Playing for Change Foundation Hosts Impact Awards Kick-Off Dinner in Miami

An inspiring evening of music, storytelling, and purpose celebrates the power of art to transform communities around the world.

Miami, November 10, 2025 — The Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF) held its Impact Awards Kick-Off Dinner on November 5, hosted by Ann Walton Kroenke and Whitney Kroenke Silverstein. The intimate evening in Miami Beach brought together friends and supporters for a celebration of music and mission, honoring the communities PFCF serves and the changemakers who make it all possible.

Guests were treated to moving performances by acclaimed vocalist Lady Blackbird and young artists from Young Musicians Unite, a partner program of PFCF. The performances underscored the evening’s theme: the power of music to drive lasting, community-led transformation. Multi-platinum recording artist Prince Royce also made a special appearance, delighting attendees and adding star power to the night.

Among the distinguished guests were Whitney Kroenke Silverstein and Nick Silverstein, Karolina Kurkova and Archie Drury, Timolin and Casey Cole, Ann Kroenke, Frederique and Stephane Leforestier, Randi Wolfson Adamo, Cristina Perez, Pamela Silva, Lauren Liss, Lourdes Mola, Ana and Sean Wolfington, and Alitza Weiss.

This year’s dinner introduced a refreshing new format, placing donors and supporters at the center of the storytelling. Rather than traditional speeches, guests shared personal reflections on how the programs they support are changing lives. From Miami—where more than 9,000 young people participate in PFCF programs each month—to the newly opened music center for foster youth at Samueli Academy in Santa Ana, each story highlighted real outcomes. These included expanding access to music education, building confidence and opportunity, and in some communities, providing basic necessities such as food, safety, and shelter.

The evening also spotlighted PFCF’s global footprint, with stories from Costa Rica to the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, where music provides not only creative expression but also a lifeline for youth displaced by conflict. These examples reflect PFCF’s larger mission: to create infrastructure that empowers communities to build solutions using music and culture as tools for unity and progress.

“This dinner was a beautiful way to build excitement and support leading into the Impact Awards on April 11,” said Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, Co-Founder of the Playing for Change Foundation. “But even more than that, it was a moment to highlight the kids we serve—their voices, their growth, and the possibilities they’re stepping into. These are the lives being changed every day through music. That’s the heart of our work and why we use music to drive unparalleled social change.”

The evening’s lead sponsor was Capital One Entertainment, whose continued partnership underscores the alignment of purpose and impact. “At Capital One we work to create enriching experiences that lead to meaningful connections between our customers and communities,” said Monica Weaver, Head of Branded Card Partnerships and Experiences at Capital One. “Our ongoing support of the Playing for Change Foundation uplifts young, creative artists and helps build systems of change that last. From Miami to Jordan to Costa Rica, the impact is real and rooted in creativity, dignity, and local leadership.”

The Kick-Off Dinner served as a prelude to the 2025 Playing for Change Foundation Impact Awards, scheduled for April 11 at the Rubell Museum and Superblue Miami. The annual event honors artists, activists, and philanthropists who use their platforms to create lasting global transformation through music.

For more information, visit playingforchange.org.

About the Playing for Change Foundation
For 18 years, the Playing for Change Foundation has empowered youth through music and the arts, helping them create social and economic change within their own cultures. With 137 program sites across 27 countries, the foundation engages over 800 staff members, teachers, and cultural leaders worldwide. PFCF operates in regions including Mali, Morocco, Barbados, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Jordan, Ukraine, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Argentina, and throughout the United States, including Miami, Las Vegas, Santa Ana, and Oglala Lakota Territory.