15th annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars gala brings old Hollywood glamour to South Florida and raises 1.8 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®
May 25, 2017, 09:00 ET
MIAMI, May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The South Florida community united against childhood cancer on Saturday, May 20, when 500 guests filled the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Miami at the 15th annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Gala. Philanthropists, influencers and celebrities gathered to honor the true stars — the children and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®.The annual event, chaired by Venezuelan entrepreneur Mashud Mezerhane, raised funds to help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.
Spanish-language television star Adamari López, received the 2017 "FedEx/St. Jude Angels & Stars Lifetime Achievement Award" for her unwavering dedication to raise funds and cancer awareness in the Hispanic community promoting early detection. "This is a very special honor for me because it's an issue very close to my heart. I have witnessed the remarkable bravery of St. Jude patient families first hand and I will continue to do all I can to raise awareness for the hospital's life-saving mission," said Lopez.
Julio Barrionuevo, Senior Vice President, Operations for FedEx Express Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and Global Service Partners also received an award for his commitment and long-time leadership as the gala's co-founder. This event – which was co-founded in 2002 by model and entrepreneur Daisy Fuentes – has raised more than $5 million in cash and pledges.
The event was co-hosted by actress and TV personality Karla Monroig and Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino Enrique Santos. Venezuelan singer Oscar D' Leon and Steve Lippia had the crowd on their feet dancing.The gala had the support of some of television and music's most notable stars, including David Chocarro, William Valdes, Toni Costa, Sebastián Villalobos, Ana María Canseco, Jorge Bernal, Quique Usales, Boris Izaguirre, Marc Clotet, Candela Ferro, Khotán Fernández, Poncho de Anda, Maky Soler, and Federico Díaz among others.
Past gala honorees have include some of the most recognized and celebrated artists in Latin music and entertainment, such as Don Francisco, Cristina Saralegui, Romero Britto, Juanes, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Tommy and Thalia Mottola, Chef Adrianne Calvo and Coach Don Shula.
For more information about next year's event visit stjude.org/angelsandstars or contact Barbara Mari at (800) 278-3383 or [email protected].
This year's gala sponsors included: Bancrédito International Bank, FedEx Express, Carnival Foundation, Grupo Mezerhane, Visa, Mosteiro Family Foundation, Anthony Abraham Foundation, Arca International Group, EFG, International Dermatology Institute, Maximai Partners, One Real Estate Investments, Total Bank, Clarins, Diario Las Américas, C-Comm Group, The Dream Team Agency, Nuage Designs, American Tower Corporation, Arteasans Beverages LLC, Bomnin Chevrolet, Carlos Machado, Marco & Claudia de Souza, Ernst & Young, PVG Insurance Group, Superior Landscaping & Lawn Service, YEZZ, T-Be Global Spirits, Edrington USA
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude).
SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital