Galas that sustain our mission. Workshops that start conversations. A community that keeps carrying her light.
Due to the loss of Carmen Rodriguez, the 3rd Annual Gala planned for October 17, 2026 has been postponed. The new date and event details will be announced once confirmed. Existing tickets and sponsorships, as well as new purchases made through the gala’s official ticket page, will be honored for the rescheduled gala.
See the Gala Update →72 events in the archive
Music, community, and remembrance of Iman. Each edition brings together the people and sponsors who help sustain our work.
Miramar City Hall, 2300 Civic Center Pl, Miramar FL 33025
Celebration of Life: our biggest event ever. Featuring special performances by Mari Trini, Floyd, Aria Canales, Chirirun, Jackie Rain, Zeleste, Ebi Rich, David Fernandez, Vic The Kid, Coral Cove Choir, and more. MC Tayhana Garcia. Special guests State Representative Marie Woodson and Commissioner Maxwell Chambers. 24+ sponsors, lantern memorial, food and refreshments included.
Club Renaissance, 2340 SW 32nd Ave, Miami, FL 33145
Music and Lights for Life brought together more than 190 guests and 24 sponsors for an evening of music and fentanyl awareness education. Held at Club Renaissance in Miami, the program included performances by Vic the Kid and Tony Peres. Families, artists, and community partners gathered in Iman’s memory to help carry the foundation’s work forward.
Miramar City Hall, 2300 Civic Center Pl, Miramar FL 33025
Held in partnership with Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers. The program included lighting the city purple, free community resources, live music, and complimentary hotdogs for the first 100 guests.
Bonaventure Town Center, 16690 Saddle Club Rd, Weston, FL
Mari Carmen Rodriguez spoke on behalf of Iman’s Light Foundation at United Way of Broward’s Hablando Entre Mujeres gathering, bringing the foundation’s prevention and awareness mission to the conversation.
Iman's Light Foundation joined the 5th Annual Gun Violence Awareness & Prevention Summit, hosted by Dr. Marie Etienne, an event the Foundation has supported for several years running, speaking with children and youth groups on prevention.
Orlando, FL
Iman's Light Foundation joined the DEA Fentanyl Free America Summit in Orlando, alongside nearly 3,000 attendees from across the U.S. Dr. Rodriguez was recognized among the "Angel Moms" honored by law enforcement and partner organizations for turning personal loss into prevention work, and also recorded a Spanish language podcast segment airing in Orlando.
South Florida
Celebration of Hispanic Heritage.
Miami
Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
Local 10 News (WPLG) returned to Iman's Light Foundation for a follow up to its original "Mom to Mom" story, reported by Veronica Crespo. The segment revisited how Mari Carmen Rodriguez built the Foundation after losing her daughter Iman to fentanyl poisoning at 18, and helped promote the Foundation's Celebration of Life fundraiser at Miramar City Center Hall.
Hialeah, FL
Iman's Light Foundation joined the DEA Florida Family Summit on Fentanyl, hosted with Special Agent Kenyon Terrell, alongside families from across the state. The Foundation staffed a table with free Narcan for Florida's SAM (Save A Life) Overdose Awareness campaign, and joined a memorial tribute wall where families wrote messages honoring loved ones lost to fentanyl.
Local 10 News (WPLG) featured Dr. Mari Carmen Rodriguez and Iman's Light Foundation in "Mom to Mom: South Florida mother sheds 'light' on dangers of fentanyl," covering the Foundation's school visits, community outreach, and Narcan distribution work.
Miami Dade Corrections
Iman's Light Foundation continued its virtual Emotional Intelligence classes for inmates at Miami Dade Corrections.
Glades Middle School
Iman's Light Foundation took part in a Change Makers meeting at Glades Middle School.
Miami Dade County
Iman's Light Foundation joined a Miami Dade meeting on overdose prevention program updates.
Florida DCF
Iman's Light Foundation took part in the South Regional Behavioral Health meeting at the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Iman's Light Foundation joined the NAMIWalk for Mental Health, supporting mental health awareness and community collaboration.
Miami DEA Laboratory
Iman's Light Foundation was invited to speak at the Miami DEA Laboratory about its mission and story, and was surprised with a standing ovation and a Certificate of Appreciation for its education, information, and awareness work, presented by Director Mirlane Germain Titus and Supervisory Chemist April Taylor.
Iman's Light Foundation joined a two day radio interview on Fabiola FM 88, covering awareness and prevention of vapes, cannabis, lacing, and fentanyl.
Iman's Light Foundation received the Woman Who Transcends Award, presented by Dr. Sonia Valdez, in recognition of the Foundation's work.
Miami Lakes Studio
Iman's Light Foundation took part in the filming of "The Dope Game, Dealers, Victims, and Killers" at Miami Lakes Studio, alongside Anthony Gray, MSW, RN, and a former dealer.
Iman's Light Foundation joined an awareness and prevention podcast with Manuel Perez, discussing addiction and synthetic drugs.
Kinloch Park Middle School, Miami, FL
Iman's Light Foundation held two 90 minute prevention workshops at Kinloch Park Middle School.
