With Annie Lennox being given a Making a Difference Award , Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing and Pamela Stephenson MCing, Women for Women's Gala was always bound to be a success. But the charity which helps traumatised women in war-torn areas was delighted that £860,000 was raised, which will help thousands more women in countries from Afghanistan to the Congo to receive support and develop their skills, so they can rebuild their lives and support themselves and their families.
Credit/Copyright: Women For Women International
Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Annie Lennox
The celebrity charity event was held in London on Thursday night, and attracted a plethora of stars to celebrate five years in the UK of Women for Women.
“Women for women is an incredible organisation, working to transform lives, to support, uplift, and put light in the darkness,” said Annie Lennox. “To be acknowledged by them is an absolute honour for me, and I’m humbled to be given this award, when so many of their members are my inspiration”
“Today 75% of those injured or killed in war are women and children,” added Sophie Ellis-Bextor. “As a woman and a mother, I am proud to support the work of Women for Women International; helping women in areas of conflict, who have often lost everything, to rebuild their lives and develop skills so they can support themselves and their families”.
Nearly 400 of the charities most ardent and valued supporters from the business and financial world, together with those from the Arts and celebrity guests, gathered to celebrate five years of Women for Women in the UK and raise badly needed funds for the charity.
“When I visited the Congo recently, I saw first-hand the devastating impact of a human conflict where rape is used as a weapon of war and thousands of women have been traumatised and violated,” said Pamela Stephenson. “Women for Women do some amazing work helping women rebuild their lives and develop the skills and knowledge they need to support themselves and their families. I am proud to be MC at their 2011 Gala helping them raise funds so that many more women in areas of conflict all over the world, have an opportunity to receive the help and support they need”.
Credit/Copyright: Women For Women International
Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Pamela Stephenson
This included fashion designer Alice Temperley from Temperley London, TV Presenter Tess Daly, model Jacquetta Wheeler, supermodel Natalia Vodianova, musician and designer Pamela Hogg, singer and human rights activist Annie Lennox, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, psychologist and TV personality Dr Pamela Stephenson-Connolly, actress Rosamund Pike and many more.
The Gala opened with a cocktail reception (sponsored by Iceberg Vodka), followed by a sit-down dinner catered by Rhubarb, live and silent auctions, The Making a Difference Awards Ceremony and a performance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
It also featured a talk about Karak Mayik, Women for Women International Country Director, Sudan and a film about the charity’s work in the Congo narrated by Cherie Lunghi.
