![\"Candis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Photo-Nov-07-2025-11-49-37-PM-26.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby Selena Hill <\/a><\/p>\n November 21, 2025<\/p>\n The exclusive dinner experience celebrated culture, excellence, and legacy<\/p>\n Earlier this month, creatives, tastemakers, and industry leaders gathered at \u201cThe Toast, New York,\u201d an exclusive, intimate dinner experience presented by Candis Grace celebrating culture, excellence, and legacy.<\/p>\n Held at The Chica & Don in downtown Manhattan on Nov. 6, guests were treated to modern Latin American cuisine paired with drinks provided by Black-owned spirit brands like Sean \u201cJay-Z\u201d Carter\u2019s D\u2019usse, Kevin Hart\u2019s Gran Coramino, and Ja Rule\u2019s Amber & Opal.<\/p>\n Presented by entrepreneur Candis Grace in partnership with UBS, \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d honored three trailblazers making significant strides in their respective industries: Carlos King<\/a>, the CEO of Kingdom Reign Entertainment and an acclaimed reality TV show producer, sports broadcast journalist Cari Champion, and Santi Miller, Head of Diverse Wealth Initiatives at UBS.<\/p>\n \u201cI was at ESPN for 10 years, and now I\u2019m at CNN, and I am unapologetic in the fact that my agenda is for Black and brown people [and] for women,\u201d said Champion, a former anchor on ESPN\u2019s First Take, while accepting The Champion of Women in Sports Award. \u201cIt\u2019s costly and sometimes scary, but I know that when it is all said and done, if you look in the history books, I\u2019m doing it for the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not every day that I get celebrated because, being behind the scenes, it\u2019s our job to celebrate others, said King, while receiving the Cultural Storyteller Award.<\/p>\n Former NFL player Wale Ogunleye, who currently serves as Executive Director, Head of Sports and Entertainment at UBS, presented Miller with The Legacy Builder Award.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the current state of politics that we\u2019re in, it\u2019s super interesting to say words like \u2018diversity\u2019 and all these other things. But, that being said, UBS decided in January to continue to forge ahead with our diversity initiatives led by Santi,\u201d said the former Miami Dolphins MVP. \u201cI\u2019ve had the honor of working with Santi this year, as she\u2019s been a great partner to me in the sports entertainment business. Her work focuses on expanding the firm\u2019s presence in diverse markets and ensuring that UBS shows up in ways that are authentic, relevant, and deeply connected to communities it serves.\u201d<\/p>\n During her acceptance speech, Miller shared how her upbringing and feeling ostracized at times influenced her commitment to empowering diverse communities. <\/p>\n \u201cI was born in Vietnam, and I was always the other,\u201d she said. \u201cI thought about it, I was like, why is this so important? Why am I so passionate about diversity? Why do I care about it? And it really is about taking this sense of being an other. And every single person in this room has been an other. I know you have it. The higher you climb, the lonelier it gets. And, guess what? The dots get smaller and the target gets bigger,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n In addition to recognizing these cultural pioneers, \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d brought together a collective of notable activists, authors, and reality stars in an atmosphere that embraced community, collaboration, and Black excellence. Noted attendees included Roc Nation veteran and music business executive Lenny S. Santiago, Real Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, media personality Bevy Smith, former VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, and social justice advocate Tamika D. Mallory<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis event was an idea to celebrate my friends that probably were really behind the scenes, but really making the moves, because that\u2019s how I was always in my career,\u201d said Grace, the founder and CEO of The Brand Group, a marketing, brand partnerships, and public relations agency based in Los Angeles. <\/p>\n \u201cI was an [event] promoter \u2013- the only woman promoter in Hollywood for a long time in my career. So, I don\u2019t like anything stuffy,\u201d she told guests. \u201cI like it to feel really unorthodox, beautiful, sexy, and vibey, so everybody can have fun. So, that\u2019s why [this] is not a stuffy awards.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffrey\u00a0Morneau, the founder of\u00a0Jeffrey\u00a0Morneau\u00a0Atelier, a luxury brand specializing in event planning, bespoke design, and elevated catering experiences, said partnering with Grace to produce an event that celebrates Black excellence was a joy.<\/p>\n \u201c[Candis\u2019] vision and commitment to uplifting our community made this collaboration especially meaningful, he said in a statement. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re creating an experience that celebrates excellence, and I couldn\u2019t be more proud,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Candis launched The Brand Group nearly two decades ago and has worked with the likes of the National Basketball Players Association, United Nations, Kevin Hart, Netflix, Doritos, and UBS, which she praised for supporting her annual events.<\/p>\n \u201cUBS has been an invaluable partner throughout this incredible journey from \u2018Toast to Black Hollywood<\/a>\u2018 and now to \u2018The Toast, New York.\u201d Their continued commitment and belief in our vision have been instrumental, and we deeply value the partnership we\u2019ve built together,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n Grace<\/a> also acknowledged the support of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which served as a media partner at the event and honored her with the 2024 Business Disruptor Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBlack Enterprise has been an integral part of my journey from the very beginning. They\u2019ve not only championed \u2018The Toast, New York,\u2019 but they\u2019ve been there to celebrate every milestone and event throughout my career,\u201d she said. \u201cTheir support and commitment to uplifting our community means everything to me, and I\u2019m incredibly grateful to have them as partners in this work.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Cari](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Photo-Nov-08-2025-12-29-09-AM-46-1.jpg\")
\n Source: Cari Champion and Candis Grace at Candis Grace presents \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n![\"Carlos](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Photo-Nov-08-2025-12-29-09-AM-34.jpg\")
\n Source: Carlos King and Candis Grace at Candis Grace presents \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d in New York City. (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n![\"UBS\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC03463.jpeg\")
\n Source: Santi Miller is honored at \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d in New York City. (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC02832.jpeg\")
\n Source: Candis Grace addresses attendees at Candis Grace presents \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC02426-e1763750308727.jpeg\")
\n Source: Nick Arrington, star of Bravo\u2019s \u201cSummer House Martha\u2019s Vineyard,\u201d and Jeffrey\u00a0Morneau, founder of\u00a0Jeffrey\u00a0Morneau\u00a0Atelier, attend \u201cThe Toast, New York\u201d (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n![\"UBS\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC03853.jpeg\")
\n Source: Santi Miller, UBS Head of Diverse Wealth Initiatives at UBS, and Wale Ogunleye, UBS Executive Director and Head of Sports and Entertainment, with UBS employees (Photo credit: Tito G)<\/p>\n