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World Aid Organization Hosting Gala Ball in NYC
16-Oct-2008
Written by: Mic Mell
GOAL is celebrating 20 years of operations in the U.S., and their annual ball is surely one of the highlights of the year.
In industrialized nations, particularly the U.S., people are enduring hardships. Collapsing economies, energy scarcity, home foreclosures, and other burdens of day to day life weigh heavy upon people. Our worst difficulties, however, pale in comparison to the ordeals people are going through in the developing world, and particularly Africa. Starvation, disease, staggeringly brutal violence, and lack of education have living conditions in some countries so appalling that it almost seems these people live on another planet.
Thankfully, there are organizations who are committed to making a difference. GOAL is an international aid agency providing the basic needs of life for the world’s most poverty stricken residents. GOAL has been on the scene of almost every natural and manmade disaster since its founding, creating programs to provide food, water, shelter, medical attention, literacy, and the staple of human development: hope.
Each year, GOAL hosts gala charity balls in 12 countries around the world, including New York and Boston. This year’s New York ball celebrates 20 years of GOAL operations in the United States, and is being held at Citriani on Wall Street. The ball is on November 7. The evening’s events combine a champagne reception with hors d’oeuvres, a 3-course meal with premium wine, an open bar from 7:30 on, live music, a full casino, and a live charity auction. The New York ball brings together more than 500 professionals from New York, Boston, London, and Ireland, and is one of the highlights of New York’s social calendar. Last year’s charity auction raised $358,000, with the guests bidding on items including exotic vacations, luxury tennis and golf packages, and a gourmet dinner prepared by a celebrity chef. All proceeds go to GOAL’s work in supporting the poverty stricken people of the world.
Currently operating in 12 countries, GOAL responds to major crises around the world, staying until their programs are sustainable by the local communities. In some African countries where disasters are chronic, GOAL has more permanent roots to facilitate a fast response to famine, civil war and other continually repeating crises. One of GOAL’s main focuses is working with children. Focusing on young people who have no homes, are forced into child labor, or conscripted into armies, GOAL uses sports as a tool to teach children team building skills, and a safe way to challenge themselves.
Founded in 1977 by John O'Shea, GOAL started with a $16,000 program providing medical aid to children in India, and has gone on to spend over $795 million in 50 countries over its 31 years in existence. In 2007, GOAL spent $86 million on programs. From the first year of operation, less then 5 percent of their capital has been spent on administration, unlike some other large humanitarian agencies. Over the years, sponsors have included major corporate and private benefactors, including the governments of the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, leading financial institutions, publishing companies, real estate giants, communications companies, public figures, and celebrities.
As a selected U.S. Government partner, GOAL is a first responder to humanitarian crises whenever the U.S. steps in. When earthquakes devastated Pakistan in 2005, GOAL was one of three agencies that directly briefed President Bush. GOAL also received the 2005 UNESCO Literacy award for a program in Sudan that taught women how to read.
GOAL maintains it’s Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with branch offices in New York and London. With a staff of 2,500 in its various locations and over 1,300 volunteers over the years, GOAL works in partnership with local organizations and missionaries to make its programs happen.
For tickets or more information, go to www.goalusa.org, call 212-831-7420, or email events@goalusa.org.
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