Red Meat Lovers Club’s Play for Blake Gala Raises $55,000 for Youth Soccer Foundation

49 sponsors, a live matched donation, and $15,000 in soccer balls fuel record-breaking night for youth foundation

DELRAY BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Red Meat Lovers Club (RMLC), the private dining and business networking club founded by Evan Darnell, raised $55,000 for Play for Blake at the fourth annual Play for Blake Gala. Held September 18, the evening brought together nearly 300 guests and 49 sponsors in honor of Blake Buchbinder, the 13-year-old soccer player whose passion for the game inspired the 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to putting soccer balls in the hands of kids who need them most.

The event was headlined by Power of Sport, with Ver Ploeg & Marino, Camp IHC, and WHG Law serving as presenting sponsors. During a live call-to-hear, Ver Ploeg & Marino matched an $8,000 donation on the spot, bringing that single moment to $16,000.

Marc Effron, Co-Founder of Legacy Healing Center and founder of the Marc Effron Foundation, donated $5,000 in addition to $15,000 worth of Senda Athletics soccer balls to be distributed directly to youth through Play for Blake’s programs.

“Four years in, and this community never stops showing up for Blake,” said RMLC Founder Evan Darnell. “Forty-nine sponsors, 300 generous supporters, and significant funds were raised for kids who deserve the same chance to play the game Blake loved.”

Across live and silent auctions, and raffle fundraising, the gala marked the most successful Play for Blake event in the series’ four-year history. Funds raised will go directly toward distributing soccer balls to underserved youth through Play for Blake’s programs serving Palm Beach County middle schools, local youth soccer clubs, foster care programs, and international communities in the Dominican Republic, Central America, and Africa.

About Play for Blake
Play for Blake is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in loving memory of Blake Buchbinder, a passionate 13-year-old soccer player whose life was tragically cut short. The foundation is committed to ensuring every child, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to experience the joy of the game. To date, Play for Blake has donated more than 6,500 soccer balls to children in need across South Florida and internationally. Learn more at playforblake.org.

About Red Meat Lovers Club
Founded by Evan Darnell, the Red Meat Lovers Club (RMLC) is a private dining and business networking club that brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders through curated culinary experiences and charitable giving. Since 2017, RMLC has hosted monthly events nationwide and raised more than $2.5 million for nonprofit organizations through live and silent auctions, raffles, and community partnerships. Learn more at rmlclub.com.

Melissa Perlman
BlueIvy Communications
+1 561-310-9921

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