#1 Benefit
Last year, the sold-out gala drew more than 850 of South Florida’s A-list, including former baseball player Sammy Sosa and photographer Bruce Weber, and raised $2.5 million for Best Buddies International. Next: November 20, 2015
#2 Benefit
In its 20th anniversary last year, the 1,000-guest event at the InterContinental Miami raised a record $2.5 million for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. Next: November 7, 2015
#3 Benefit
Organizers expect more than 400 people to attend the esteemed black-tie gala, now in its 59th year. Last year’s bash raised nearly $200,000. Next: November 21, 2015
#4 Benefit
The 800-guest gala, featuring appearances by Bryant Gumbel and Steven Tyler, raised more than $2.5 million for Everglades restoration in 2015. Next: February 13, 2016
#6 Benefit
This year’s signature gala for the Miami Children’s Health Foundation will celebrate the Miami Children’s Hospital’s name change to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The 2014 ball raised $6 million, including announced gifts. Next: October 10, 2015
#7 Benefit (up from #9)
The 800-plus guests who attended the National YoungArts Foundation’s annual gala raised $1.7 million to support young artists. Next: January 9, 2016
#8 Benefit
Around 400 guests were serenaded by singer-songwriter Jon Secada at this year’s benefit for the University of Miami’s Diabetes Research Institute. The ball and its Preview Party, which is held a few months prior, raised a combined $700,000. Next: February 2016
#9 Benefit (up from #10)
This January, 600 people attended the Art of the Party presented by Louis Vuitton. Next year’s event moves from January to March, and Lee Brian Schrager is returning to produce it. Next: March 5, 2016
#10 Benefit (up from #11)
Some 500 guests raised $215,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County at the ball, which was held at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino last year. Next: October 31, 2015
#11 Benefit (up from #12)
The gala celebrated the 70th birthday of co-founder and artistic director Michael Tilson Thomas with a dinner that took place at four different locations within the New World Center. Patrons raised more than $1 million. Next: March 12, 2016
#12 Benefit (up from #13)
In 2015, nearly 800 guests at the fourth anniversary of the Doctors Hospital Foundation's gala experienced a performance by Sheena Easton as well as live and silent auctions. Next: Spring 2016
#13 Benefit (up from #14)
This April marked the gala’s final year before the museum moves to its new home in Miami’s Museum Park. The museum says it will hold a signature fund-raiser next year—the 2015 gala brought in more than $1 million for the science institution—but may switch up formats. Next: Fall 2016
#14 Benefit (up from #15)
Around 500 guests attended this year’s black-tie fund-raiser for the center's educational programming at which singer Barry Manilow performed. Next: April 2016
#15 Benefit (up from #16)
Last year’s New York City-theme gala raised $330,000 for Deliver the Dream’s family retreat program. In 2015, the 12th annual gala will host around 400 guests at an Arabian Nights-theme fete. Next: November 7, 2015
#16 Benefit (up from #17)
The Bass Museum of Art hosted 450 revelers at its sixth annual gala, which raised $128,000, and next year’s event will be renamed the Bass Ball and held on site at the museum. Next: March 5, 2016
#18 Benefit
The fund-raiser hosted by Real Housewives of Miami star Lea Black and her philanthropist husband, Roy Black, has undergone some changes, switching from spring to fall last year. Organizers say more changes are on the way; they hope to do "something different" with the star-studded bash in 2015, but haven’t determined a date or entertainment.
#19 Benefit
This year, some 700 guests gathered for the 13th iteration of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's gala, which took place May 16. Organizers say next year they might shift the date to November. Next: 2016
