October 2011

South Florida Philanthropist And Cultural Icons

Miami Beach developer, philanthropist and supporter of numerous arts and cultural organizations, Craig Robins, caught up with the Malnik family at a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. Robins was joined by his father, Jerry Robins, while Al and Nancy Malnik were jointed by Al’s son, Shareef Malnik and Shareef’s two children, Bruna and Yaseen Malnik.

Robins, 48, is no stranger to the fundraising circuit and has lent his name and efforts to numerous charitable organizations in the past. Many of his volunteer efforts are focused on the arts. Malnik and Robins each maintain their own private art collections, but both believe art should be shared. Many of Malnik’s treasured pieces are on display at The Forge, a Miami Beach restaurant now run by his son, Shareef.

Pieces from Robins’ private art and design collection the “Craig Robins Collection,” are displayed in public places throughout South Florida as well. His generosity towards local artists goes back a long way. When Robins purchased and restored numerous Art Deco buildings in the 90s, it was not unusual for him to offer local artists free studio and living space in one of his renovated buildings.

In December 2010, Robins, the co-founder of Design Miami I, donated an outdoor installation titled “Netscape,” to the Miami Art Museum. The large-scale steel structure was created by the Design Miami I 2010 “Designer of the Year” recipient, Konstantin Grcic. The installation features a star-shaped modular steel structure with hammock-like swings constructed from fiberglass and polypropylene netting.

The recent donation is one of a long list of Robins’ efforts to bring world-class art and artists to the South Florida area.