In less than 24 hours the world has witnessed how London and Paris have turned into the top European capitals of philanthropy. The Global Gift Foundation has returned again on April 24 and 25, 2018. This time, in London and Paris where celebrities, businesses, and philanthropies have been brought together to fundraise for dedicated causes and raise awareness for the work they do.

The Global Gift Foundation has turned London and Paris into the capitals of philanthropy with the celebration of two charity events in which Maria Bravo and the American actress, known for being Miss America in 1984 Vanessa Williams hosted. In less than 24 hours, these cities brought together the most supportive celebrities to raise funds for social projects linked to the beneficiary foundations.

The first event was The Global Gift Nelson Mandela Centenary Dinner, an initiative of the Global Gift and Nelson Mandela Foundations to pay tribute to the South African philanthropist and politician and to celebrate the beginning of a strong alliance between these two foundations to walk together in favor of the humans' rights.

The next morning, María Bravo and her team traveled to the French capital to celebrate The Global Gift Gala Paris for the eighth consecutive year. A gala that is gaining importance internationally and that the Parisian press has long called the gala of the year. In this edition, María Bravo has awarded the incredible humanitarian work that the English singer, Emma Bunton, who began two decades ago to protect children in vulnerable situations.

Maria Bravo, Emma Bunton, Bernar d Montiel and Vanessa Williams 2018

• María Bravo was joined every night by the actress and singer Vanessa Williams, who served as the hostess of honor. This time, the charity event could not count on Eva Longoria because of her pregnancy. Another top celebrity who also joined the event was the Spice Girl Emma Bunton who had received the Global Gift Philanthropist Award for her an amazing philanthropic work.
• The first affair was the Global Gift Nelson Mandela Centenary Dinner initiative, which on April 24 brought together the Global Gift and South African communities at the Rosewood London hotel to pay tribute to the South African politician and philanthropist
• The soiree party was attended by the South African media personality Bonang Matheba and the singer and entertainer Beverly Knight, among many other guests, to celebrate the first initiative of the Global Gift and Nelson Mandela foundations. Bonang Matheba is a famous TV presenter and style icon. In 2017, she attended the event as a special guest alongside Eva Longoria, among others.
• One of the most exciting moments of the Global Gift Nelson Mandela Centenary Dinner took place with the big contest  to get two VIP accesses to the gala that will be attended by Barack Obama next summer in Johannesburg
• A day later, the Global Gift Foundation team traveled to the French capital to celebrate the VIII Global Gift Gala Paris and to reward the extensive solidarity work of the ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who in recent years has focused on fighting against Bullying
• The lucky guests who attended the Four Seasons Hotel George V event, have enjoyed a dinner prepared by three-Michelin-star chef Christian Le Squer and performances by Marie Orlandi and Vanessa Williams
• The funds raised in each day will be allocated to social projects linked to the beneficiary foundations: Nelson Mandela Foundation, Global Gift Foundation, UNICEF France and Fredonia College Foundation

• Global Gift Nelson Mandela Centenary Dinner: A night dedicated to Madiba

April 24, 2018, will be remembered in London as a magical evening that brought together different personalities from around the world to give tribute to Nelson Mandela in what would've been his hundredth birthday.

(From left to right) Maria Bravo, Bonang Matheba, Beverley Knight and Vanessa Williams attending the Nelson Mandela Global Gift Gala, at the Rosewood Hotel, London 2018

The fight for causes such as freedom, equality, and social justice are some of the values that the Nelson Mandela and Global Gift foundations have in common and that have been a very decisive topic when it comes to joining forces to celebrate The Global Gift Nelson Mandela Centenary Dinner.

The event displayed by Bonang Matheba, took place in The Mirror Room of the Rosewood Hotel in London, one of the most impressive places in London to enjoy excellent culinary experiences. The welcome cocktail was held at the Scarfes Bar, named after the famous British artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe and whose work adorns the walls of this sophisticated space with a private club atmosphere

María Bravo said: "Madiba, as many called him and they remember him affectionately, was much more than a politician, he was a person who promoted social changes very necessary for his country and for all humanity. For Global Gift, it is a privilege and an honor to join forces with the foundation of this great man we admire so much. " referring to Nelson for his very dedicated hard work.

