An Extraordinary Night of Giving: Miracles for Kids 2026 Night of Miracles Gala Presented by Sequel Brands Raises $4M+

GRAMMY® Award-Winning Singer & Songwriter Ashanti delivered a high-energy finale at “The Miracle of Tomorrow,” benefiting families with critically-ill children

IRVINE, CA, UNITED STATES, October 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Angels were among the 500 guests who gathered for an extraordinary night of giving, as Miracles for Kids raised a record $4+ million to support families with critically-ill children. The sold-out 2026 Night of Miracles Gala: The Miracle of Tomorrow, presented by Anthony Geisler’s Sequel Brands, was held Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, marking the nonprofit's 22nd annual gala.

Dressed to impress in formal attire, Southern California's VIPs gathered on the resort's lawn at sunset. Larger-than-life roaming angels brought magic to the reception, while guests posed for the 360-degree GlamBot and admired Bugatti and Ferrari sports cars. Signature cocktails, wine, and spirits were served courtesy of underwriters, As One Cru, Perricone Farms & Natalie's, Javier's, Deforges Vineyards, and Weber Ranch. Attendees explored nearly 200 silent auction items and purchased opportunity tickets for a chance to win a 65.74-carat diamond tennis necklace valued at $45,000 from longtime supporters, Happy Jewelers.

Inside the ballroom, the show opened with a moving performance by 23-year-old powerhouse vocalist Carolina Rial, who appeared on The Voice and has performed alongside Andrea Bocelli. Rial sang “A Million Dreams” as Miracles for Kids children joined her onstage, holding signs revealing their dreams for the future. The heartfelt moment brought The Miracle of Tomorrow theme to life, highlighting the possibilities ahead when families receive love, support and stability. Returning emcee Manny “Streetz” Guevara, an actor and iHeartRadio personality, guided the evening's festivities.

“The Miracle of Tomorrow reflects what our community can accomplish together,” said Autumn Strier, co-founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids. “Raising more than $4 million allows us to continue providing financial support, housing, wellness services, basic needs, and stability to patients and their families, so they can focus on what matters most: their child's health.”

One of the night's most memorable moments was the recognition of Quy “Q” Nguyen as the 2026 Miracle Maker, honoring a longtime supporter whose unwavering generosity and commitment have transformed lives, strengthened vital programs and inspired others to embrace philanthropy. Nguyen, founder and CEO of Allyance Communications, teared up during his acceptance speech as guests honored his 17 years of dedication with two standing ovations.

Merge Opportunities received the 2026 Champion of Children honor for helping families build greater stability and independence. Led by founder Barry Vince and Executive Director Erin Earlywine, the organization has partnered with Miracles for Kids for three years, connecting family members with education, employment resources and career guidance through the Pillars Program at Miracles for Kids.

The evening also recognized the Zarate family as the 2026 honored Miracles for Kids Family. When Jayden Zarate was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia at age 5, his family was facing financial hardship. Miracles for Kids provided housing assistance, basic necessities, and ongoing support. Today, Jayden is in remission but continues daily oral chemotherapy, while his mother now faces her own leukemia diagnosis. Their story underscores why continued community generosity and fundraising are essential to helping families navigate the financial and emotional challenges of a child's critical illness.

The live auction raised an extraordinary $539,000, featuring unique experiences including an Avengers: Doomsday red carpet premiere, a 2027 Masters Experience package, a three-night luxury Napa Valley escape, a St. Barth's villa for 12, a Big Sky, Montana, getaway for 16, a Best of London Wimbledon package for two, a Tony Robbins VIP experience for 12, and a Bugatti VIP access pass to Monterey Car Week. The beloved Puppy Love live auction returned with an 11-week-old male mini Goldendoodle, who found his forever home with the Diamond Wish Family for $14,000. The Fund-a-Need portion of the program raised $2,388,000 in direct support of Miracles for Kids families, and Sequel Brands also matched the $1,201,000 raised in the room dollar for dollar. The 65.74-carat diamond tennis necklace donated by Happy Jewelers raised an additional $50,100.

The evening concluded with an up-close-and-personal, 30-minute performance by GRAMMY^® Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter Ashanti, who had the entire ballroom dancing to hits including “Happy,” “Foolish,” “Rock Wit U,” “Always on Time,” and more! Joined by two female dancers, Ashanti delivered back-to-back favorites as videos featuring longtime collaborators Nelly, Ja Rule, and Fat Joe played on the screens. As a mother, Ashanti emphasized that no family should face financial hardship, hunger, or homelessness while caring for a critically-ill child, lending her voice to an evening dedicated to bringing love, support, and relief to families in need.

The gala was made possible by Presenting Sponsor Sequel Brands, whose founder and CEO Anthony Geisler has been a dedicated supporter of Miracles for Kids for many years, generously giving his time, resources and leadership to help advance the nonprofit's mission. Playing an instrumental role in the evening’s success were Lead Sponsors As One Cru, Happy Jewelers and David August. Additional support came from Creator Sponsors Citizens Business Bank, the Davidson Family, the Frome Family Foundation and TRAFFIK; Believer Sponsor The Leeson Group; and 50 additional underwriters. As a special parting gift, each guest received a gold vermeil necklace with a complimentary diamond pendant, courtesy of Table Sponsor Diamond Wish.

"I've been proud to support Miracles for Kids for many years, and it's incredible to see how much this event has grown and the impact it continues to make," said Anthony Geisler, founder and CEO of Sequel Brands. "This year's record-breaking success is a testament to the generosity of this community, and we're honored that Sequel Brands could play a part in helping more families when they need it most."

The 2027 Night of Miracles Gala returns Oct. 30 with another major musical headliner and an evening of giving to support families in need. To get involved, visit miraclesforkids.org.

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ABOUT MIRACLES FOR KIDS: Miracles for Kids is a non-profit serving critically-ill children and the families who care for them. Founded in 2004, and led by Co-Founder & CEO Autumn Strier, the organization provides critical support for families that are crumbling from the financial and emotional devastation of fighting for their child's life. With five core programs providing bill pay, housing, wellness, basic needs, and stability to patients and their families, Miracles for Kids fulfills a mission to help caregivers battle bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger, and depression, so they can concentrate on what matters most. Based in Irvine, California, Miracles for Kids currently supports families receiving treatment at CHOC Children’s, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, Rady Children’s, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, By the Bay Health, City of Hope, Loma Linda University Hospital, and Phoenix Children’s. Follow @MiraclesForKids to see how you can make a difference or get involved at MiraclesForKids.org.

Tracy Keyser
P2R Inc
Tracy@P2Rinc.com
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2026 Night of Miracles Gala: The Miracle of Tomorrow, presented by Anthony Geisler’s Sequel Brands