of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s national organization, After-School All-Stars, which provides comprehensive, school-based after-school programs for low-income, students in some of the most underserved neighborhoods.
Wayne Boich, one of the hosts, reflected, “I’m really thrilled to see how Miami came out tonight to support this important cause. This event brought together like-minded individuals committed to giving Miami youth a brighter future and we had a really fun time in the process. I know this event is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about and coveted tickets in town, and I’m excited to see it grow in the coming years.”
Mark Groussman, All-In for All-Stars National Board Member and host of the event, said, “I’m honored to serve on the National Board of this fantastic charity, and especially proud that I can give back locally. On behalf of After-School All-Stars, I’d like to extend my most sincere thanks to all the sponsors that so generously supported us. This event demonstrates the magnitude of what we can collectively do to support our most under-served students.”
The star-studded event opened at sunset with an oceanfront Bacardi cocktail reception in the hotel’s Mammoth Garden. Guests were greeted by artist Damien Hirst’s jaw-dropping, 24-karat gold woolly mammoth skeleton sculpture as they entered the outdoor oasis. A stilt walker and cyr wheel acrobat mingled among the guests as they enjoyed handcrafted concoctions. Guests then moved to an intimate gathering in the Saxony Bar, an opulent underground bar steeped in golden-age glamour, where they enjoyed live jazz music and old-fashioned cocktails.
The lavish experience continued as guests were escorted to the brand new, two-level Theater Room, where they enjoyed casino games, visited the luxury jewelry showcases by ECJ Luxe, and were awed by the spectacular Faena cabaret cast and contortionist, aerialists, and tango-dancing acts. Guests raved about decadent Japanese style cuisine sponsored by Kuro that was served throughout the night. Special guest Jason Jackson, voice of the Miami HEAT, emceed the live auction with luxurious experiences including a Royal Oak Audemars Piguet watch, a trip to France by Louis XIII and diamond earrings from Ivanka Trump Jewelry. At the end of the evening, players in the charity poker tournament claimed top prizes from Hublot and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Auction winners were delighted with amazing gifts provided by Sting HD, the Miami HEAT, The Betsy, Amangani, La Samanna Resort, Eden Roc Cap Cana, Club Med, the Miami Marlins and FOX Sports, among others. One lucky patron also won the “Midnight Express experience,” which included the Ulysse Nardin Midnight Express timepiece and a full day on the Ulysse Nardin Edition Midnight Express 43-foot power boat. Before departing, guests received luxe swag bags from ECJ Luxe, the perfect conclusion to a captivating evening.
