How Culture & Philanthropy Create Indelible Impact

From the left: Sam Barrington and Marcus Wingate

While many buzzed with anticipation for last Monday’s Black Dandyism-themed Met Gala, I was still enveloped in the afterglow, the velvety conversations, and warmth of the Watch We Win Gala-an evening whose impact reached far beyond style.

On Saturday May 3, Marcus Wingate, technologist, multidisciplinary creative, and University of South Florida alumni turned adjunct professor coordinated and hosted Watch We Win, with the purpose to empower the next generation of Black leaders and visionaries through scholarship, mentorship, and community engagement.

The black-tie gala featured a celebration of Black Dandyism, live soulful music, an art auction, a  curated three-course dinner, and a fireside chat with former NFL linebacker & entrepreneur Sam Barrington that echoed the significance of equity and building multi-generational wealth & legacy. By attending this event, guests directly invested in dismantling financial barriers, and helping create post-graduate opportunities for current USF students.

Singer & recording artist: Alex Harris

At its core, Watch We Win is a movement rooted in resilience and transformation. Its ethos is framed around providing a stage for those who aspire to have personal success, and also community around them. My introduction to this movement, media project, and gala was quite serendipitous.

Me (Kaylan), Marcus Wingate, and my sister Kat

With new events and initiatives popping up every day, it’s easy to scroll past another promo; nonetheless Watch We Win caught my attention and kept it from the start. It was a Sunday afternoon in April, and I was walking into the photography studio that I book for client shoots, and my company’s branded projects. As I turned the knob to enter, it felt like that very door lead me to an opulent fantasia of vibrant ball gowns, and the bold sound of a saxophone mingling with the shutter of a camera—capturing it all, in it’s glorious excellence. Instantly, I was hooked. As I watched all of this from the front entrance, Marcus stood beside me. Unbeknownst to me, he was the master mind and creative producer behind it all. Once he introduced himself, and revealed that he played football and graduated from the same program as me at University of South Florida, I could feel the creative stars aligning.

Chef Gaston Merideth

Following this very spontaneous meeting, Marcus extended a gracious invitation to a private tasting event where I would then meet Chef Gaston Merideth, the culinary force behind the gala’s menu. Through subsequent phone conversations and even attending the end of one of Marcus's lectures—I gained a deeper appreciation for the vision behind the gala: not only to celebrate Black excellence, but to fund scholarship opportunities and build generational impact through culture and creativity.

Marcus & artist Jay Coachman

Fostering assets and opportunities for students and emerging leaders is not just a commitment, it is an investment for the collective. By creating platforms that bridge education & creativity, mentorship, and access to industry pathways, we empower young people to see themselves as change-makers and futurists. 

Continuing the conversation about breaking into competitive fields is essential to dismantling systemic barriers, so that we are able to create a more inclusive, equitable future.

A thoughtfully curated gala like Watch We Win serves as more than a celebration, but a  symbolic and practical starting point. It sets the tone for utilization, meaningful connections, success stories in a room filled with students, graduates & professionals, and creates a powerful backdrop for mobilizing resources, inspiring action, and envisioning what’s possible when we come together with purpose.

Marcus, the founder behind the movement states that the gala was a spark, and a moment to the movement: “We win beyond the spark when creating moments where we can intentionally show up for our community. We set the stage for opportunity and we trust it won’t be our final act.”

Photos provided by: Jarrod @createdbyjarrod