Miami was alive with music, philanthropy, and a whole lot of positive energy on April 29, 2023, when The Sacred Space Miami was transformed into a musical and philanthropic wonderland for the Playing for Change Foundation’s 2023 Impact Awards Gala in partnership with CEEK VR. The event was held to honor global superstar Maluma for his philanthropic impact with his foundation, El Arte de los Sueños. With over 700 guests in attendance, the gala was co-chaired by Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, PFCF Founder & Board Chairwoman, and Archie Drury, board member. It featured a special performance by funk legend George Clinton, backed by Charlie Soul Clap and other inspiring artists. The event was presented and streamed by CEEK Metaverse, with Mary Spio, Founder & CEO of CEEK VR, and also featured sponsors Lior & Erica Zohar, Directors of FIU’s Herbert Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts, Braman Miami, and UNA Vodka.
The 2023 Impact Awards Gala was a celebration of the universal language of music that connects people regardless of their differences. The event recognized the power of music in uplifting, inspiring, and connecting people from all walks of life. Throughout the evening, guests were taken on a musical journey around the world to destinations where PFCF’s programming is being implemented. The celebration included a cocktail reception, a glamorous red carpet, a grand dinner, an after-party, and a silent auction.
The gala featured various inspired performances that dazzled guests throughout the night with themed cultural renditions and live performances. These performances showcased how music can be a tool for social change and how it can be used to help kids around the world heal and rise through their own culture while addressing the social issues they are facing.
Maluma, the recipient of this year’s PFCF 2023 Impact Award, shared his thoughts about the power of music and the arts in uplifting and connecting people. He expressed his excitement about his collaboration with PFCF. Maluma’s foundation, El Arte de los Sueños, shares PFCF’s mission of using music to help kids around the world heal and rise through their own culture and address the social issues they are facing.
George Clinton, one of the gala’s performers, also expressed his appreciation for PFCF’s efforts in helping kids in need around the globe to rise up to their own culture and find the real future for their community. Clinton’s performance was an unforgettable highlight of the night and showcased his legendary funk sound to a packed room.
PFCF was founded in 2007 with a belief that music has the power to connect people regardless of their differences while creating positive and wide-reaching social impact through music and arts education. Its efforts engage marginalized youth in diverse communities around the world. Although its programs are generally located in low-income communities, these areas are home to great cultural wealth, which is utilized to create educational and social opportunities. PFCF currently operates 50 music programs in 17 countries, positively impacting more than 40,000 lives, including more than 3,000 youth each week through regular programming.
The 2023 Impact Awards prestigious host committee included Karen Korponai; Denise and Sandy Kory; Ann Kroenke; Archie Drury and Karolina Kurkova; Ronnie Madra; Mark Mutchnik; Arturo Nuñez; James Provencher; Alex, Cristina, Johnny, and Mayra Ruiz; John G. Shedd IV and Mike Lundberg; Pamela Silva; Whitney Kroenke Silverstein and Nick Silverstein; Josh Taekman; Louis Upkins; Ana and Sean Wolfington; and Erica and Lior Zohar.
This year’s event was made possible through the partnership with various organizations, including lead partner CEEK VR. Mary Spio, Founder and CEO of CEEK Metaverse, expressed her excitement about partnering with PFCF for the second year, stating that they look forward to the fans of the honorees, as well as the global superstars supporting PFCF, in sharing this special event through VIP Access NFT’s via the CEEK Metaverse. Meanwhile, Lior and Erica Zohar, Directors of FIU’s Herbert Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts, were thrilled to support PFCF’s efforts to bring music and arts education to youth worldwide while implementing music as a tool for social change.
The Playing for Change Foundation’s 2023 Impact Awards Gala was an unforgettable event that brought together music lovers, philanthropists, and social activists in support of a worthy cause. It highlighted the power of music education and social change and how it can transform the lives of marginalized youth in communities around the world. The gala recognized the efforts of PFCF in creating positive and wide-reaching social impact through music and arts education while honoring the philanthropic work of Maluma and his foundation, El Arte de los Sueños. With special performances by George Clinton and other inspiring artists, the gala was a celebration of the universal language of music and its ability to unite people from all walks of life.
The event was also a reminder of the importance of philanthropy and social activism. It demonstrated how music can be used as a tool for social change and how it can make a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
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