Michael Capponi
Founder and President
Miami Connection
Capponi played a pivotal role in elevating Miami Beach's nightlife and cultural scene, drawing celebrities and establishing South Beach as a global hotspot. His philanthropy has directly benefited South Florida through partnerships like fortifying the Miami Rescue Mission's Great Thanksgiving Day Banquet for over 2,500 homeless individuals and building a 78-bed shelter. GEM, headquartered in Miami, coordinates logistics from the city for worldwide disasters while addressing local crises such as Hurricane Katrina recovery and the Surfside Champlain Tower collapse.
About
Born in 1972, Michael Capponi rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a pioneering nightlife promoter in Miami Beach, transforming South Beach into a world-renowned destination with venues like Privé, B.E.D., and Mansion. After overcoming personal struggles with addiction and homelessness, he pivoted to real estate development, founding Capponi Construction Group in 2010 and Capponi Shear Construction in 2013. Deeply connected to Miami, he has long supported local causes, including expanding the Miami Rescue Mission's services with a 78-bed men's shelter in 2012. In 2011, following a profound personal shift, he founded Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Miami, leveraging his logistics and real estate expertise for humanitarian aid. Today, as Founder and President of GEM, he leads responses to over 382 disasters across 76+ countries, delivering more than $726 million in aid with a highly efficient, three-phase model.