Red Meat Lovers Club gala raises $55,000 for Play for Blake

The fourth annual Play for Blake Gala in Delray Beach raised $55,000 for the youth soccer foundation, with nearly 300 guests, 49 sponsors and a live matching gift helping set a series record. The money will fund soccer balls and youth programs in Palm Beach County and communities in the Dominican Republic, Central America and Africa.

Why it matters: - Play for Blake uses donations to put soccer balls in the hands of children who need them most. - The gala’s record result will help expand ball distribution to underserved youth in South Florida and abroad. - The event also honored Blake Buchbinder, whose love of soccer inspired the foundation.

What happened: - The Red Meat Lovers Club raised $55,000 at the fourth annual Play for Blake Gala on September 18 in Delray Beach, Florida. - Nearly 300 guests and 49 sponsors supported the event. - The gala was the most successful Play for Blake fundraiser in the event series’ four-year history.

The details: - Power of Sport headlined the event. - Ver Ploeg & Marino, Camp IHC and WHG Law served as presenting sponsors. - Ver Ploeg & Marino matched an $8,000 live donation on the spot, turning that gift into $16,000. - Marc Effron, co-founder of Legacy Healing Center and founder of the Marc Effron Foundation, donated $5,000 and $15,000 worth of Senda Athletics soccer balls. - The soccer balls will be distributed directly through Play for Blake programs. - Funds from live and silent auctions and raffle fundraising will support youth programs in Palm Beach County middle schools, local youth soccer clubs, foster care programs and international communities in the Dominican Republic, Central America and Africa. - Play for Blake has donated more than 6,500 soccer balls to children in need across South Florida and internationally. - The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in memory of Blake Buchbinder, a 13-year-old soccer player.

Between the lines: - The event showed how sponsor density, auction activity and a matching gift can quickly scale a local charity night into a record fundraiser. - Red Meat Lovers Club has built a recurring philanthropy platform alongside its dining and networking events. - Since 2017, the club has raised more than $2.5 million for nonprofit organizations through auctions, raffles and partnerships.

What's next: - Play for Blake will use the new funds to keep distributing soccer balls through its existing school, club, foster care and international outreach channels. - Red Meat Lovers Club will continue its monthly events nationwide and its charitable fundraising model. - More information is available at playforblake.org and rmlclub.com.