fbpx

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida purchases Miami property for Wish House

The South Florida branch of one of the country’s most well-known nonprofits is making moves in Miami.

Make-A-Wish Southern Florida recently purchased land in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood to construct the 30,000 square-foot Finker-Frenkel Wish House, which will serve as a place to uplift children and families during the wish discovery process. It will also provide space for volunteer and donor events while housing the organization’s administrative offices for the organization, which has granted nearly 13,000 wishes for critically ill children over 38 years.

“With a lot of support from friends, we’ve taken a giant step toward cementing a permanent legacy for the chapter and all those impacted by our mission,” said Shareef Malnik, who chaired the capital campaign that raised more than $20 million for the project. “We envision a magical, creative place that will inspire wish kids, volunteers, staff, donors, and all those whose efforts enable us to change the lives we do.”

The 1.62 acre-property of two lots at Northwest Fourth Avenue and Northwest Sixth Street cost around $8 million. The purchase was possible thanks in part to real estate and land development attorneys from several offices of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., who worked more than 500 hours of pro bono legal services. Greenberg Traurig handled all the legal work, including negotiating and closing the deal, obtaining financing, negotiating construction documents, and securing approval from the City of Miami to rezone the now vacant land.

“As a member of Make-A-Wish’s Board of Directors for four years, I have witnessed first-hand the tremendous impact that the organization has on the lives of children and that’s why Greenberg Traurig was excited to help Make-A-Wish turn this dream into reality,” said Danielle Gonzalez, a shareholder in the Miami Real Estate Practice of Greenberg Traurig, who led the team of nearly a dozen attorneys who worked on the project, including Miami Land Development and Zoning Co-Chair Iris Escarra. “The Greenberg Traurig and Make-A-Wish partnership represents a true commitment to building a better community and creating a positive impact in the lives of children throughout South Florida.”

The project (rendering pictured above) is expected to be completed by September 2022 and will be designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica. It will serve as the headquarters from which Make-A-Wish Southern Florida will continue to grant wishes to children in 22 Florida counties. The organization also has regional offices in Tampa, Sarasota, Bonita Springs, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

You May Also Like
Aquaplex Key West Acquires Lips Fort Lauderdale

The venue also has locations in New York, San Diego, Atlanta and Chicago.

Read More
LIPS Fort Lauderdale
Broward College Hosts Pickleball Tournament

The event will raise funds for scholarships, educational programs and student resources.

Read More
Broward College Pickleball Tournament
Amerant Bank Appoints Jesse Flowers as Palm Beach Market President

The company plans to open its third Palm Beach banking center and regional office set to open in 2025.

Read More
Amerant Bank Jesse Flowers
Hyundai Air & Sea Show Set to Make a Splash in Miami Beach This Memorial Day Weekend

It is one of the largest gatherings of military equipment in the country.

Read More
Other Posts
Model UN Team From American Heritage Schools’ Broward Campus Receives Top Honors 

17 of the 35 participating students received Best Delegate Awards in their respective committees, while 23 earned individual accolades. 

Read More
Former Celebrity Cruises CEO to Lead World Cup Locally

The host committee is also enlisting the support of a historic alliance of South Florida leaders.

Read More
Humane Society of Broward Hosts Annual PAWS Gala

The Lotus Blossom Ball event will be held on April 27.

Read More
American Heritage Schools’ Palm Beach Campus Wins Top Prize at Palm Beach Regional Science Exhibition

American Heritage Schools achieved yet another remarkable victory at the Palm Beach Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Safe Schools Institute in Boca Raton. For two years, 15 of the 30 high

Read More

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.