The charity event, held at the emblematic La Câbane beach club in Marbella, brought together 400 guests for a charity gala that was attended by prominent faces such as Antonio Banderas and Sarah Almagro among others.
“Many things can bring us moments of happiness. There is no doubt in my mind that helping people in need is one of the best things we can do to help them.”. With these words Pedro Rodríguez, trustee of the Sierra Blanca Foundation, welcomed and addressed an audience of four hundred guests gathered on the enormous platform, installed exclusively for the occasion, over the swimming pool of the emblematic beach club of La Câbane in Marbella.
The first charity gala organised by the Sierra Blanca Foundation in Marbella and held on the night of the 31st of May ended with the satisfaction of having reached the figure of 350,000 euros raised during the event, as well as a resounding success in terms of audience. These charitable contributions were made before the gala itself, with a “zero table” that raised more than €50,000, thanks to the sale of tickets and payment of the menu offered for all the guests by Dani García Catering, as well as the various bids (some of them reaching figures of up to €60.000 for a single lot) on the numerous experiences and collector’s items donated exclusively for the occasion by Antonio Banderas, Rafael Nadal, Alejandro Sanz, Andrea Oliva, Dolce&Gabbana and Mont Blanc, among many other illustrious collaborators.
“We could never have imagined such a massive and generous response when we started this charity event. For me and my family, it has been a great pride to see how a place like La Câbane was sold out and how all those people who attended with a solidary purpose translated into a huge wave of generosity through the collection of all these funds..”, says Carlos Rodríguez, trustee of the Sierra Blanca Foundation.
The charity auction, presented by Mar Saura and Bertín Osborne, has raised more than €350,000, which will be used to support numerous organisations operating in different areas of the Costa del Sol such as Cáritas Diocesana Marbella, Fundación Lágrimas y Favores, Asociación Somos Tu Ola, Ciudad de los Niños and Ly Company Agua y Vida.
More than 350,000 euros raised for charity in a single evening
With this first charity event, the Sierra Blanca Foundation focuses on the future of this area, reaffirming its founding commitment to support and promote the development of solidarity initiatives, fostering opportunities for new generations and sectors of Marbella society.
The total funds raised will be used to provide financial support to numerous organisations operating in various areas of the Costa del Sol such as Cáritas Diocesana Marbella, Fundación Lágrimas y Favores, Asociación Somos Tu Ola, Ciudad de los Niños and Ly Company Agua y Vida, as well as to support private initiatives undertaken by the Foundation itself in sponsoring various activities of a social, cultural or sporting nature, including support for the charity race as part of the annual Marbella Half Marathon.
Likewise, the event took the opportunity to raise awareness and involve the guests present in fundamental aspects such as the need to increase the number of Andalusian foster families for minors at risk of social exclusion within the framework of action of the Territorial Delegation of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality of the Andalusian Regional Government, which was also represented during the event by its territorial delegate Ruth Saravia.
Antonio Banderas and Sarah Almagro, Guests of Honour
Numerous celebrities and famous faces wanted to be present at the first charity gala organised by the Sierra Blanca Foundation in Marbella. Although the place chosen to host this charity event is already used to be the usual ambassador of pilgrimage of many celebrities and VIPs during the summer season, the beach club La Câbane once again became the catwalk for prominent personalities such as the actor and producer Antonio Banderas, as well as the Paralympic athlete from Malaga Sarah Almagro, world number one in the category of adapted surfing. Both were the guests of honour at this gala and offered one of the most special moments of the evening by improvising a very personal conversation in front of all the assembled guests that managed to move a large part of the audience by demonstrating the instant connection that arose between the actor and the sportswoman after meeting at this gala. “Sarah has transformed the way I would like to look at life from tonight. She, with her board, floats on the waves in the same way that everything that is truly important should float for each of us, leaving only that which is worth living to emerge..”, said the actor.
They were joined by other public faces such as the DJ and music producer Andrea Oliva and the television presenters Mar Saura and Bertín Osborne, who also acted as masters of ceremony, directing the presentation of the various lots that were auctioned during the course of the dinner.
Dani García, Rafael Nadal, Alejando Sanz, Dolce&Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Erling Haaland or Andrea Oliva have been some of the most outstanding collaborators during the event, lending exclusive pieces and experiences for which the attendees of the charity gala event have bid.
Exclusive experiences that raised more than €170,000 in bids
Another of the most vibrant moments of the gala took place during the respective celebration of the raffle and charity auction where all attendees were able to discover and bid for the various items and experiences donated by important brands, companies and names from different sectors such as music, sport, fashion and gastronomy.
Experiences ranging from a private menu with Dani García for 10 people in his restaurant Atelier; to a 3-day stay for two people, with meet&greet. including with the artist Andrea Bocelli, during his 30th Anniversary event in Tuscany for which one guest paid €60,000; a match at the Ethihad Stadium from the private box of the player Erling Haaland; backstage access to the Soho Malaga theatre with Antonio Banderas at the premiere of his new play; a stay and training at the Rafa Nadal Academy facilities in Manacor; or items such as a limited edition bottle of Tequila Clase Azul; a flamenco cajón (flamenco cajón), donated by the international artist Alejandro Sanz; a Montblanc pen and suitcase; various collector’s items from the Dolce&Gabbana Casa brand or the iconic porcelain head of the KARL LAGERFELD brand, among others.
A total of 13 unique experiences (plus 13 other outstanding products) whose bids raised more than 170,000€ for the various charitable causes supported by the Sierra Blanca Foundation at its first charity gala.
More than twenty companies and personalities have collaborated in the first charitable social event promoted by the Sierra Blanca Foundation, among which the following are worth mentioning: Dolce&Gabbana, KARL LAGERFELD, Santander, Fundación Rafa Nadal, Starlite Occident, Tartane Saint Tropez, FENDI CASA, Manchester City, Bodegas Gérard Bertrand, FUGARO, Fútbol Club Barcelona, Tequila Adicción, Ras Al Khaimah Tourist Development Authority, Montaraz, tequila Clase Azul México, Montblanc, DriverCarsbcn, Andrea Oliva, Sacyr, Nicole Slater artist, Grupo Dani García, Merlín Producciones y Eventos, Salon Maher, Grupo Mosh, Heineken, Shar Welness Clinic and Royal Bliss.
>> Press images from the gala here .
>> Full press release here .
