On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, guests stepped into a world of pure imagination at Branches’ Black Tie & Blue Jeans Gala at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. It was truly a magical Wonka Wonderland evening, where elegance and fun united to transform lives and create brighter futures for families across Miami.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, the event raised a record-breaking $860,000—our highest total to date! The night featured an unforgettable cocktail hour, dazzling live entertainment, a lively online auction, a delicious dinner, and joyful dancing.

This year’s Gala, Branches’ largest fundraiser, supported critical services for over 10,000 individuals—ranging from daily after-school enrichment, tutoring, and college prep for more than 475 students, to financial coaching, microbusiness support, free tax prep, emergency assistance, and Thanksgiving meal deliveries for thousands of adults.

We were honored to have Trish and Dan Bell serve as our Philanthropic Chairs, and Leah and Phillip Sylvester as our Gala Chairs. We also proudly presented the Trish and Dan Bell Community Empowerment Award to Kimberly Green of The Green Family Foundation for her outstanding dedication to the South Florida community.

It was a fun and fabulous night filled with imagination, impact, and inspiration—all in support of helping hardworking families break the cycle of poverty.