LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree: Dancing with the Stars Raises Nearly $300,000 for Lung Health

On the evening of May 30 at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, 250 guests joined the American Lung Association in Florida’s 20th annual LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree: Dancing with the Stars, presented by Title Sponsor Memorial Cancer Institute. The event, which featured its first-ever ballroom dancing competition, raised nearly $300,000 to fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer—the leading cause of cancer deaths—and lung disease.

Matt Maxim, South Florida area manager at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, won the Celebrity Spotlight Award, powered by Florida Power & Light Company. Maxim raised nearly $25,000 through community support and donations. He dazzled the crowd with a tango performance with professional dance partner, Alexandra Nema of Fred Astaire Dance Studios Fort Lauderdale.

Additionally, the dancer lineup included: Olivia Berrios with partner Artem Sharov; Brooke Boles, luxury real estate agent and host of the Emmy-nominated show, “The American Dream,” with partner Ruslan Meshkov; and Danielle Williams, medical sales executive, with partner Sharov. Nema, Sharov and Meshkov are instructors with Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

“Thank you to our incredible dancers, guests and corporate partners for making our 20th anniversary event an unforgettable night that has fueled our lifesaving mission,” said LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree event co-chairs Drs. Caren and Glenn Singer. “The nearly $300,000 we’ve raised will fund groundbreaking research into new cures and treatments, as well as programming and services to help people live healthier lives. Because when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.”

Alexis Frazier, Emmy-award winning journalist, and anchor for the Channel 10 News team, presided as the master of ceremonies. 

The Lung Association is proud to serve our South Florida community and the more than 3.2 million Floridians living with lung disease and lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Our mission has never been more critical. We are researching new treatments and cures, tackling the youth vaping epidemic, protecting the air we all breathe and helping people live healthier lives. Your support fuels our mission and deepens our local impact. For more information or to make a donation, please visit LUNGFORCESunsetSoiree.org.

Thank you to our sponsors, including Title Sponsor Memorial Cancer Institute, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Florida Power & Light Company, Jordan Niefeld Wealth Planning of Raymond James, Cleveland Clinic Florida, UKG, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Johnson & Johnson, Hecker Dermatology Group, Parent’s Choice Medical Daycare, ANI Pharmaceuticals and Fred Astaire Dance Studios Fort Lauderdale, the LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree's Official Dance Studio Partner. Thank you to our VIP Hosts, Drs. Caren and Glenn Singer, the Schachter Family, Danielle Williams and Thomas Kerns, Dr. Ana Botero and the Gill Foundation, Inc. Audacy and Ocean Drive are the official media partners of the LUNG FORCE Sunset Soiree.