Adrien Brody, Vanessa Williams, Huda Kattan, Alesha Dixon & Luis Fonsi take centre stage at the Official Charity Gala of the Dubai International Film Festival.
The Global Gift Gala returns to Dubai for its fifth edition in benefit of Dubai Cares and Global Gift Foundation. The star-studded event will take place on December 8th at the Palazzo Versace where chef Mansour Memarian will prepare a 2-star Michelin dinner for guests.
In this ‘Year of Giving’ in Dubai, funds raised during the Gala will go towards supporting programs in five different continents making it a truly global gala in partnership with Dubai Cares. Together with Global Gift Foundation, both entities will see projects in India (Harmony House), Europe, America and Asia benefitted with a donation being made on behalf of Global Gift Foundation to Puerto Rico which was recently left devastated by Hurricane Maria.
The annual glittering black-tie charity evening, sponsored by the Cindy Chao, will host international star and Honorary Chair Alesha Dixon. Also, an Honorary Chair, Huda Kattan has been involved with the gala since its first edition in 2013 and places philanthropy and helping others as a key driver in her Huda Beauty business. British singer, model & TV presenter Alesha Dixon will lead the way for guests who will have the chance to bid on “once in a life-time experiences.” Dixon is no stranger to Global Gift Galas having attended and participated in multiple events in London, Sardinia, Ibiza and Marbella, helping the gala to raise thousands of dollars for the beneficiary foundations.
Des-pa-cito will ring out on the night of the Gala with an exclusive performance by chart topper Luis Fonsi. Fonsi will be joined by Asian Soprano Seia Lee, the Emirates Community Symphonic Orchestra and several guest performances by well-loved artists of international recognition.
Academy award-winning actor, producer, director and composer Adrien Brody, described as a modern-day Renaissance man, will be in attendance at the Global Gift Gala. His memorable performances in movies like – ‘The Pianist,’ ‘Midnight in Paris’ where he played the eccentric artist Salvador Dali, and ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ – have cemented the actor as an all-time great. Brody is also an avid supporter of charitable causes such as Artists for Peace and Justice, and Save the Children. He is also a UNICEF ambassador, as well as helping dozens of other causes in the US and abroad, and notably sold one of his artworks, alongside works from artists like Olafur Eliasson and Pablo Picasso, for $275,000 in aid of the Leonardo DiCaprio foundation.
Hollywood star Vanessa Williams will be receiving The Global Gift Excellence Award for her continuous contribution to philanthropic causes. Williams is the recipient of many awards and nominations including Grammy nominations for hits such as “The Right Stuff”, “Save the Best for Last”, and “Colors of the Wind”. In addition, she has earned multiple Emmy nominations, a Tony Award nomination, seven NAACP Image Awards, and four Satellite Awards. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 19, 2007.
Founder Maria Bravo speaks about the work Global Gift carries out in Dubai stating; “Dubai is our most important gala each year. Year after year it has received more and more traction, and this is thanks to having partners like Dubai Cares and DIFF onboard. Our gala provides a platform for diversification bringing people from every walk of life together for a common cause – help others. We have big performers lined up, loved actors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, great auction items: all the necessary elements to ensure a fantastic event”.
The exclusive auction of ‘money can’t buy’ experiences and highly-coveted items includes an a one of kind piece by jewellery artisan Cindy Chao, an exclusive work by Salvador Dalí, an exclusive piece by Sachi Jafri, a Paris Fashion Week Couture Experience by Gyunel, a private jet over to Zurich to visit Giberg Atelier to create your one off “crown jewel” amongst other incredible items.
Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, and the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will be partnering for the seventh year running. Commenting on this partnership, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “We are grateful and proud of our long-standing partnership with the Dubai International Film Festival. This is also our fourth year partnering with the Global Gift Foundation. The funds raised from the gala are vital in ensuring marginalized children and their families get the support they need. By supporting organizations like Dubai Cares, DIFF is helping us create positive and lasting change in the world.”
DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma said: “The Dubai International Film Festival has become a name well known for great cinema, and even greater charitable work that resonates across the globe. We are proud to say that in association with Dubai Cares, and the Global Gift Foundation, we can change the lives of those less fortunate and really make a difference to those in need of our help. Through the collective love of film, DIFF brings people together to support great causes, and the funds raised this year will go some way toward aiding families and communities in five different continents, making the Gift Gala a truly Global event.”
The night before the Gala, December 7, will see Global Gift hosting a Global Gift Pre-Party to welcome all celebrities to the city of Dubai. This exclusive invitation-only party will be hosted at Siddharta Lounge in Grosvenor House and promises to be a night to remember packed with performances from international DJs including British duo Hollaphonics, founded in the UAE, and guest stars.
Dubai Cares works towards providing children in developing countries with access to quality education through the design and funding of programs that are integrated, impactful, sustainable and scalable. Over the past 10 years, Dubai Cares has successfully launched education programs reaching over 16 million beneficiaries in 45 developing countries.
The Global Gift Gala is a platform part of the Global Gift Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2013 by Maria Bravo focusing on creating a positive impact on the lives of children, women and families. The Foundation has donated millions of dollars to projects including ‘Fight for Life’ Radiotherapy Treatments for children at Hospital UCLH, UNICEF in France to help with vaccinations of polio in Chad, Mensajeros de la Paz feed families program, funding for anti-bullying programs for the Diana the Princess of Wales Charity, The Diana Award, amongst others. Last year, the Global Gift Gala funds raised were used to change the lives of hundreds of women, children and families over a broad range of projects helping causes such as cancer treatment for children, the development of a multifunctional centre for children with rare and chronic diseases, life-changing operations for disabled children in European Countries, microloans for women in need of help and many more.
In addition, the event will support Harmony House an Indian registered, non-profit organisation in Gurgaon, just outside of Delhi, India. They have transformed two villas into full-time community centres for women and children, where they are offered offer education, food, medication, hygiene facilities and social services to women and children living in the nearby slums. The event will also see a donation being made to the people of Puerto Rico who are in need of emergency support after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.
For information about attending the event contact the organization directly at [email protected].
