News
28 March 2014
First Food for Good Ball raises over £135,000
Farm Africa’s inaugural Food for Good Ball was a wonderful success, raising more than £135,000 through ticket sales, live and silent auctions and the overall generosity of its guests.
Held last night in London’s iconic Victoria and Albert Museum, the Food for Good Ball was a celebration of Farm Africa’s Food for Good campaign which unites members of the food and hospitality industry to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the world today – hunger.
Since 2011, these industries have been tirelessly fundraising for Farm Africa, and their combined efforts raised £750,000, to which last night’s £135,000 has been added. In 2013, Farm Africa reached one million beneficiaries for the first time. Just £350 can help take a family in Africa out of hunger, for good, so Food for Good has made a significant contribution to our work, and will help us reach our target of two million beneficiaries in 2014.
The evening began with a champagne reception in the museum’s Hintze Gallery, then the 200 guests followed the lively rhythms of the Surrey East African Dance and Arts Group into the magnificent Dome, where they were met by their Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the evening, Martin Bayfield. Former British Lions rugby player Martin welcomed the guests and introduced Farm Africa Chairman Richard Macdonald, who gave a rousing speech of thanks to the guests, and a reminder that the challenges facing Africa’s farmers need our continued attention – currently hunger kills more people than AIDS, TB and Malaria combined.
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton and his ‘brigade’ of cooks set up a makeshift but highly effective kitchen in the museum’s Raphael Gallery, and served the guests a spectacular three-course meal. Talking through his innovative menu, Jason explained that Farm Africa is a ‘cause close to my heart’, and urged his colleagues across the food industry to get even more involved with our campaign to end hunger, for good.
The Noa Alvarez Jazz Quartet provided a soothing melodic backdrop to the night’s proceedings, and after the screening of an inspirational short film about the Food for Good campaign so far, the guests were whipped into a bidding frenzy for the live auction, which featured some exciting prizes, all kindly donated by supporters of Farm Africa. A beautiful Picasso lithograph was won with a generous bid of £5,000.
The Dome was still buzzing with chatter and laughter at midnight as the Ball came to a successful close. It was a truly wonderful night had by all, and the money raised will go a long way to helping us help African farmers become self-sufficient and end hunger for them and their families, for good.