PICTURE COURTESY tarainkpr
As tickets go on sale for the coveted Make-a-Wish ball, Miami royalty Shareef Malnik
reveals his passion for granting wishes for terminally ill children.
The owner of legendary Miami Beach steakhouse The Forge, Shareef Malnik, 56, has been
prominently chairing the ball to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida
for more than a decade. In that time, Malnik has helped raise the gala’s profits from
$300,000 to $2 million; he recently earned recognition from the Make-A-Wish national
chapter for his unique and effective fundraising. But finances aside, Malnik also
dedicates his time and energy to some of the terminally ill children Make-A-Wish serves.
Here, in his own words, Malnik opens up about everything from creating the Chairman’s
Challenge to some of the wishes granted that are particularly meaningful to him.
About two years ago, I was asked to join the board of directors, and that’s given me the
opportunity to contribute to other aspects of the foundation. For starters, I’ve been
spending time with some of these kids. Take Joey Giordano Jr., who is 8 years old; his
wish was to go on a Disney Cruise. It’s so easy to fall in love with these children—just
look at him.
On another occasion, our president, Norman Wedderburn, called and asked me to represent
Make-A-Wish and escort a child through a journey of having a wish fulfilled. She was
flying into Miami to meet Adam Lambert. He would be performing at the Fontainebleau and
they’d have lunch at Hakkasan. Adam’s enthusiasm for meeting this child was unmistakable.
He didn’t just give her time and attention, but he was completely present for their
conversation. He shared stories with her, and she told him that the only way she got
through her time in the hospital— and the pain that accompanied those days—was his
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