Above: Happy and healthy 4-year-old Will met his marrow donor Karissa for the first time at the One Huge Night Gala.
The annual One Huge Night Miami Gala was held on November 10, 2025, at the elegant Queen Miami Beach restaurant, which served as the gala’s home for the third consecutive year.
The event offered local supporters the opportunity to make contributions that will help those who need it most, and included a cocktail hour and dinner, awards presentations, entertainment and the heartwarming introduction of a young marrow recipient to the woman who saved his life.
Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Hernandez opened the evening by presenting a proclamation to Gift of Life Founder and CEO Jay Feinberg and Director of Development Robyn Malek, declaring November 10, 2025, as Gift of Life Marrow Registry Day.
Jay shared his gratitude for the ongoing support shown by those attending the event and put particular attention on the recent fundraising Rockathon held by the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi) chapter at the University of Miami.
“Chris Genovese, here in the rocking chair, earned the best seat in the house tonight,” said Jay. “He rocked for 55 straight hours as he and his fraternity brothers raised an incredible $53,000 for Gift of Life. Because of events like the Rockathon and this gala tonight, Gift of Life has increased stem cell transplants by more than 300% in just five years.”
(L-R) Marrow donor Karissa Piccione, transplant recipient Will Jones, and his parents Chris and Nicole Jones.
The evening’s emotional highlight was when Jonathan Plutzik, owner of The Betsy Hotel and a Gift of Life advocate and supporter for years, welcomed William “Will” Jones, 4, and his parents, Chris and Nicole, who came from Peoria, Ill., to meet Will’s donor, Karissa Piccione, 23, a Veterinary Medicine major at the University of Florida.
“Thanks to Karissa, Will is now able to fully enjoy playing with toys, especially puzzles, cards, trains and blocks,” said Plutzik. “A marrow transplant from his donor means this happy little boy is now able to play sports and have fun outdoors.”
After showing an overview video explaining Will’s story, he welcomed Karissa to meet him and his family for the first time. Tears of joy and emotion were on display as they all hugged and the event guests cheered.
After being anemic from birth, Will was diagnosed at only four months old with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare blood disorder that causes a life-threatening shortage of red blood cells in the body. The condition has only one cure: a marrow or blood stem cell transplant.
“We had never heard of this condition before; it’s incredibly rare,” said William’s mother, Nicole Jones. “We also did not know what it would mean for Will as he grew up.”
Fortunately, Karissa was quickly identified as his best match, and she and her mother traveled to the D.C. area for her marrow collection at Georgetown University Hospital.
“I am so joyous to be able to help this family in such a unique way,” said Karissa. “I am so lucky that Will is doing well, and I want others to know that you can do this, too. What is being asked of you is so little compared to the suffering caused by such diseases.”
(L-R) Mathieu and Alexandra Massa, Alina Hudak, David Sinopoli, Ignacio Edenberg.
Gift of Life Director of Development Robyn Malek recognized notable supporters who have made a positive impact on the organization: entrepreneurs Alexandra and Mathieu Massa, music venue entrepreneur David Sinopoli, Miami 2026 World Cup Host Committee CEO and President Alina Hudak, and Edenburg Hospitality CEO Ignacio Edenburg.
Each of them makes significant contributions to Gift of Life’s mission through raising public awareness of the organization’s lifesaving work, supporting the organization directly, holding fundraising events and helping to bring new donors into the registry.
Alberto Benacerraf (l) met his lifesaver and hero, stem cell donor Gianmarco Frezza, at a private ceremony the night before the gala. The two attended One Huge Night Miami together.
At a private pre-gala reception at Santorini by Giorgios in Miami Beach on Sunday, November 9, local resident and leukemia survivor Alberto Benacerraf, 64, met his Gift of Life stem cell donor Gianmarco Frezza, 25. The two men, who are now so closely bonded, were introduced by longtime Gift of Life supporter Robyn Schwartz Jacobs.
Alberto, a husband, father of three, and chairman of biotech firm Avespa, had unusual results from a blood test during his annual checkup. His cousin, a doctor at Baptist Health, asked him to retake the test, and although only a few days had passed, the numbers came back even worse. He was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia and learned that his best option for a cure was to have a blood stem cell transplant.
His wife and family rallied to support him, and his daughter, who was attending college in Boston at the time, gained permission to take online classes for several months in order to stay in South Florida and help care for her younger brothers.
Before meeting Gianmarco, Robyn told Alberto a bit about his donor. Gianmarco is an attorney who lives in Washington, D.C., and joined Gift of Life in 2018 as an undergraduate at McGill University in Montreal. When he learned he was a match and heard that his recipient’s life was at stake, he immediately stepped up.
“I consider my donation as an ordinary matter of duty to my fellow man,” said Gianmarco. “Something that is easy for you to do can make a world of difference to someone else.”
“I feel incredibly grateful not only for myself, but also for my family and friends,” said Benacerraf. “You begin to realize that there are still people like my donor, who expect nothing in return yet are willing to go through an uncomfortable and selfless process just to save someone’s life. It’s truly hard to believe. I still find myself without words to express how thankful I am.”
We thank Miami Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Christopher Bess for serving as our emcee and noted Israeli-American soprano Shanee Zamir for her beautiful performances.
Gift of Life’s deepest thanks also go to our Honorary Gala Chairs Steve Boucher, Romero Britto, and Ayana Rodriguez, and our entire Gala Committee, who brought this fundraiser together, as well as gratitude to our many supporters who joined us for a meaningful evening.
View and download photos in the event gallery.