Dribbling in Style: The Miami HEAT Charitable Fund Gala Scores Big for Philanthropy
Miami’s elite and basketball stars came together for the 15th Annual Miami HEAT Charitable Fund Gala, an evening where luxury, style, and generosity shared the spotlight. Hosted on Pat Riley Court at Kaseya Center and presented by Amerant Bank, the gala fused Miami’s signature flair with the HEAT’s commitment to making a difference.
This year’s theme, “Saturday Night Vice,” was a love letter to the city’s culture, blending sports, fashion, and philanthropy. Micky and Madeleine Arison, along with Pat and Chris Riley, welcomed a mix of NBA stars and celebrity guests, including Eric Andre, Swae Lee, Jill Martin, Ana Navarro, and Lenny Tavárez. By the night’s end, more than $1.1 million had been raised to support the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, which works to uplift at-risk families across South Florida.
HEAT Players Turned Fashion Icons
Guests got a VIP pass into the HEAT lifestyle with personalized locker room nameplates, tunnel-fit photos, and custom The Original Vice jerseys. The entire HEAT roster was in attendance, including Bam Adebayo, Kyle Anderson, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Keshad Johnson, Nikola Jović, Kevin Love, Davion Mitchell, Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier III, Dru Smith, Kel’el Ware, and Andrew Wiggins.
Adding an unexpected twist, a few players took the stage for an impromptu drum performance of “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins (HEAT version). Meanwhile, Tyler Herro put his fashion expertise to the test, judging a style competition among his teammates. Miami isn’t just a sports city—it’s a style capital, and these players proved they can serve looks just as well as they serve buckets.
While at the event, we had the chance to chat with some of the players about their fashion choices, their favorite spots in Miami, and more. Below, you'll find our exclusive conversations with the players and guests.
A Luxury Auction with Exclusive Experiences
The live auction lineup was nothing short of extraordinary, offering high-rolling guests the chance to bid on experiences money simply can’t buy:
F1 Miami Experience: Two tickets to all three days of F1 Miami in the 72-Club with VIP car service.
HEAT Team Plane Access: A rare opportunity to escort a player on Media Day, fly on the HEAT team plane for the 2025 pre-season game in Puerto Rico, attend press conferences, and watch all practices while in Puerto Rico.
Cadillac LYRIQ Lease: A two-year lease on a 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, an all-electric SUV that’s as sleek as it is cutting-edge.
Giving Back: The Heart of the HEAT
Underneath the glamour, the heart of the gala was about giving back. Since its inception in 1997, the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund has raised over $18 million, supporting initiatives such as Jackson Memorial Foundation Angels, SafeSpace, Dedication to Community, and HomeStrong.
As the night wound down, guests danced alongside HEAT players and legends, with each attendee leaving with a personalized Giorgio Armani garment bag and a custom The Original Vice jersey—a stylish reminder of a night that was about more than just basketball. It was about Miami, fashion, and a commitment to making a difference.
We also spoke with HEAT stars about giving back to the community—what causes matter most to them and what they were most looking forward to that evening. You can find our full recap of those conversations below.
The 15th Annual Miami HEAT Charitable Fund Gala, themed 'Saturday Night Vice,' combined luxury, style, and philanthropy, raising over $1.1 million for at-risk families in South Florida. Hosted at Kaseya Center, the event featured NBA stars, celebrity guests, and exclusive experiences, highlighting Miami's unique culture and the HEAT's commitment to making a difference.