Work for Women
With over 300 attendees at a sold-out Mezzanine venue, and more than $360,000 raised, the 3rd Annual Samasource Give Work Gala on November 4th, 2011, was a spectacular success.
The Onion's Baratunde Thurston served as Master of Ceremonies. Rebranding himself “Samatunde”, he guided the audience through both halves of the evening — a live auction and party — with unmatched humor and style.
Blueprint Studios transformed the space at Mezzanine into an ultra-sleek lounge, with plush seating vignettes and modernist décor. As guests entered the venue they were able to explore the Samalab, an innovative technology and training center designed to facilitate the work Samasource does in the field. We were thrilled to raise $143,000 during the Fund-a-Need portion of the evening to launch the first Samalab in Nairobi.
Guests dined on sumptuous hors d’oeuvres — with such tantalizing titles as Cabernet Braised Boneless Short Rib, and Caramel and Maldon Salt Pâté Breton Tarts — by way of a strolling dinner buffet and dessert stations provided by Global Gourmet Catering. These were complemented by custom-made drinks crafted for this night only, including the Samarita and Samasazerac.
Author Sheryl WuDunn, the first Asian-American to win a Pulitzer Prize, drove home the importance of employment for women when she addressed the crowd as the Gala’s Honorary Chair.
Proving the efficacy of microwork was Kenyan Samasource entrepreneur Diana Gitiba, who inspired the audience by providing a personal illustration of the benefits of bringing dignified employment to the developing world.
The live auction was equal parts merriment and rivalry, with guests bidding on exclusive, one-of-a-kind items, such as a Haute Couture experience during Paris Fashion Week donated by Modewalk, indulgence packages complete with Cartier jewelry, and the keys to an exquisite Maui home.
The party kicked off shortly thereafter with a performance by Grammy-nominated Parisian R&B duo Les Nubians. The house melodies of DJ Atish carried the event far beyond its slated midnight end time, and the revelry went on well into the early morning.
We would love your support in bringing the total Fund-a-Need amount raised to $200,000, which would allow us to build a second Samalab. You can donate online, or email Rosalyn Mahashin.
We offer a heartfelt Thank You to our Board of Directors and to everyone who donated at the Gala.
If you missed out on the fun, don’t worry. Join our mailing list and we’ll be sure to let you know when you can buy your tickets for next year’s gala.
