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Press

BRAZILFOUNDATION'S THIRD ANNUAL GALA IN NEW YORK


Beatriz Milhazes, "Serpentina" 
(This screen was auctioned at the event)

To the Rhythms of Daniela Mercury, BrazilFoundation Celebrates its Third Annual Gala in New York City

Daniela Mercury's Performance.

In an elegant and festive atmosphere at Cipriani's restaurant in Manhattan, BrazilFoundation celebrated its Third Annual Gala. the foundation's most important fundraising event, the Gala generates funds BrazilFoundation uses to finance dozens of social projects annually in Brazil.

Close to 450 guests, including businessmen, politicians, artists, designers and models participated in the event. Brazil's former President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, attended and shared his enthusiasm for BrazilFoundation's achievements. "I believe that BrazilFoundation's work is admirable and very important in meeting the needs of the many Brazilian organizations that act in the social field. Beyond that, it is a hallmark of Brazil in the US," Cardoso commented.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Daniela Mercury, Sheppard and Leona Forman.

BrazilFoundation raised a total of $200,000 thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses that make the Gala possible by donating time, sponsorship, buying tables and individual tickets. The Gala raised an additional $12,000 through the auction of two paintings donated by the artists Beatriz Milhazes of Rio de Janeiro and Romero Britto of Miami.

Patrícia Poeta, reporter for TV Globo Internacional, was the Gala's mistress of ceremonies for the second year in a row. Two social investors in Brazil were honored at the Gala. Evelyn Ioschpe, sociologist, journalist and president of the Iochpe Foundation and the Institute for Art in the Schools and Stanley Litow, president of IBM Foundation. Evelyn Ioschpe said that "Brazil has developed innovative social technologies that the world needs to know about. Events like the Gala are an important way to give visibility to these innovations. Brazil's not-for-profit sector has many dedicated and capable people, but we need more investments. BrazilFoundation is an important catalyst for interest and gifts to projects that really make a difference." For Stanley Litow, "the partnership with BrazilFoundation plays a fundamental role in helping IBM reap the rewards of the social investments it has made to promote education and bring technology to Brazil's poorest communities."

Ivoncy and Honoree Evelyn Ioschpe, President of Iochpe Foundation.

Pfizer, the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, was the principal sponsor of the Gala, with a donation of $25,000. Pedro Litchtinger, president of Pfizer Animal Health, recently accepted an invitation to join BrazilFoundation's advisory board and says that he was attracted by the passion of those involved with the foundation in improving their country. "For Pfizer, it is very important to know where donated resources are going. We value the seriousness with which BrazilFoundation selects and monitors the projects it chooses as grantees. It gives us a sense of security that the money is being put to especially good use."

Another new member of the board, Donna Hrinak, former US Ambassador to Brazil also attended the event. Inspired by the festive environment, the diplomat declared that entities like BrazilFoundation are in a better position than the government to understand the realities and needs of the people. A resident of Florida, Hrinak said that she hopes to be the voice of BrazilFoundation in this American state.

Honoree Stanley Litow, President of IBM International Foundation; Susane Worcman and Patricia Menezes.

The monumental dining room of Cipriani's, decorated with arrangements of sunflowers by Zezé Flores, reverberated with the energy of the guests, including various celebrities like actor Fábio Assunção, the designer Carlos Miele and models Daniela Sarahyba and Luciana Curtis. But the greatest hit of the evening was the performance by Daniela Mercury. The singer, from Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia came to New York exclusively to support the BrazilFoundation Gala.

Daniela Mercury had planned to sing a couple of songs accompanied by guitar, but she was so moved by the enthusiasm of the guests that she ended up performing for almost an hour. The singer, who is the UNICEF Ambassador to Brazil and participates actively in the work of various Brazilian non-profits, spoke passionately about BrazilFoundation's mission: "The Foundation's methods are very efficient and I am so happy for the opportunity to be a volunteer. It's not charity, it is solidarity. It's the work of providing Brazilians with respect and human dignity and this is what is most important."

Founded in 2001, BrazilFoundation has financed a total of 131 social projects, distributing close to US$3 million to organizations dedicated to social transformation throughout Brazil.

Click here for BrazilFoundation's Gala 2005
picture gallery.

Click here to read about BrazilFoundation's Gala 2005 in the news.