Monday night, we had the chance to attend the annual gala for Many Hopes, one of the world’s most visionary non-profit organizations that rescues Kenyan children from poverty, corruption and abuse by instilling them with a vision for justice and the tools to achieve it.
Discover Many Hopes invited over 500 influencers in New York City from the finances, arts, and fashion to come together in celebrating one of the most important philanthropic events of the year. Hosted by supermodel Karen Elson, actor Zachary Levi and fitness, and wellness entrepreneur Tracy Anderson, this year’s gala took place at the beautiful 180 Maiden Lane in Wall Street. The venue provided guests to mingle on the ground floor of the magnificent glass building for drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a live performance.
Many Hopes was founded in 2007 by Kenyan journalist, Anthony Mulongo and Irish columnist, Thomas Keown. We had the chance to interview Thomas on his contributions to the event and organization:
I’m one of the co-founders of Many Hopes. We have the fundamental belief that local children are able to solve the problems and defeat the injustices that charity can’t so we rescue children from abusive situations and provide them with loving homes, excellent education, and advocacy so they can have justice against their abuser. We raise them up to be adults so that they can do extraordinary things for others as they grow because no one cares as much about justice as those who have experienced injustice. The way that we do that is by appealing to people in New York City and London and Belfast and LA or wherever they are and to use some of their influence, time, network, and finances that are here to equip children there to be the adults they want to become. We have one big party every year. Tonight, Discover Many Hopes is the single biggest fundraiser we have, we have over 500 people from fashion, finances, and the arts that came and have given three hours out of their nights to share influence to kids who are born somewhere else in less deserving positions.
I grew up in Northern Ireland with a deep sense of fairness and unfairness. I became a journalist and befriended a Kenyan journalist, Anthony Mulongo, who was focusing on the abusive and poor, he had a vision on raising the children of his nation to be different. As we became friends, we realized we couldn’t pay for it so I took his story and helped spread it.
For more information on the fundraiser, please visit: http://discover.manyhopes.org/