The Y.M.C.A. of Greater Miami held its annual gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on October 25. The invitations, sent out months in advance with a peacock feather design, gave guests a hint of the gala's Carnival theme. Children from the Y.M.C.A., who were decked out in multicolored feather boas and had Mardi Gras-style masks painted on their faces, greeted guests as they made their way to the grand ballroom, which was transformed with a Brazilian flair.
"We used tall centerpieces accented with peacock feathers to give height and motion," said Fernando Rojas of Blooming Design & Events. "It carried the theme we used for the invitations into the ballroom."
Rojas used a warm palette for the decor throughout. Tables were draped in plum satin linens with gold accents, from the chairs to the chargers and gold rope-tied napkins. Tall gold topiary-esque centerpieces of bright pink, orange, and green cascading roses, exotic greenery, and peacock feathers topped each.
The hotel served a decadent three-course meal: tomato and mozzarella Napoleon with herb oil and balsamic syrup, followed by a main course of pan-seared filet mignon, and finished with an Asian spoon crème brûlée, almond tuille with fresh berries, and hazelnut dome dark and milk chocolate.
Entertainment provided by the Brazilian & Latin Sounds Co. evoked Rio de Janeiro as samba dancers in lavish costumes and headdresses got the crowd into the Carnival spirit and capoeira martial artists performed acrobatic stunts. Luis Serrano and his Orchestra also entertained throughout the evening.
Channel 10 News anchor Laurie Jennings served as M.C., encouraging guests to participate in the silent auction benefiting the Y Scholarship Fund and the children and families affiliated with the Y.M.C.A.'s youth programs. The Y's top volunteers were given awards during the evening, as was the Health Foundation of South Florida, for dedicated service.
The final amount raised was over $500,000.