Iman's Light Foundation took part in the Annual Exceptional Woman Award Luncheon.
Pace Center for Girls, Miami, FL
Iman's Light Foundation joined Coffee & Conversations at the Pace Center for Girls in Miami.
Miami Dade College, North Campus
Iman's Light Foundation joined the 25th annual "No More Broken Hearts" domestic violence workshop, hosted by Dr. Dorothy Bendross Mindingall at Miami Dade College's North Campus.
Parrot Jungle, Miami, FL
Iman's Light Foundation joined Power of the Purse 2025 at Parrot Jungle, a collaborative awareness campaign event.
Miami Dade Corrections
Iman's Light Foundation began a four month series of Emotional Intelligence workshops for inmates at Miami Dade Corrections.
J.P. Taravella High School, Coral Springs, FL
Iman's Light Foundation presented a seminar at J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs on social media's influence on youth mental health and substance abuse.
Liberty City, Miami, FL
Iman's Light Foundation was invited to speak at a Drug Free World event in Liberty City.
Café Gourmet, Weston, FL
Iman's Light Foundation led an in depth workshop for a Parent Awareness Group at Café Gourmet in Weston, led by Marta Mesa, helping parents recognize the new landscape of drugs and synthetics and what to look out for.
Iman's Light Foundation joined Manuel Perez, "The Digital Philosopher," on Radio Poder to discuss awareness and prevention of illicit drugs and medicine, the lethal consequences of fake pills, and what's happening with synthetic marijuana and vapes.
Weston Studios, Weston, FL
Iman's Light Foundation joined a Spanish language radio show with Dr. Sonia Valdez at Weston Studios, discussing the fentanyl pandemic, vapes, cannabis, and children's developing minds.
Iman's Light Foundation trained staff on and delivered naloxone to Simply Healthcare as part of its overdose prevention outreach.
Miami Dade County
Iman's Light Foundation joined "Invisible Victims," a Miami Dade forum focused on the gender dimensions of gun violence.
Miami Dade Medical Campus
Iman's Light Foundation took part in the 6th Annual Human Trafficking Summit at the Miami Dade Medical Campus, including a discussion on the link between drug use and human trafficking.
Miramar Branch Library, Miramar, FL
Iman's Light Foundation and the S.A.R.A. Coalition held prevention workshops and role playing exercises at the Miramar Branch Library.
Doral, FL
Iman's Light Foundation took part in a City of Doral event for schools, distributing flyers and prevention literature.
Iman's Light Foundation was a sponsor at the Martin Luther King Day event, distributing vital prevention and awareness flyers. ILF was interviewed at the event by social media guru Keith Hunter for the podcast and social media show "What They Do", the interview was viewed by over 2,000 people.
Iman's Light Foundation helped coordinate the Martin Luther King Day Parade in partnership with Circle of Brotherhood.
Iman's Light Foundation launched a new set of prevention and awareness flyers for distribution across the community.
Coral Gables
Participated in 2023 and 2024 parades alongside community members.
Miami
Regional event participation advocating for human rights and drug free lives.
Miramar High School
Presentation on dangers of vaping and fentanyl.
Miami
Raised awareness on human trafficking and its connection to addiction.
Sweetwater
Workshop on marijuana, vaping, and fentanyl for ages 12 to 17.
Miami Dade College
Iman's Light Foundation assisted with this important summit on democracy and human rights.
Miami Beach
Engaged 250 students in drug awareness session.
Miramar / Miami
Invited speaker for parents and youth; hosted sponsorship table.
Miami
Represented our mission and advocacy effects for victims.
Hollywood
Three dedicated presentations for 600+ students.
Immokalee
Donated clothing/food; delivered education talk.
Florida
Assembly for 300+ students with testimonies.
Miami
Broadcasted interview regarding foundation actions.
Miami
Represented Iman's Light Foundation at the Comunidad FVE community event.
Radio
Interview with Miriam De La Fuente and Agustín Acosta discussing foundation initiatives.
Doral
Discussed synthetic drugs and overdose risks on live radio.
Brownsville, Miami
Presented a prevention program proposal for ongoing school collaboration.
Miami
Multi summit participation promoting safety.
UM Campus
Testimony and engagement with indigenous students.
Miami
Community outreach and prevention awareness.
Radio
Focused discussion on the Fentanyl crisis.
Miami
Mari C. Rodriguez received the Antorcha de Oro Award honoring Iman.
Miami
Podcast interview with Tayana discussing fentanyl dangers and Iman's Light Foundation's initiatives.
Miami
Fentanyl training and Narcan demonstration.
Miramar
Bilingual educational outreach.
City of Doral
Drug prevention presentation with Councilman Rafael Pineyro, delivered in Spanish.
West Broward
Interactive prevention session for 410 students.
Biltmore Hotel
First Iman Light Award presented to AG Ashley Moody.
Miami
Official foundation launch to start changing lives.
MDCC Medical
Presentation on drug intersections in English and French.
South Florida
Special crisis training with Dr. Melissa Barbosa.
Miami Beach
Advocacy for policy changes in drug prevention.