Glittering gala aids children and mums

By China Daily | China Daily | Updated: 2017-12-09 07:17

The first China and the World: For Children and Mothers gala night was held at the Bulgari Hotel Beijing on Wednesday, attracting more than 200 participants.

"The charity gala night leveraged the public fundraising platform of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and mobilized resources from the community to raise funds for development programs that help improve the well-being of women and children globally," Hu Sishe, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said in his opening speech.

International dignitaries in attendance included CEO of Save the Children International and former prime minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Australia Julia Eileen Gillard, and ambassadors and diplomats from different countries.

Among the entertainment celebrities at the event were Ruby Lin, Ning Jing and Sha Yi. Artists Chen Wenling and Fan Yaping, executives from Sinic Real Estate, Mebo International Group and other corporations, and representatives from various NGOs were also present at the gala night.

The event was organized by the United Nations Every Woman Every Child China Partnership Network and the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development. It was supported by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Save the Children.

The Fund for the Development of Women and Children launched during the event in support of development programs such as the newborn health program, the Kangaroo Mother Care maternal and infant health program, and the family education program.

Virtual reality videos from two humanitarian programs were shown to help guests better understand the various challenges faced by children and mothers in Liangshan Mountain of Sichuan province and Somalia.

A live auction was one of the highlights of the gala night. Supporters bid for art pieces, exquisite jewelry and fine wines to raise funds for women and children around the world.

Noted Taiwan singer Chyi Chin specially rearranged the classic song The Moon Represents My Heart for the event. The song was performed by his daughter Bonnie Chyi together with Emiliano Cyrus, a Singaporean child celebrity. Angel Chorus' rendition of The Best Future was a final reminder to everyone to continue to share their love and care for every child.

The Bulgari Hotel Beijing, which sponsored the event, opened at the heart of Beijing's exclusive embassy area in late September.

Designed by architects Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, and crowning seven years of meticulous construction work, the fourth jewel in the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection rises within the new Genesis Project, an oasis of tranquility that balances art and nature.