The FINANCIAL — American Friends of Georgia (AFG) held a very successful Christmas Charity Gala ‘Restore Life” on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Garden Hall, 73 Agmashenebeli Avenue, to restore a tradition of philanthropy and to benefit the most needy children and elderly in Georgia attended by 240 people.
The goal of this Charity Gala was to help shelter and protect more vulnerable children and abandoned elderly. The generosity of our sponsors and guests will help AFG to support two of its most important projects—the Dzegvi Shelter Community and the Mercy Center Hospice and Home Care Program.
The event was attended by US Ambassador and Mrs. Ian C. Kelly and Japanese Ambassador and Mrs. Toshio Kaitani and Ambassador of Georgia in U.S. David Bakradze. At the same time representatives of the business world, leading international and Georgian organizations and corporations attended– most who are members of AmCham.
The Major Sponsor “Patron of the Gala’ was Petrocas Energy Group lead by Ivane Nakaidze, founder and managing partner and long-time partner of American Friends of Georgia. The Gold Sponsors was Adjara Group, ICR and SHUMI. The Bronze Sponsors were APM Terminals, BDO, BLC, Borjomi, Dechert, Deloitte, DLA Piper, EY, Geomill, Gvinadze & Partners, Cliff and Rusi Isaak, LISI, T&K Restaiurants, TBC bank.
The event was supported by different companies and individual Sante , Frontera, IWA, Pepsi, PWC, Jibe, and Strada.
The Gala raised in total after expenses $90,000 USD.
The event started with a cocktail reception in the lobby of Garden Hall with an art display by prominent Georgian artists auctioned later by Cliff Isaak, Auctioneer Extraordinaire and Honorary Consul of Canada to Georgia. The reception was followed by dinner especially designed by Restaurateur and caterer Chef of Table Lika Kartozia. Exceptional wines were provided by Shumi Winery. An exciting musical program included live music by Mdzlevari Folk Ensemble lead by Kakha Onashvili, Liza JAparidze, David Evgenidze, Elene Kalandadze, and the National Georgian Ballet Sukhishvilebi.
The MC of the Gala was Nicola Mariani managing partner of Dechert’s Georgian office. A highlight of the evening was the auction of donated outstanding art by such artists as Keti Shalamberidze, Dato Gagoshidze, Leila Shelia, Giga Kobidze, Lali Kutateladze, Nana Churgulia, Tamuna Melikishvili, Levan Kherkheulidze, Maka Gotsiridze, Goga Maglakelidze, Lena Kiladze, M.Tsuleiskiri, Levan Bujiashvili, Mark Polyakov, Vakhtan Kokiashvili, Korneli Sanadze, S. Kobuladze and Elene Akhvlediani. We would like to thank UGT and Petrocas Energy Group for their incredible generosity at our auction.
Many Georgian companies and individuals donated presents for the children and amazing raffle prizes including Sheraton Metekhi Palace Hotel, Hotel Kazbegi Rooms, Sheraton Batumi, Ikano, GAU, Funicular Restaurant, Schuchmann Wines, Lebanese Restaurant Amira, Strada, Keto & Kote Restaurant, Aura+, French Restaurant Le Marais, Betsy’s Hotel, Chateau Mukhrani JSC, American Medical Centers, Kate’s Bistro, Ureveli Wine, Cito, Baia Gallery, Kate Sidamonidze.
The purpose of this Charity Gala was to support two of American Friends of Georgia’s most important projects—the Dzegvi Shelter Community and the Mercy Center Hospice and Home Care Program.
Dzegvi Shelter Community near Tbilisi started as an orphanage for street children in 1995. Since 2010, it has become a shelter for mentally and physically disabled adults, former street children, poor elderly and abandoned single mothers with young children who have nowhere else to go. This project is located in Dzegvi and is run by Mother Mariam Japaridze. She was the nun who lived with the street children at the orphanage for years. Today they have more than 80 inhabitants.
Dzegvi Shelter reconstruction will enable them to shelter an additional 60-65 vulnerable children and elderly in need and will provide space for rehabilitation programs and vocational training.
Hospice and Palliative Home Care Program is the first Hospice in Georgia and the only Hospice Nursing School and Home Care Program. The project beneficiaries are more than 100 elderly (most needy) who need palliative home care.
For many seriously ill patients, hospice and palliative care offers a comfortable alternative to spending your final months in the impersonal environment of a hospital. Palliative medicine helps patients manage pain while hospice provides special care to improve quality of life for both the patient and their family. Seeking hospice and palliative care isn’t about giving up hope or hastening death, but rather a way to get the most appropriate care in the last phase of life.
Special Thanks to U. S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgian National Ballet Sukhishviliebi, Kate Machavariani, Ivane Nakaidze and Alexander Japaridze.
George Chirakadze and Sarah Williamson, Holly Holzer-Bass.
General Media Partner—The Financial
Media Partners–Georgia Today and Fortuna+
For all interested to support projects further – go to the website: www.afgeorgia.org and Donate Now!
ONLY TOGETHER CAN WE MAKE DIFFERENCE!
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