Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation Enlists Emmy, Grammy, Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson for 26th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball

Published by Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation on

Jennifer Hudson at the 2021 Make a Wish Gala

The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, a family-run charitable organization dedicated to creating a generational legacy of giving, was a leading sponsor at Make-A-Wish Southern Florida’s 26th Annual InterContinental® Miami Make-A-Wish® Ball on November 6, 2021. The gala raised $2.7 million for Make-A-Wish® and attracted a veritable who’s who of celebrities, business executives and community leaders with the collective goal of providing hope for children with critical illnesses and their families.

This year’s event was headlined by Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who serenaded the crowd with a private concert that included a stunning rendition of Leonard Cohen’s classic, “Hallelujah.” The concert was presented by the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, a long-time partner of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida.

“Jennifer knocked it out of the park,” said Raul Cabrera, Director of Partner Relations for the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation. “Not only is she a wildly talented performer, she also understands the importance of philanthropy. She has a foundation of her own that helps underprivileged children in Chicago receive Christmas gifts and school supplies, so the Make-A-Wish mission is close to her heart.”

President and CEO of Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida Norman Wedderburn, General Manager of InterContinental Miami Glenn Sampert, and Chairman Emeritus of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Shareef Malnik welcomed the room full of guests. British-American actress Gabrielle Anwar returned for the tenth year as the evening’s emcee.

The “Galactica”-themed evening also included a red carpet for guests to take photos, a cocktail reception, a luxurious silent auction, and an after-party headlined by Ja Rule.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Make-A-Wish®Southern Florida,” said Cabrera. “When there’s so much bad news in the world, an event like this reminds us all that good people still exist. $2.7 million is no small thing. It was a very successful night, and we are glad to be a part of it.”