Tropical Nights 2022

Tropical Nights is your way to help those affected by autism living in South Florida. It is a fundraiser benefiting the programs, services and research initiatives of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). 100% of the funding from Tropical Nights goes directly to supporting UM-NSU CARD’s programs, services, and community outreach. This signature fundraising event celebrates the impactful work of UM-NSU CARD with a festive celebration designed to raise autism awareness while entertaining our guests with fine food, drinks, music, dancing, and acknowledging the tireless efforts of important community partners. Tropical Nights will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the beautiful InterContinental Miami Hotel. Over the years, UM-NSU CARD has provided awareness and acceptance in our community. At Tropical Nights we celebrate our community and help raise critical funds so that we can continue to provide services at no cost to families. Currently, 1 in 44 children are being diagnosed with autism. Tropical Nights not only focuses on providing financial support for our programs and services created for families living with autism, it also helps create a community of awareness, promoting inclusion and most importantly, acceptance.

The overwhelming success of Tropical Nights over the past 18 years has allowed UM-NSU CARD to maintain its services during times of tremendous constituency growth. For this, we are extremely grateful to our supportive community and generous donors. Funds raised at Tropical Nights help support our valuable programs and services, all of which are provided at no direct cost to families. Some of these programs include: Support groups for all family members, employment boot camps, surf and summer camps, social skills activity groups for teens, community outreach events and so much more! For more information about Tropical Nights visit us at www.miami.edu/tropicalnights.

This year we are especially honored to celebrate the Mneimneh Family at Tropical Nights. The Mneimneh Family has made significant and lasting contributions to our community and especially to UM-NSU CARD. They have inspired leadership, generosity, and service to our community. By graciously telling their story, Zach and Chirine set out to plant seeds of hope encouraging others to support awareness, acceptance, and advocacy. Guided by his family, their eldest son Waleed was inspired to carry out this mission and created Ace for Autism, a tennis fundraiser, in honor of his brother Tarek and all the siblings of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum disorders.

Our featured artist for the evening is Chris Aviles, a 24-year-old artist diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Born in Miami, FL, Chris was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He taught himself to draw at a young age and enjoys creating animated characters, using colored pencils as his medium. We are excited to share his art with you at Tropical Nights!

Please join us in honoring the Mneimneh Family, celebrating the continued impact of UM-NSU CARD on our community, and joining together to embrace the unique neurodiversity that allows our community to shine. We look forward to celebrating Tropical Nights with you!

This year’s Tropical Nights will be a spectacularly gratifying celebration as we honor one very special UM-NSU CARD family.  Allow us to share a little something about them and their deep personal connection to us.  Searching for quality care for their newly diagnosed son with autism, the Mneimneh Family reached out to Dr. Alessandri from their home in Lebanon.  Dr. Alessandri still remembers receiving emails from Mr. Mneimneh and meeting him in person for the first time in his University of Miami office. The family had ties to South Florida and Dr. Alessandri assured them they would find a community that would warmly welcome and support their son and entire family on their journey with autism.  The family officially became clients of UM-NSU CARD in April of 2004 and have been fully engaged in making our community a more accepting and understanding place for all those living with autism since their arrival.  Tarek, their remarkable young adult autistic son is now 23 years old and thriving thanks to the steadfast support of his entire family. The Mneimneh Family has made lasting contributions to our community and especially to UM-NSU CARD.  They have graciously told their stories in several of our annual awareness campaigns, Mrs. Mneimneh (Chirine)has selflessly volunteered to chair two of our annual fundraising galas, and the entire family, led by Silver Knight winning son, Waleed, launched Ace for Autism, an annual autism tennis tournament, in collaboration with his classmates at Palmer Trinity School, which raised over $100,000 for UM-NSU CARD. This family is considered by us to be one of the “first families” of UM-NSU CARD, and we honor them this year for the 18 years of inspired leadership, generosity, and service to our community.

Please join us in honoring the Mneimneh Family, celebrating the continued impact of UM-NSU CARD on our community, and coming together to embrace the unique neurodiversity that allows our community to shine.