IWC Charity Star Ball 2009 dazzles Moscow

                                                                                         

If you couldn’t make it out to this year’s Star Ball, you missed out on the city-that-never-sleeps’s biggest night of luxury, charity and entertainment.
The excitement and glamour of Hollywood came to the Forum Hall on Saturday, April 25th, 2009 and nothing could deter the revelry and reverence of the Star Ball guests, not even the Gasprom Ball or Am Cham event held on the same night. The event’s programme included champagne reception, gala dinner, dancing, auction and star performances. The goal of the Star Ball was to create an atmosphere of elegance and joy through which the spirit of giving can be celebrated.

It was a red-carpet, star-studded, raise-your-bid and raise-your-praise kind of night with over 500 guests in attendance. Gracing the red carpet and posing for pre-event photos at the Forum Hall were the Star Ball guests greeted by Miss Moscow 2008, Beauty of Russia 2007, Miss Asia Pacific 2005 and Teen Vice Miss World 2005.

Chairperson of the ball, Natalie Volkoff Kabir, along with Moscow City Duma Council Mr. Platonov, IWC Charities Honorary Chair Carmen Casey, Kraft Foods Rus (Star Ball platinum sponsor) Vice President David Steer and 3 times World champion and 7 times Europe Champion in ice skating Irina Slutskaya initiated the evening with the opening speeches.
A celebrity-filled guest list added glamour and excitement to the event. Star Ball VIP guests included Ambassadors of Ireland, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Greece, Ecuador, Somali and other countries, expat and local businessmen, Russian politicians and dignitaries. It was one of the first grand events bringing together Moscow expat community and refined Russian community in elite informal atmosphere. The event was extensively covered by media – 1st TV channel, TV Center, NTV, Mir TV, Zvesda TV, magazines and newspapers journalists and photographers.

New to the IWC Balls were gala performances of Stars and silent and live auctions of rare and collectible items. Among the items capturing high bids were memorabilia from Russian stars, lucky skates of Irina Slutskaya, lunch with Patriciaa Kaas and an autographed photo of Angelina Jolie, with the live auction managed by Sovcom Auction House. The auction collection also offered a wonderful selection of Russian contemporary art dated 1918-2009 which was very attractive from both collectors’ and investors’ point of view.

The Gala Concert “Stars for Children” was supported by 34 gala performers, including soloists of Bolshoi, Metropolitain Opera of New York, New Opera of Moscow, Opera de Paris, Tomas n’Evergreen, Renat Ibragimov, Tony Watking and other singers and groups who provided a non-stop musical entertainment of the Ball free of charge.

The sumptuous dinner included a delicious salad, strudel appetizer, salmon on the bed of herbs, caramelized duck filet entree with savory potatoes and vegetables specially created for Star Ball guests by Forum Hall Chef Vladimir Kolpakov. Vodka and Mondoro Champagne were provided by Kauffman (Whitehall), whiskey by Jameson, B&G wine by Rotor House and Martel cognac by Rusfinance Bank of Societe Generale Vostok.

The event sponsors included Kraft Foods Rus (platinum sponsor), Coca Cola HBC Eurasia (gold sponsor) and Rusbiz.com (silver sponsor).

Moscow City Government, Beauty of Russia committee and Sovcom Auction House were Star Ball 2009 partners.
Thanks to Star Ball supporters the event raised 44 585 euros. The proceeds from the Ball will go directly for the purchase of artificial limbs for amputee kids.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for information about the 2010 Star Ball to be held next year.

About the author:
Natalie Kabir is the Co-chair of the International Women Club

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