Ocean Drive magazine and cover star, Ricky Martin, hosted the magazine’s October issue release party at WALL at the W South Beach on October 10, 2017. The multi award-winning actor, singer, activist and Puerto Rico native celebrated with fans in an effort to raise crucial funds for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Recognized as one of the most beloved performers and humanitarians, Martin was joined by his fiancé Jwan Yosef, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Jared Shapiro and Publisher, Courtland Lantaff along with VIPs and leading tastemakers including the Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip Levine and more than 200 philanthropists in lending support to the victims of Hurricane Maria.
Martin was open and friendly with reporters, camera crews and guests. He especially lit up when he saw, Channel 10 reporter, Louis Aguirre, (formerly of The Insider), greeting him with a warm hug. Once inside the event, Martin took the stage to welcome guests and to share the plight of the people in Puerto Rico. He emphatically urged all in attendance to help by donating to the Ricky Martin Foundation.
Martin shared, “The best way to help Puerto Rico is to visit https://www.youcaring.com/peopleofpuertorico-957793, and donate money. The plan is to build houses. I had the honor and privilege to work with Habitat for Humanity, I created an alliance with the organization many years ago in Thailand after the tsunami and built 125 homes. After the earthquake in Haiti we did another alliance with Habitat for Humanity and I want to do the same thing for Puerto Rico. Just in one region I visited, 1,000 families lost absolutely everything and those are a thousand homes that I want to build. It’s heavy.”
Martin is starring in the upcoming, Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. “We’re going to shed light on a story that no one talked about, no one’s been talking about for a long time. To be able to work with Ryan Murphy, it’s been amazing because he keeps challenging you as an actor and I think people are going to be really happy with the acting. The story is amazing and it’s a thrill to work with Penelope (Cruz) and Edgar Ramirez. I’m flying,” Martin eagerly told us.
The invitation-only Ocean Drive event raised funds through the Ricky Martin Foundation. In addition to INFINITI and W South Beach several Miami-based businesses supported the event through the donation of silent auction packages including hotel stays, luxury items and epicurean dinners. Guests enjoyed the sounds of DJ Rascal, DJ Iron Lyon and DJ Liveitup while sampling savory hors d’oeuvres and specialty cocktails by 1888 Rum.
