Charity Ball, On the Road Again

The Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Annual Gala

After two years of virtual events, the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s charity ball came back to life at the Biltmore Hotel with 400 guests. The annual event, which takes place each October, raised more than $500,000 for community grant and scholarship programs the Foundation supports. Each ball is themed, and this year’s “The Road to Rio: A Gala from Ipanema” carried on the tradition. The event also honors distinguished community leaders. This year’s honorees, among others, included John S. and James L. Knight Foundation President and CEO Alberto Ibargüen, who received the Legacy Award, the Foundation’s highest accolade; UM Frost School of Music Dean Shelton Berg, who received the Education Award presented by Trish and Dan Bell; Jose Antonio Perez Helguera and Carlos Beckmann, who received the Landmark Award for The Plaza Coral Gables; and the family of beloved Nino Pernetti, who accepted the Gables Beautiful Award, presented by Ray Corral and Mosaicist, on his behalf. “This was no doubt one of the most spectacular and enjoyable galas we have ever had. Emerging from two years of successful in-home events, neighbors were excited to see each other in person,” said Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, who co-chaired the event with Lauren Harrison Brown.