South Florida Community Rallies to Raise a Record $1.7 Million at FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For more than 20 years, the South Florida community has demonstrated unwavering support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. On April 25, that support reached a historic high when the FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala, presented by Genesis Prime Group, LLC, raised $1.7 million – the first time this event has surpassed $1 million.

Keynote speaker Dr. Victor Santana, a St. Jude faculty member who has spent 42 years at the institution and serves as Charles B. Pratt Endowed Chair in Solid Tumor Research, shared his perspective drawn from decades of work in pediatric cancer research. He highlighted how St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the U.S. from 20% in 1962 to more than 80% today, while continuing to share research breakthroughs worldwide to help children in more places.

A powerful moment featured St. Jude patient Slater and his family, who shared their journey facing neuroblastoma and how the compassion, care, and research at St. Jude made a lasting impact on their lives. Slater later joined the event chairs on stage to help announce the evening’s fundraising milestone as the room filled with cheers and confetti.

The event was chaired by Marilé and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., and Dr. Eric and Regina Moskow, and co-hosted by Gloria Ordaz, anchor and journalist for Telemundo 51, and Jason Carter, entertainment reporter for Local 10 News. Guests were welcomed with a star‑studded red carpet and cocktail reception, followed by a seated dinner, live auction, live entertainment, and music by celebrity DJ Africa.

Celebrity attendees included Captain Lee Rosbach of Bravo’s Below Deck, Chef Adrianne Calvo, Carlos Adyan, host of En Casa con Telemundo, Stephanie Himonidis, host of Siéntese Quien Pueda, and other notable community and media leaders. Sponsors for the evening included FedEx, MFO Ventures, Genesis Prime Group, Bomnin, M.E. Gil, and additional corporate and community partners whose generosity continues to fuel the mission of St. Jude.

Visit www.stjude.org/angelsandstars to find additional events, volunteer opportunities, and more ways to connect with St. Jude supporters in Miami and across South Florida.

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. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.