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One year after Self Help Africa launched in the United States, the non-profit organization is hosting the first-ever Change-Maker’s Ball to support its innovative sustainable development programs in nine African countries. The glamorous black-tie event will take place in New York on November 12th, 2010 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers, overlooking the Hudson River.
Margaret Brennan, a business reporter and host of Bloomberg TV’s ’InBusiness with Margaret Brennan,’ will act as master of ceremonies for the evening, which is sponsored by Digicel and includes a champagne and cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing to live music. The expected 400+ crowd of guests will be luminaries from the worlds of international business, finance, sports, diplomacy, publishing, philanthropy and development.
To toast the celebration, guests will have the chance to sip a signature Change-Maker's Cocktail, created especially for the night by two top tastemakers: World-renowned Chef Nils Norén is the former Executive Chef of Aquavit and now the Vice President of Culinary and Pastry Arts at New York’s French Culinary Institute and the Italian Culinary Academy, and he was a 2009 competitor on Bravo’s ’Top Chef Masters’; Norén will joined by his colleague, Dave Arnold, the Technology Director at the French Culinary Institute and an expert on high-tech cocktails. Together, the talented duo will prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of their original cocktail blend.
Another highlight of the ball will be when Patrick Tully of PR/PR (Player Relations/Public Relations) takes the stage to lead a live auction featuring an array of exclusive international trips, unique experiences, sporting event tickets, golf outings, luxury products and more.
To showcase Self Help Africa’s four key focus areas - improving food security, helping farmers cope with climate change, developing entrepreneurs and investing in women’s start-up businesses - the Change-Maker’s Ball will honor four Ambassadors for Change, individuals who have put their names and support behind each cause.
The 2010 Self Help Africa Ambassadors for Change are:
Ambassador for Entrepreneurs: Heather James, Principal and Director of Research, Federal Street Partners, LLC.
Ambassador for Women: Ciara Smyth, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Ambassador for Food Security: Ronan Downs, Owner, Beckett’s Bar & Grill on New York’s historic Stone Street.
Ambassador for Climate Adaptation: Denis Hickie, Irish rugby legend and currently with Mainstream Renewable Power.
Self Help Africa has worked in international development for 25 years, and is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Self Help Africa’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa by empowering people in rural communities to feed themselves and generate income through commercial farming and trading. Unlike many humanitarian groups, Self Help Africa does not distribute food aid; instead, it distributes practical food knowledge and tools - new seed, farming and irrigation advice, natural resource management training, micro-credit programs, business skills, and access to markets. The organization works with its own African staff as well as local partners in Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Event Details:
Event Title: The inaugural Change-Maker’s Ball to benefit Self Help Africa
Date: Friday, November 12, 2010
Location: Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers
West Side Highway between West 19th and 20th streets
New York, NY 10011
Time: Cocktails begin at 7:00pm: dinner begins at 8:00pm
Dress Code: Black-tie
Master of Ceremonies: Margaret Brennan, a business reporter and host of Bloomberg TV’s ’InBusiness with Margaret Brennan.’
Honorees: Heather James, Principal and Director of Research, Federal Street Partners, LLC; Ciara Smyth, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Ronan Downs, Owner, Beckett’s Bar & Grill on New York’s historic Stone Street; Denis Hickie, Irish rugby legend and currently with Mainstream Renewable Power.
Tickets: Individual tickets start at $250; Tables for ten start at $2,700 (which includes recognition in the event journal and press).
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