Leonardo DiCaprio helps raise $1 million for Sean Penn’s CORE

Displaying artwork from Leonardo DiCaprio’s personal collection, Wyclef Jean’s guitar and a trip to Rio for a special concert with singer Anita Sean Penn’s disaster relief organization, CORE (Community Relief Effort), helped raise more than $1 million in just a few hours Wednesday night in Miami.

It takes place in Soho House Beach and coincides with the annual Art Week, which blankets the city with celebrities, community workers, collectors and their main purchasing power DiCaprio, Jared Leto, Soleil Moon Frye, Nile DiMarco, Laurie Heryard Duprell, Aaron Young in The Webster, Patricia Velasquez, Diplo, Randy Gerber and many more have all come out in support of the Shoes on the Floor network, founded in 2010, which is first responding to crises around the world.

Relief efforts in Haiti and Ukraine grabbed the limelight. It was hosted by Haitian-American actress Garcel Boves and performed by Wyclef Jean. Beauvais shared with the audience how she first became aware of CORE after the 2010 earthquake in her native Haiti.

Everyone kept asking how they could help — and then a group and a guy showed up. That group was CORE and that guy, Sean Penn. I’ll never forget the picture, she said. With CORE you know where to go. It goes to the people who need it most. More than a decade later, CORE is still in Haiti. My people have not been forgotten. This year, they have been in Ukraine and neighboring countries to provide humanitarian relief to those devastated by the dead and war.”

Volodymyr Zelensky sent a video message thanking CORE. “Mr. Sean Penn has seen this evil firsthand. I thank CORE and all involved in their charity For Democracy For Freedom And Life….” Earlier this year, Ben Zelensky gave his Oscar to keep until victory in the war .

While Ben wasn’t present, he sent a message, which was read by co-founder Ann Lee. She said the actor had already FaceTimed twice and had so much FOMO that he couldn’t be there.

Penn wrote, “I have seen many things, both good and bad, in the world, but there is nothing I have found worse than indifference.” “We can all do something, no matter how small. I know this from meeting the global CORE team, who come from beleaguered communities in Ukraine, Haiti, Pakistan, Venezuela, Brazil, and India. They are ex-teachers, IT professionals, stay-at-home moms, and a homeless bunch.” From people who have stepped forward to become champions. They are transforming thousands of lives and communities from the inside out.”

I called out board member and “ride or die” Frye, who tearfully recalled just two months earlier that she, along with other CORE team members, had been walking across the Polish border into Ukraine to see the organization in action. “It’s such a juxtaposition [with] This cheerful and beautiful room [tonight]Frye said.

For the auction, DiCaprio donated artwork by Harmony Korine, which sold for $60,000. The Magic Show Special with David Blaine went for $35,000.

DiCaprio, who kept a low profile and sat in the middle of the room in a black baseball cap, snapped the photos with Issa and David Grotman’s handheld camera. Rande Gerber sat next to Desiree Gruber. Diplo worked in the room, while Mia Moretti did the DJ during cocktail hour.

An intimate night out with only about 200 guests is known to be a favorite for its relaxed beachfront setting thanks to event production company JWP. Art Week, while dripping in commercialism, vanity and excess, is also balanced with philanthropic components. On November 28, Alexander McQueen’s Sarabande Foundation held a fundraiser at The Standard. Celebrating its 20th year, Art Basel, the international art fair that kicked off Miami Art Week, runs through December 4.