Face Africa 2nd Annual Gala

BOSTON, MA—FACE Africa, a Boston, MA-based nonprofit organization dedicated to water and sanitation issues in Liberia, hosted its 2nd Annual Clean Water Benefit Gala on Saturday, March 26 at The Taj Boston. Over 200 guests attended the event being held to raise awareness and funds for the organization’s clean water initiatives in Liberia.

The evening kicked off with a VIP reception welcoming chef, author, humanitarian and FACE Africa honoree Marcus Samuelsson, his wife, model Maya Haile Gate, and distinguished guests Former Ambassador of Liberia to the United States M. Nathaniel Barnes, NBA All Star Dikembe Mutombo, Designer and Actress Whitney Port, and NFL athlete Rennie Curran. Music was provided by local jazz band Soul4YoSytem and decor by New York based Fete Atelier.

 The event included a silent auction featuring items generously donated by DeBeers, Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Whitney Port, Cynthia Rowley, Tea Forte, La Perla and more. The silent auction was followed by a 3-course dinner and program in the Grand Ballroom of the Taj Boston where guests were welcomed by WHDH reporter Michelle Relerford and Saran Kaba Jones, FACE Africa’s Executive Director.

The program included a remark from Honorary Chair of the evening M. Nathaniel Barnes, followed by a video presentation about Whitney Port and her family’s involvement with FACE Africa and their recent humanitarian trip to Liberia. Port said a few words regarding her involvement with FACE Africa and her dedication to continue supporting the organization’s projects in Liberia.

Ms. Kaba Jones presented the FACE Africa Humanitarian Award to Marcus Samuelsson. As a UNICEF ambassador and Tap Project spokesperson, Samuelsson has traveled extensively to highlight the importance of finding and delivering clean drinking water to children all over the world. In his acceptance speech, Samuelsson remarked that while poverty in the U.S. generally means limited access to healthy foods, across Africa the impoverished lack an even more basic necessity – clean water.

 Every guest went home with a FACE Africa tote courtesy of Northpoint Printing teeming with goodies from Divine Chocolate, Tommy Bahama, VAPUR Water and more. Totes can be purchased on the FACE Africa website at http://www.faceafrica.org/shop/totes.

About FACE Africa

FACE Africa is a nonprofit organization that works to provide access to clean and safe drinking water to communities in Liberia where millions suffer from waterborne illnesses. Since 2009, the organization has implemented water and sanitation projects in rural Liberia. FACE Africa uses an innovative social enterprise model to fund their water projects, while providing economic opportunities for disadvantaged women. Their initial and primary focus is Liberia, a country emerging from a long and devastating civil war, with plans to expand operations to other countries with similar challenges and needs. For more information, visit www.faceafrica.org.

Click on F2FA Experience Photo Gallery to view pictures of the event.