Different famous personalities assisted the charity event that took place in the Rosewood London, personalities in the social and cultural scene, such as singers Sinitta and Beverley Knight, actor Craig McGinlay, television Georgia Toffolo, Shelby Tribble, Natasha Grain and Nicole Bass, among others. In addition to the musical performances, the evening was enlivened by a charity auction in which highlighted the bid to get two VIP access to the Night of 100 words, a gala that will feature the presence of former President Barack Obama on July 17 in Johannesburg

The VIII Global Gift Gala in Paris awards Emma Bunton

Paris has once again blitzed during the celebration of the VIII Global Gift Gala. The French capital is gaining more and more popularity in the world of philanthropy and this year was not an exception.

Emma Bunton looked adorable as she leads the arrivals at the Global Gift Gala in Paris on Wednesday night 2018

Solidarity Awards

The star of the night was Emma Bunton, who received the Global Gift Philanthropist Award. Known for being one of the components of the successful female music group Spice Girls, Emma Bunton's relationship with charity campaigns dates back to 1999. In that year, the singer joined the movement ''Nordoff-Robbins'', focused on providing therapies for children with psychological, physical or developmental disabilities. She has also collaborated on several occasions with UNICEF to raise money and finance childhood vaccines or carry out humanitarian aid work in Africa to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.

In previous instances, this award has been given to personalities such as Laetitia Casta, Pamela Anderson, María Carey or football coach Vicente del Bosque.

The emblematic Four Seasons Hotel George V welcomed another addition to the guests, who accompanied a visibly moved Maria Bravo: "I am very happy for the great reception that the VIII Global Gift Gala Paris has had in this wonderful and supportive city. It's been eight years that unite us and in which Paris has shown us that it is a key place from which we can help thousands of people.

Emma Bunton, in addition to thanking and being proud of the award received, emphasized her work as a mother, a role with which she assured that each day she learns something new from her children.

Vanessa Williams thanked María Bravo for thinking of her as Global Gift Ambassador and said that "helping feels at peace and that they will continue to do much more together".

One of the most emotional moments of the evening was when María Bravo got up from her chair to encourage the guests to be generous with direct donations. María Bravo asked everyone who wanted to collaborate to stand up and take the stage with her. The room began to remain empty and only 15 minutes later there were more people on the stage than in the table area.

Another of the most acclaimed protagonists of the night was Miss France 2018, Maeva Coucke, along with the actresses Fabienne Carat and Elisa Bachir Bey. The actors Gary Dourdan, known for his role in the series CSI, and Anthony Delon did not want to miss the appointment either. Also attending was the Spanish dancer and painter, Pepe Muñoz, who donated his piece NYC girls for the auction.

At the Nelson Mandela GlobalGiftGala with Caterina Lopez and her son in the red carpet 2018

Beneficiaries

María Bravo, CEO of the Global Gift Foundation announced that the funds raised will go to different projects promoted by UNICEF France and its foundation that, in turn, will make a donation to Fredonia College Foundation, the charity chosen by the hostess of honor Vanessa Williams. Specifically, UNICEF France chose its international children's project to ensure basic education for children in the Togo region.

These two solidarity events will allocate the fund raised to social projects for the beneficiary foundations

Upcoming events: Global Gift Initiative Cannes

May is another key month in the solidarity calendar of the Global Gift Foundation. The night of the 10th will celebrate the famous Global Gift Initiative Cannes, which as every year returns to the iconic stage of the Cannes Film Festival at the Mouton Cadet and this time has the support of GAURA as Official Sponsor.

The next initiative of the Maria Bravo Foundation will feature an exceptional guest, actor Luke Evans. "Cannes is a very special place for the Global Gift Foundation because here we celebrate our most exclusive event.

About the Nelson Mandela Foundation

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on dialogue and defense, memory and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Founded in 1999.

About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of all children in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions, focusing especially our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children for the benefit of all children, everywhere.

About Fundación Global Gift

Global Gift Foundation was created in 2013 by philanthropist, Maria Bravo. The foundation provides shelter, food, clothing, education and medical care to children and women in need, anywhere in the world. The foundation also addresses people at risk of social exclusion, regardless of race, religion, sex, and age, as well as funding study programs to find solutions of rare or chronic diseases. Casa Global Gift is the first multifunctional center for children with so-called “rare” or chronic diseases that the foundation is implanting in Marbella.

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