Roulette wheels, blackjack tables, and craps games will take over Redland Golf and Country Club on Saturday, August 8, as two longtime South Dade nonprofits team up for a casino-themed fundraiser benefiting Homestead's military families and local kids. The 14th annual Vegas Night runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at the club, located at 24451 SW 177 Ave., with a $25 suggested donation getting guests through the door and a voucher worth $100 in gaming chips to play with.
The event is a joint effort between the Military Affairs Council and the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade, according to Miami's Community Newspapers. Kiwanis is promoting the MAC's signature event and selling sponsorships this year, a partnership that organizers say will let both groups reach a bigger crowd. Carolyn Landress of the MAC said the council expects its most successful Vegas Night yet, per the same report.
Beyond the casino floor, the night features a silent auction, a raffle with various prizes, and a costume contest awarding best-dressed attendee in '70s attire. Voucher chips earned at the tables can be redeemed for prizes, and the silent auction lineup includes four tickets to a 2026-27 Miami Heat game, an autographed Miami Heat basketball, and two official NASCAR jackets, the article notes.
Travel Packages Headline the Silent Auction
Vacation getaways make up some of the auction's biggest draws. Bidders can compete for a five-day, four-night stay for two at Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic, a week at an Interval International condo resort — a network with properties in more than 80 countries — or a week in a luxury two-bedroom villa at Silver Lake Resort in Kissimmee, according to the report.
Sponsorships for the evening range from $350 to $5,000 and are available through Kiwanis contact Oscar Munoz at 954-213-1704 or MAC contact Roxanne Jeghrs at 305-793-8325. Munoz said he expects the public to want to take advantage of the silent auction items, per the same account.
Serving the Base That Anchors South Dade's Economy
The fundraiser's beneficiary, Homestead Air Reserve Base, is no small piece of the local economy. The installation generates roughly $390 million in annual economic activity and supports more than 4,000 jobs across South Florida, according to Hoodline. Originally established in 1942 as Homestead Army Airfield, the base was severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and reopened in 1994 as an Air Force Reserve facility housing the 482nd Fighter Wing, per the Military Affairs Council, which notes the base also supports Special Operations Command South and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The council itself traces back to 1955, when it was founded as the Civilian-Military Liaison Committee by the Rotary Club of Homestead before integrating with the local chamber of commerce in 1967 and later incorporating as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its co-host for Vegas Night, the Kiwanis Club of Homestead-South Dade, was founded in 1948 and focuses on youth welfare and education, funding local school initiatives, college tours, and student scholarships — including Homestead High School's first statewide college tour, according to Miami's Community Newspapers.
A Long History of Working Side by Side
The two organizations regularly partner on South Dade charitable efforts, including co-sponsoring the annual Dolphin Days Family Fishing Tournament, according to a report from BCA Financial Services. Their collaboration on Vegas Night is expected to keep both groups serving military families and South Dade children for years to come.
Redland Golf and Country Club, this year's host venue, carries its own South Dade legacy. The club originated in 1947 after local store owner Joe L. Burton raised $40,000 to purchase 117 acres, opening a nine-hole course in 1949 that later expanded into an 18-hole, par-72 layout designed by architect Red Lawrence, according to the Florida Historic Golf Trail. The Florida Department of State has recognized it as a featured historic course.
How Charity Casino Nights Stay Legal in Florida
Events like Vegas Night operate within a specific legal framework. Under Section 849.0935 of the Florida Statutes, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations may host casino-themed fundraisers as long as chips are exchanged for raffle entries or non-cash prizes rather than direct cash payouts, according to the Florida PTA. State law strictly prohibits cash gambling payouts at non-tribal charitable events, which is why Vegas Night's $100 in chips funnels into raffle entries and auction items rather than winnings players can walk away with in cash.
The fundraiser arrives amid a broader stretch of activity tied to the base and its surrounding land. In March, conservation partners finalized a restrictive-use easement covering 59.5 acres adjacent to Homestead Air Reserve Base to limit high-density development near active flight corridors, a deal supported by federal and state defense infrastructure grants, Hoodline previously reported. Separately, Miami-Dade County authorized initial due diligence in November 2024 for a proposed $337 million, 92-acre South Dade Sports Complex near the base, envisioned to include a 10,000-seat stadium and youth sports facilities.
Active-duty military personnel are offered free admission to this year's Vegas Night, a detail organizers highlighted on Facebook ahead of the event. For everyone else, the $25 suggested donation and its accompanying $100 in chips remain the ticket into an evening of roulette, blackjack, poker, and craps — with the proceeds flowing back into the community both hosting organizations have served for decades.
