Tudo Bem Baby!

My, racecar driver Hélio Castroneves cuts a dashing figure in a tuxedo. Without the sponsor patches or loud colors we’re accustomed to seeing him in, the man was the picture of movie star dapper in his role as chair of the recent Brazil Foundation Gala at the W South Beach Hotel. Alongside Daniela Fonseca, Maria Carolina Tavares de Melo and Hélio Vitor Ramos Filho, Castroneves welcomed some 300 guests to the first-time event, a fundraiser for the Brazil Foundation’s efforts to promote civil society programs and sustainable local development throughout the South American country. After cocktails, guests moved into the ballroom where PR and fashion consultant Lorenzo Martone and supermodel Isabeli Fontana welcomed the crowd and introduced the foundation’s president, Leona Forman. Honors were then handed out to businessman Norberto Odebrecht and artist Romero Britto for their respective efforts in Brazilian philanthropy. Dinner and an auction later, singer Preta Gil took the stage to perform a program of Brazilian classics, ending the evening on a musical note... and plenty of “Did you see Adriana’s amazing body?” comments out the door. Photography by Joe Schildhorn and Neil Rasmus/BFNYC and Leandro Justen