| | |  | |  | Cocktails and farming in Manhattan! | Cocktails and ball gowns mixed with farming and food at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan last Friday (November 12th) as over 350 people gathered for the first ever Change-Maker's Ball.
Held to benefit Self Help Africa's projects in nine countries across Africa, the black-tie event attracted a packed house from across the fields of business, media, sports and entertainment.
"I think it's great that people turn out on a Friday night for an event like this," said Bloomberg TV's Margaret Brennan, who also served as master of ceremonies for the night. "It's easy to stay at home, but people really made an effort and came out strong for Self Help Africa and their projects with rural African communities."
Attracting plenty of attention on the night was Self Help Africa's Ambassador for Climate Adaptation, the former Irish and Lions rugby star Denis Hickie.
"I visited Self Help Africa's program in Ethiopia last April," said Denis, "and I came away so impressed that I wanted to help in whatever way I could. I'm now working with a renewable power company, Mainstream, and when I was asked to publicize Self Help Africa's work in helping farmers adapt to climate change, I knew it was the perfect fit."
Denis brought a special gift to the party - a signed jersey worn by Irish rugby star Brian O'Driscoll on his 99th cap, playing against England last year. The jersey was auctioned as part of a rugby package to Ireland to see this year's game against England, just one of the many prizes on offer on the night.
The Live Auction also included a fabulous trip to South Africa, courtesy of South African Airways, and a luxury safari at the Singita Game Reserves.
Joining Denis on stage as ambassadors were Ronan Downs, the well-known owner of Beckett's Bar & Grill and The Dubliner in Manhattan, who served as the Ambassador for Food Security; Ciara Smyth, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, who served as the ambassador for women; and Heather James, Principal and Director of Research at Federal Street Partners LLC, who was the ambassador for entrepreneurship.
The four were championing Self Help Africa's key areas of work, helping to draw attention to its successful programing across Africa.
Adding to the party was the presence of award-winning chef Nils Noren, whose signature ChangeMakers Cocktail - created specially for the event - helped to raise funds for Self Help Africa's projects on the night. The $100 cocktails were a huge hit with the Manhattan audience, and Nils was sold out long before the band finished playing. Anyone buying a cocktail had a one-in-ten chance of winning a prize, which included a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Ghana (flown by Arik Air), to spend two days visiting Self Help Africa projects.
For those who didn't want to dance the night away after dinner, there was whiskey tasting, crazy photography, and a silent auction with prizes ranging from golf trips to culinary experiences to designer handbags.
"This Changemakers Ball has been a huge success," said Self Help Africa's Head of Operations, Will Galvin. "We have been working with poor farming communities across Africa for over 25 years now, but this was our first major fundraising event in Manhattan, and it's really amazing to see how people understand and want to support these unique projects."
"It couldn't have happened without the generous support of so many people here in Manhattan, and also our sponsors. Their backing has been critical, and the funds raised tonight will make a real difference to the lives of many thousands across Africa in the next year."
For more information, please contact Self Help Africa on contact@selfhelpafrica.org or 917-289-0670
| | Watch a video slideshow of the event here! |
Many thanks to our generous patrons:
The American Ireland Fund, The Brass Monkey, Candidate Manager, Digicel, Edun, Flor de Cana, Great Oaks Capital, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, HSBC Bank USA N.A., Meldrum Asset Management, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo PC, Sullivan & Worcester.
Many thanks also to our fabulous prize donors:
Aer Lingus, AKA, Arik Air, Art Smart, The Beacon, Beckett’s Bar & Grill, Leslie Buckley, Chesneau, Corn Products International, The Clarence Hotel Dublin, The David Letterman Show, Ronan Downs, The Dubliner, Hugh Finnegan, Glass House Tavern, Edun, Equinox, Exhale Spa, The French Culinary Institute, Steve Hendel, Denis Hickie, Heather James, The K-Club, Mad Dog & Beans, Neven Maguire, Mary McEvoy, MacNean House, Mt Juliet Golf Club, Nicole Miller, The Nets, The New York Jets, NYC Water Taxi, Q Collection, Parknasilla Hotel and Spa, The Peninsula Hotel, Pernod Ricard, Rachel Roy, Rag & Bone, Rosses Point Golf Club, Tony Rotman, Ronan Ryan, Salmueria Rosi,The Shelbourne, Singita Game Reserves, Eileen Shields, Siopa, Ciara Smyth, South African Airways, Stone St Tavern, Jonathan Stark, Table Bay Hotel, The Taj Hotel Cape Town, Etienne Touzot, Town Bar & Grill, Tully’s Travel, The Waldorf Astoria, Whittemore House.
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| | | | Self Help Africa - UK
Second Floor, Westgate House,Dickens Court,
Hills Lane, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QU
Tel. +44 (0) 1743 277170 |
| Self Help Africa - Ireland
Kingsbridge House, 17-22 Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel. +353 (0)1 6778880 |
| Self Help Africa Inc.
41 Union Square West, Suite 631
New York, NY 10003, USA
Tel. +1 212 206 0847 |
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| | Self Help Africa is an international charity registered in Ireland and the United Kingdom Registered charity number: 6663 (Ireland), and 298830 (UK)
Self Help Africa is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organisation in the United States. | | | | | | Powered by go2web
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