October is a month for giving back, and we can’t be more thrilled to once again be supporting the March of Dimes and its premier fundraising event of the year: the Miami Signature Chefs Auction.

On Thursday, October 29, elite corporate and social leaders from the Greater Miami area will gather at the Westin Colonnade in Coral Gables for a fabulous culinary soiree in support of the March of Dimes, the largest and most respected maternal-child health organization in the world.

Did you know that every year, more than 15 million babies are born prematurely, and as a result, a million will die before their first birthday? Through generous donations, the March of Dimes is able to improve the health of babies by preventing premature birth, infant mortality, and birth defects through research, advocacy, and community programs on the local, state, and national levels.

For the 18th-annual Miami Signature Chefs Auction presented by GOYA, 17 chefs from some of Miami’s top restaurants will serve up tastes of their favorite dishes as guests mingle and bid on exclusive items in a silent auction. This will be followed by a sit-down dessert and live auction, where guests can also bid on additional dining experiences, travel, and more.

Along with Ambassador Culinary Chair David Sears of SushiSamba, this year’s participating chefs include: Brad Kilgore of Alter, David Blonsky of Apeiro, Wolfgang Birk of Area 31, Tim Andriola of Basil Park, Brian Nasajon of Beaker & Gray, Diego Solano of Bulla Gastrobar, Santiago Gomez of Cantina La Veinte, Rod Chitikov of Devon Seafood + Steak, Aaron Brooks of EDGE Steak & Bar, Fernando Desa of GOYA, Phil Bryant of The Local Craft Food and Drink, Sean Brasel of Meat Market, Kareem Anguin of The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Angelina Bastidas of Piripi, Adonay Tafur of The Dutch, and Eric Do of Toro Toro.

“People love the Signature Chefs Auction because they get to enjoy a variety of delicious dishes from our signature chefs,” says Event Chair J.C. de Ona, senior vice president at Stonegate Bank. “And at the same time, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they’re helping the March of Dimes in its mission to ensure that all babies are born stronger, healthier, and full term.”

Additional community leaders in support of the event include: celebrity spokesperson and emcee Jackie Nespral of NBC 6, Auction Chair Rafael Feliz Jr. of Premier Worldwide Marketing, Larry Carrino of Brustman Carrino Public Relations, Alexis C. Knapp of Rockaway PR, Erin Knight of Stonegate Bank, and Aubrey Swanson of AUBOOM Media.

Other event sponsors include: Florida Yachts International, the Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD), Marjorie Raines, MSP Recovery, Bank of America, BankUnited, Cherry Bekaert, Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Leader Global Solutions, MacMillan Oil Company, Prestige Companies, Stonegate Bank, Trujillo & Sons, Turner Construction, Wells Fargo, Future Energy Solutions, National Health Transport, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables, NBC 6, Telemundo 51, and, yours truly, DiningOut Miami.

Another important component of the Signature Chefs Auction is Fund the Mission, an opportunity for everyone to make a donation to the March of Dimes. Each gift is 100-percent tax-deductible and helps the foundation carry out its mission. Those interested in making a Fund the Mission donation can give online here or mail a check to the March of Dimes Miami Office: {8323 Northwest 12th Street, Suite 208, Miami, FL 33126}.

The 18th-annual Miami Signature Chefs Auction presented by GOYA will take place on Thursday, October 29, from 6:30-9:30pm at the Westin Colonnade Coral Gables {180 Aragon Avenue}. Click here for more information.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor