Mindful Gala Dinner and Exhibition
On 21st September 2011, the Mindful of Art exhibition was launched with a gala dinner organised by the Aloysius Society and Mind charity at the Imperial War Museum and attended by a host of household names. Stephen Fry and Lord Melvyn Bragg took to the stage during the evening, with Bragg officially handing his fifteen-year patronage of Mind over to Fry. Speeches were followed by an auction led by Lord Dalmeny of Sotheby’s, which saw prizes such as a day in the kitchen with Giorgio Locatelli and an afternoon in the recording studio with The Kooks go under the hammer. The exhibition, curated by artist Stuart Semple, was held in The Old Vic Tunnels and included stunning artworks donated by artists such as Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Matt Collishaw, Sarah Lucas, Sebastian Horsley, Kate Moross and Bip Ling. Mindful of Art was listed in publications such as Time Out and The Guardian Guide. Proceeds from the exhibition and gala dinner went into the newly created Mind Creative Therapies Fund – offering a creative outlet to those suffering from mental health difficulties.
Visit official event website for more details.
The Marefat Dinner
On 3rd February 2011, the Aloysius Society, along with Christa D’Souza and Baroness D’Souza, held a dinner in aid of the Marefat High School in Kabul Afghanistan. The Marefat School promotes education in one of Kabul’s most devastated districts, an area inhabited largely by the Hazara people victmized under the Taliban regime. The school has championed gender equality by providing education to girls who would otherwise be denied this basic right —and we are proud to be able to support this worthy cause. The dinner was held in the glamorous Connaught ballroom, with an Afghan-inspired feast designed specially by two michelin-starred chef Hélène Darroze. Drinks were kindly sponsored by Moet & Chandon, and one of a kind aucton prizes donated by the likes of Roland Mouret and Ottolenghi helped raise over £150,000. Guests included Cherie Blair, Jeremy Clarkson, Jemima Khan and Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, enjoying a performance from up-and coming songstress Clare Maguire.
Poppy Ball
The Aloysius Society and its committee members are proud supporters of the Poppy Ball taking place on Remembrance Day, November 11th 2010, at Lancaster House. The Poppy Ball has been organized under the patronage of HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, The Rt.Hon. Dr. Liam Fox MP and The Lord Astor of Hever DL in support of the Royal British Legion.
Inca Ball
The Aloysius Society is a proud supporter and friend of the Inca Ball, an event organized by the Anglo Peruvian Society to benefit SOS Children’s Villages, Juliaca, Puno, Peru. It will take place at the Royal Opera House on the 16th November 2010 under the patronage of H.E. Ambassador Javier Perez de Cuellar former United Nations Secretary- General.
Visit official event website for more details.
Red Dress Couture Ball
In June 2010, the Aloysius Society hosted the Oxford Red Dress Couture Ball, a three part event beginning with dinner at the stunning Cherwell boathouse, followed by a spectacular runway show at the opulent and historic Oxford Town Hall, followed by an aferparty at the famed Divinity Schools. Under the patronage of the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes (Chancellor of Oxford University), the event reached an unprecedented scale that harnessed the support of designers such as Chanel, Armani, Herve Leger, Marchesa and Vera Wang and notable individuals including Anya Hindmarch, Cindi Leive, Sir Roger Moore, and Pete Townshend to raise a significant amount of money and worldwide awareness for our chosen charity H.E.L.P. Malawi. H.E.L.P. is committed to empowering children in Malawi living with the disastrous consequences of HIV/AIDS by building schools and medical clinics and by providing programs leading to sustainability, and thereby endowing them with the gifts of Hope, Education, Love and Protection.
Visit official event website for more details.
The biggest trend in fashion right now, and one I fully support, is to use the runway to make a real difference to the world. Congratulations to all those involved in the Oxford Red Dress Couture Ball for wanting to do just that.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue
Sugarplum Ball
On 30 November 2009, the Aloysius Society hosted “The Sugarplum Ball”, its inaugural event at the Natural History Museum, London, under the patronage of the Duchess of York. In aid of SOS Children’s Villages, all funds raised went towards the construction of an orphanage school in Chipata, Zambia. Invitations to the event were designed by Tracey Emin and Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens tailored a three-course ‘sugarplum inspired’ menu for guests, who included Princess Beatrice, Sir Rocco Forte, Stuart Semple and Chronicles of Narnia actress Anna Popplewell. Harry Dalmeny of Sotheby’s UK led the live aucton, with prizes including a personalised gift from Kate Moss, tickets to the Dior S/S fashion show in Paris, a luxury getaway to Bhutan with Aman Resorts, artwork by Tracey Emin and a portrait sitting with Basia Hamilton. The evening was a huge success, attracting much press attention and raising over £110,000 for SOS Children’s Villages.
I’ve always been terrifcally impressed with the students from Oxford. It comes as no surprise that they have gathered together the leading fashion houses in support of two such worthwhile causes
Graydon Carter, editor in chief Vanity Fair