Proving that we truly are ‘Stronger Together’, Ho Chi Minh City’s Consular Club gathered to host a spectacular fundraising dinner to raise funds for disadvantaged children, minority girls and needy people in southern Vietnam.
The red carpet was rolled out at Continental Saigon Hotel to welcome the esteemed guests of the event, representing 19 countries, diplomatic missions and business communities. 380 tickets were quickly sold to the city’s representatives from diplomatic and business circles, who came glamorously dressed to support the worthy causes.
The charities honoured were: Planète Enfants & Développement (PE & D), a French non-governmental organisation (NGO) protecting children from violence and exploitation, implementing projects for children, families and the community, with a strong focus on helping women and girls; VietHarvest, a Vietnamese social enterprise collecting and redistributing quality surplus food to those in need; and Brighter Path Girl’s Club, an NGO teaching sexual and reproductive health education, financial literacy, leadership skills and legal rights to girls of ethnic minorities.
There was a strong sense that all members and guests were imbued with the spirit of giving back, and were grateful to Vietnam and the Vietnamese people for their hospitality in their country. Over the past few years, the Consular Club has annually raised and donated money to worthy Vietnamese causes, as well as given scholarships to orphans and disabled children, supported storm and flood victims and mitigated the heavy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their debut Fundraising Dinner was a resounding success, raising over $70,000 US dollars.
One of this year’s most coveted charity auction items was a “Chef’s Table” experience hosted by three Consul-Generals hailing from The Netherlands, Germany and Italy. An event unlike any other, this auction item was able to raise an impressive sum of $21,000 US dollars, all for the honoured charities.
Another auction item, a bottle of Ararat Dvin Brandy, called the ‘diplomatic brandy’ as it was served at the Yalta Conference during World War II and has accompanied many other historic meetings of worldly significance, and has been produced according to the original recipe since 1942.
This year’s Fundraising Dinner also featured a cultural performance and other auction items from the thrilling evening including prized artworks, holiday experiences and fashionable statement pieces.
The Consular Club’s President, Milena Guarino Padula, stated that the Consular Club’s Fundraising Dinner acts as a significant link, uniting the Vietnamese, businesses, and consular communities in the pursuit of a worthy cause, and was proud to host the event.
What an honour to be part of such a heart-warming cause, in a glamorous night to remember that we are ‘Stronger Together’.