November 21, 2025
The unique dinner expertise celebrated tradition, excellence, and legacy
Earlier this month, creatives, tastemakers, and business leaders gathered at “The Toast, New York,” an unique, intimate dinner expertise introduced by Candis Grace celebrating tradition, excellence, and legacy.
Held at The Chica & Don in downtown Manhattan on Nov. 6, friends have been handled to fashionable Latin American delicacies paired with drinks supplied by Black-owned spirit manufacturers like Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s D’usse, Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino, and Ja Rule’s Amber & Opal.
Offered by entrepreneur Candis Grace in partnership with UBS, “The Toast, New York” honored three trailblazers making important strides of their respective industries: Carlos King, the CEO of Kingdom Reign Leisure and an acclaimed actuality TV present producer, sports activities broadcast journalist Cari Champion, and Santi Miller, Head of Various Wealth Initiatives at UBS.
“I used to be at ESPN for 10 years, and now I’m at CNN, and I’m unapologetic in the truth that my agenda is for Black and brown individuals [and] for ladies,” stated Champion, a former anchor on ESPN’s First Take, whereas accepting The Champion of Ladies in Sports activities Award. “It’s expensive and typically scary, however I do know that when it’s all stated and achieved, should you look within the historical past books, I’m doing it for the proper causes.”
“It isn’t on daily basis that I get celebrated as a result of, being behind the scenes, it’s our job to rejoice others, stated King, whereas receiving the Cultural Storyteller Award.
Former NFL participant Wale Ogunleye, who presently serves as Govt Director, Head of Sports activities and Leisure at UBS, introduced Miller with The Legacy Builder Award.
“With the present state of politics that we’re in, it’s tremendous attention-grabbing to say phrases like ‘variety’ and all these different issues. However, that being stated, UBS determined in January to proceed to forge forward with our variety initiatives led by Santi,” stated the previous Miami Dolphins MVP. “I’ve had the respect of working with Santi this 12 months, as she’s been an important accomplice to me within the sports activities leisure enterprise. Her work focuses on increasing the agency’s presence in various markets and making certain that UBS exhibits up in methods which can be genuine, related, and deeply related to communities it serves.”
Throughout her acceptance speech, Miller shared how her upbringing and feeling ostracized at instances influenced her dedication to empowering various communities.
“I used to be born in Vietnam, and I used to be at all times the opposite,” she stated. “I considered it, I used to be like, why is that this so vital? Why am I so obsessed with variety? Why do I care about it? And it truly is about taking this sense of being an different. And each single individual on this room has been an different. I do know you have got it. The upper you climb, the lonelier it will get. And, guess what? The dots get smaller and the goal will get larger,” she continued.
Along with recognizing these cultural pioneers, “The Toast, New York” introduced collectively a collective of notable activists, authors, and actuality stars in an environment that embraced neighborhood, collaboration, and Black excellence. Famous attendees included Roc Nation veteran and music enterprise govt Lenny S. Santiago, Actual Housewives of Miami star Guerdy Abraira, media character Bevy Smith, former VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, and social justice advocate Tamika D. Mallory.
“This occasion was an thought to rejoice my mates that most likely have been actually behind the scenes, however actually making the strikes, as a result of that’s how I used to be at all times in my profession,” stated Grace, the founder and CEO of The Model Group, a advertising, model partnerships, and public relations company primarily based in Los Angeles.
“I used to be an [event] promoter –- the one girl promoter in Hollywood for a very long time in my profession. So, I don’t like something stuffy,” she informed friends. “I prefer it to really feel actually unorthodox, stunning, horny, and vibey, so everyone can have enjoyable. So, that’s why [this] isn’t a stuffy awards.”
Jeffrey Morneau, the founding father of Jeffrey Morneau Atelier, a luxurious model specializing in occasion planning, bespoke design, and elevated catering experiences, stated partnering with Grace to supply an occasion that celebrates Black excellence was a pleasure.
“[Candis’] imaginative and prescient and dedication to uplifting our neighborhood made this collaboration particularly significant, he stated in a press release. “Collectively, we’re creating an expertise that celebrates excellence, and I couldn’t be extra proud,” he stated.
Candis launched The Model Group almost twenty years in the past and has labored with the likes of the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation, United Nations, Kevin Hart, Netflix, Doritos, and UBS, which she praised for supporting her annual occasions.
“UBS has been a useful accomplice all through this unbelievable journey from ‘Toast to Black Hollywood‘ and now to ‘The Toast, New York.” Their continued dedication and perception in our imaginative and prescient have been instrumental, and we deeply worth the partnership we’ve constructed collectively,” she stated in a press release.
Grace additionally acknowledged the assist of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which served as a media accomplice on the occasion and honored her with the 2024 Enterprise Disruptor Award.
“Black Enterprise has been an integral a part of my journey from the very starting. They’ve not solely championed ‘The Toast, New York,’ however they’ve been there to rejoice each milestone and occasion all through my profession,” she stated. “Their assist and dedication to uplifting our neighborhood means every little thing to me, and I’m extremely grateful to have them as companions on this work.”
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