We are delighted that our Ambassadors’ Ball held on 8th June 2024 at the Hyatt The Churchill, London, has once again broken all records to raise vital funds for Darfur, at a time when they are most desperately needed.
We were so pleased to welcome Ambassadors and guests from all over the World, including Albania, Argentina, Myanmar, Yemen, Zambia, and of course, Sudan, to our Ball. Your help and generosity has raised vital funds for the children of Darfur. We would especially like to thank all of you who could not join us this year, but who have contributed so generously towards the Ball.
After all the expenses, the profit raised from this year’s Ball is an incredible £58,093.52. This will, of course, go to our Emergency Appeal to help families in Darfur devastated by the current warfare.
After all the hard work behind the scenes, it is always wonderful to see everything come together. Ladies, you all looked stunning in beautiful Ball gowns, and the gentlemen looked incredibly dapper! The champagne Reception saw everyone excited to catch up in the library, and then we had the delicious dinner and unforgettable petits fours, with delectable drinks supplied by our wonderful sponsor, IDS, who also surprised Patricia Parker OBE with a wonderful cheque for £2,584.75 raised by asking for additional donations for Darfur through their website.
How do we even begin to thank all our friends who have donated fabulous prizes to our Auctions, Raffle and Locked Box? The Raffle alone raised £2,940 – that’s 196 sacks of emergency seed to feed hungry children.
And the auction? This truly was our best yet – at a time when the funds raised are needed now, more than ever.
Hugh Edmeades, International Auctioneer, once again worked his magic and had lots of fun leading the Live Auction – with Dame Joanna Lumley‘s generous invite of dinner for 4 with her raising a winning donation of £4,300, whilst Miriam Margolyes OBE‘s tea for two raised a fabulous £1,000!
Stefania Indelicato created a unique amethyst and coral necklace, Jane Gowing gave us a week her beautiful holiday home in Orkney, Michael Blyth donated not one but THREE family photoshoots, Liz Sutton donated a wonderful Goat-skin handbag, Milliner to Royalty, Jess Collett Milliner, donated a wonderful sun hat and VV Rouleaux gave us a fabulous Ascot-inspired headpiece! There were beautiful paintings including a Watercolour by Diana Armfield RA, and two paintings by our very own artist in residence Patricia Parker, and more…!
The Silent Auction included many fabulous prizes – from a wonderful week in Phuket, Thailand from Peter Bennett, a week near the sea in Suffolk from Richard Steele, beautiful jewellery and a couture dress from Frosina Bollo of Frobolous London, Dinner at the House of Lords with Baroness Chalker, Tea at the House of Lords with Lord Timothy Clement-Jones and a Tour of Lords Cricket Ground, to a Chocolate-Making session, a Singer-Songwriter session, and lots more besides!
The Auctions together made over £24,500 – can you imagine just how many lives this will help us change in these desperate times?
The raffle saw many lucky winners and then there was the Locked Box. Always such a fun game! Many guests got to try their keys but there could only be one winner of the beautiful Tiffany ‘Open Heart Lariat Necklace in Silver with Pearls’ by Elsa Peretti! I would really like to thank Michal Skutecki and Gary Wilkinson for their huge generosity.
The Apex band filled the dance floor from start to finish with their upbeat set-list, wonderful vocals and fabulous musicians! We cannot wait to book them again for next year – and do hope you can join us!
We are absolutely delighted with the total raised this year. The situation in Darfur is heart-breaking.
Patricia Parker OBE, Founder of Kids for Kids, says: “We will not turn our backs on the children of Darfur. I am determined that together we will fulfil the hopes of mothers and enable them to help their children. They need us, we will not let them down. A humanitarian and human rights catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan. With nearly 11 million people already displaced – 4 million of those are children – making it the largest child displacement crisis in the world – the country is poised on the brink of major famine. Kids for Kids can support children, and families in Darfur right now through the Greatest Need. We are desperate to be able to provide emergency aid, repair broken hand pumps, train midwives, just as soon as it is safe to do so. This Ball has helped us raise vital funds so that we can be ready to provide emergency aid just as soon as we can.”
Kids for Kids has been adopting remote villages since 2001. Parker says: “because we work directly with the communities in Darfur, we have been able to transform their lives throughout the 30 years Omar al-Bashir was in power. With the help of local village leaders, we are now in the throws of delivering emergency aid to 32 villages and will extend this as security allows. What we must do is adopt more villages and introduce our sustainable projects to ensure the children of Darfur have a brighter future.”
Thank you to everyone who sponsored us, advertised with us, donated prizes, volunteered to help and joined us to raise these vital funds for our Emergency Appeal – we are more grateful than we can say!
Our Sponsors and Advertisers: IDS, Delamere Dairy, Bocketts Farm, City of London School, Gordon’s School, Queens Gate School and Walking Women.
Our Auctions and Gala Raffle supporters: Alan Jenkins, Alastair Campbell, Amanda Avery-Hebditch, Ambersouk Jewellery, Barbour, Barroness Lynda Chalker, Brett Best, Brian Davis, Chris Beetles Gallery, Clandon Regis Golf Club, Clutterfree with Claudia, Dame Joanna Lumley, Dante Campailla, Darin Nayager, English National Opera, Fanny and Robert Thomas, Frosina Bollo, Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, Hivecraft Honey, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, James Kirby, Jane Gowing, Jess Collett Milliner, Karen Jankel, Lisa Chapman, Liz Sutton, Look Fabulous Forever, Lord Clement-Jones, Mark Jones, Marylebone Music Festival, Melt, Michael Blyth Photography, Michal Skutecki and Gary Wilkinson, Miriam Margolyes OBE, Noha Moukarzel, Ottolenghi, Patrick Doyle – IDS, Peter Bennett, Perfect Motion Physio, Richard Steele, Ridgeway Nutrition, Ronnie Scotts, Scamp & Dude, Shelley Hammond, The Ginger Pig, The Hampstead Kitchen, The White Horse Hotel, Trovoro Designs, VV Rouleaux, Walking Women, Wendy Outhwaite.
Thank you so much to Tina Cleary for being our fabulous Photographer for the evening.
You can order high res images for £5 each via this link:
https://tinaclearyphotography.zenfolio.com/kidsforkids777 – Password: kidforkids777
And remember, 100% of all proceeds will go towards Kids for Kids and our Emergency Appeal for the children of Darfur!
Fishing Day – Saturday 12th October 2025 – book tickets here!
Candlelit Christmas Concert – Thursday 5th December 2024 – book tickets here!
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