{"id":42379,"date":"2025-11-11T12:53:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T12:53:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/42379\/"},"modified":"2025-11-11T12:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T12:53:07","slug":"playing-for-change-foundation-celebrates-the-power-of-music-at-impact-awards-kick-off-dinner-in-miami-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/42379\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing for Change Foundation Celebrates the Power of Music at Impact Awards Kick-off Dinner in Miami Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) set the stage for its 2026 Impact Awards with an intimate and inspiring Kick-Off Dinner on November 5, hosted by Ann Walton Kroenke and Whitney Kroenke Silverstein. Held in Miami Beach, the evening was a dynamic blend of live music, philanthropy, and storytelling\u2014highlighting how PFCF continues to transform lives through the unifying force of music.<\/p>\n

\"\"Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Ann Kroenke<\/p>\n

The event drew an impressive gathering of supporters and cultural changemakers, including Karolina Kurkova and Archie Drury, Timolin and Casey Cole, Frederique and Stephane Leforestier, Cristina Perez, Pamela Silva, Ana and Sean Wolfington, and many more. Their presence underscored the foundation\u2019s growing community of advocates dedicated to expanding access to music education and creative empowerment.<\/p>\n

\"\"Vanessa Christine & Prince Royce<\/p>\n

Acclaimed vocalist Lady Blackbird delivered a soulful performance that resonated deeply with the evening\u2019s message: music as a catalyst for transformation. The stage also came alive with the young talents of Young Musicians Unite, a PFCF partner program that reaches thousands of youth each month across Miami. Together, these performances reflected PFCF\u2019s commitment to nurturing creativity, confidence, and community resilience.<\/p>\n

Adding to the night\u2019s excitement, multi-platinum artist Prince Royce joined as a special guest, lending his star power to amplify the Foundation\u2019s mission. But rather than focusing solely on celebrity appearances, the dinner spotlighted real stories of impact\u2014told directly by donors and program participants whose lives have been touched by PFCF initiatives.<\/p>\n

From local programs serving over 9,000 youth in Miami to the newly opened music center for foster youth at Samueli Academy in Santa Ana, California, each story revealed the tangible outcomes of community-driven philanthropy. Beyond the U.S., guests were moved by narratives from Costa Rica and the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, where PFCF uses music not only as a tool for creative expression but also as a lifeline for youth displaced by conflict.<\/p>\n

\"\"Casey Cole Ray, Timolin Cole Augustus, Ken Fink<\/p>\n

\u201cThis dinner was a beautiful way to build excitement and support leading into the Impact Awards on April 11,\u201d said Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Co-Founder of the Playing For Change Foundation. \u201cBut even more than that, it was a moment to highlight the kids we serve\u2014their voices, their growth, and the possibilities they\u2019re stepping into. These are the lives being changed every day through music. That\u2019s the heart of our work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Charita & Louis Upkins<\/p>\n

The night\u2019s success was further amplified by the support of Capital One Entertainment, returning as the lead sponsor. \u201cAt Capital One, we work to create enriching experiences that lead to meaningful connections between our customers and communities,\u201d said Monica Weaver, Head of Branded Card Partnerships and Experiences. \u201cOur partnership with the Playing For Change Foundation uplifts young artists and builds sustainable systems of change\u2014from Miami to Jordan to Costa Rica.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Sorina Buri, Charita Upkins<\/p>\n

As a prelude to the 2026 Impact Awards, scheduled for April 11 at the Rubell Museum and Superblue Miami, the Kick-Off Dinner set a powerful tone. The upcoming awards will honor artists, activists, and philanthropists who use music as a global force for unity and change.<\/p>\n

\"\"Randi Wolfson Adamo, Kelsey Levey, Cristina Perez, Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Ann Kroenke, Stacey Mizener<\/p>\n

With each event, the Playing For Change Foundation continues to expand its reach, reaffirming its belief that music is more than art\u2014it\u2019s a movement. Through education, cultural exchange, and community collaboration, PFCF provides the infrastructure for real social transformation\u2014empowering youth and strengthening the global community through creativity.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Playing For Change Foundation and its global programs, visit playingforchange.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) set the stage for its 2026 Impact Awards with an intimate and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42380,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[8638,27983,123,10996,125,124,27984,27985],"class_list":{"0":"post-42379","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami","8":"tag-impact-awards","9":"tag-lady-blackbird","10":"tag-miami","11":"tag-miami-events","12":"tag-miami-headlines","13":"tag-miami-news","14":"tag-music-education","15":"tag-playing-for-change-foundation"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42379\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}