GALA FUNDRAISER - February 2009 House of Blues, Sunset Strip in Los Angeles
Sharing the joy and the sorrows of the children in Congo was the impetus for the gala event that was held upon our return from our first arts exchange workshop in DR Congo. Our fundraiser, where we formally announced the launch of Children Mending Hearts, was held at the House of Blues, Sunset Strip in Los Angeles on February 18, 2009. The event benefited the International Medical Corps who had been one of our sponsors on the ground in Congo.
Honorees at the gala were Dr. Denis Mukwege, the Director and Founder of Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Dr. Mukwege received the Heal the World Award, and Anderson Cooper received the Humanitarian of the Year Award. In January 2008, Anderson did a report for CBS’ "60 Minutes" entitled War Against Women. He traveled to Congo where he interviewed Dr. Mukwege about his life-saving surgeries on victims of rape and mutilation. This report enlightened audiences worldwide about the situation in Congo, especially the plight of women, and introduced the "60 Minutes" audience to Dr. Mukwege’s remarkable mission.
Other speakers at the gala event included actor and activist Ben Affleck; John Prendergast, The Enough Project co-Founder and author of eight books on Africa; Congo genocide survivor Rose Mapendo, co-founder of Mapendo International; and the Congolese Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Faida Mitifu. Musical guests included Sheryl Crow, Vusi Mahlasela, Timothy Mitchum & Carol Woods. The event generated national and international press and raised awareness of the horrific conditions under which children are living in DR Congo.
