In the wake of a tragedy which killed ninety-eight people in Florida earlier this year, a team of industry insiders has joined forces to raise money for victims and their families. The event, a gala in Miami, will take place tomorrow evening at 6:30. For those interested in attending, sponsoring, or donating, there is still time to register.

On June 24, the twelve-story Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, collapsed in what is now considered the United States' third-deadliest structural engineering failure. As tributes to the victims poured in from all corners of the world, a few local asset management leaders decided to take action.

"The advisor community is quite close-knit," says Richard Garland, managing director and global advisor at Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England dual-listed asset manager Ninety One. "This tragedy was in our backyard with our own people, friends, and neighbors impacted, and we're humbled by their fortitude during this awful time."

"We were honored to be part of this event, alongside our peers, to lend a hand,” Garland adds.

Ninety One will host the event alongside Boston, Massachusetts-based MFS and the Miami, Florida-based Funds Society. Proceeds benefit The Global Empowerment Mission, otherwise known as the GEM, which was founded in 2011 to respond to global disasters via charitable fundraising. At this gala, the GEM is collecting for three separate funds: resident support, survivor relocation, and a general program on the collapse.

Alicia Jimenez, managing partner for the Funds Society, says the group has been a facilitator for the asset and wealth management industry in southern Florida for almost a decade.

"When NinetyOne and MFS approached us to organize this gala," she explains, "we thought it was the best way to show our support to this community, leading a common effort to give back to those in need."

Jimenez says, "Global Empowerment Mission, the foundation to which we are donating all the funds for the Surfside Collapse program, is an amazing organization and the work they are doing to help those affected by the Surfside Collapse in the long term is truly unique." ??

"I am very proud of the exceedingly generous response we have had from asset management firms, broker dealers and individuals in this industry," she continues, "and I really hope this is the first of many fundraising annual events in which the asset and wealth management firms involved in the non-resident business show their solidarity with those who need it most."

L. Jose Corena, managing director for MFS Investment Management in the Americas, tells MFWire, "MFS is pleased to partner with other asset managers and the Funds Society to help raise much-needed funds for the victims of the Surfside condominium collapse."

"At a time of great tragedy," Corena continues, "the broader Miami community is stepping up to help those in need to recover and to rebuild their lives following such a harrowing experience."

"MFS has a deep-rooted sense of community and philanthropy that extends far beyond its Boston headquarters, reaching out in many of the communities where we have a regional presence, including Miami, to help support various causes and initiatives," he says.

Current sponsors for the gala include AXA IM, Janus Henderson, Schroders, Jupiter, Insigneo, Bolton Capital, Thornburg IM, BNY Mellon IM, Brown Advisory, RWC, Natixis IM, and Manulife Investment Management.  

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