On Saturday, October 26, 2024, the Schauspielhaus Dresden became the setting for a special evening: for the 16th time, the HOPE Gala brought together prominent guests, artists and charitable donors to raise funds for the South African project HOPE Cape Town, which is committed to the health and education of children in the townships around Cape Town. With a donation result of 176,850 euros, which was achieved through generous individual donations and the sale of over 3,000 raffle tickets, Dresden once again secured on of the top positions in global fundraising for the project.
176,850 euros for a better future in South Africa
The HOPE Gala 2024 exceeded all expectations: In addition to the proceeds from admission, raffle and auction, three generous individual donations contributed to the fundraising success. Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden presented a cheque for 10,000 euros, FZ Forensic.zone GmbH donated 15,000 euros and SAT.1 presenter Benjamin "Benji" Bieneck spontaneously decided to make a generous donation of 20,000 euros. Viola Klein, initiator of the HOPE Gala, was delighted: "With this money, we can make such a difference in Africa and ensure that more and more children receive an education and a perspective and that they grow up healthy."
Why Dresden's commitment to South Africa is also important
The commitment of Dresden's citizens to the HOPE Cape Town project goes far beyond financial support: it shows solidarity and a global sense of responsibility. Especially in an increasingly interconnected world, investments in education and health in regions such as South Africa are of enormous importance, as Stefan Hippler, founder of HOPE Cape Town, emphasizes: "The African continent, with its extremely young population and wealth of natural resources, will play a completely new role in the world in a few decades. Today's children will be working and consumers at the same time. If we in Europe want to continue to enjoy prosperity, we must support people in Africa with educational opportunities." The donations from Dresden are an important building block on this path, as they not only improve individual fates, but also create the conditions for sustainable development in South Africa.
The 14th HOPE Award goes to the SAGE Hospital in Senegal
A particular highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 14th HOPE Award. This went to the SAGE Hospital association, which has been involved in the expansion and maintenance of a hospital in the coastal town of Warang in Senegal since 2003. The SAGE Hospital project is significantly supported by the Berlin SAGE Club, which regularly organizes fundraising campaigns under the motto "Celebrating helps". Cynthia Clottey, co-founder of the club, accepted the award. The laudatory speech was given by Dr. Frank Sander, a dedicated plastic surgeon who regularly works on site in Senegal and supports medical care.
The HOPE Award is presented annually to people and projects that are particularly committed to the well-being of children in Africa. The prize money of 5,000 euros, donated by Autohaus Dresden GmbH, is intended to benefit the SAGE Hospital project and help the hospital make further progress. The sculpture designed by Dresden artist Ulrich Eißner, which symbolizes the award, stands for hope and protection and is produced by the renowned Meissen porcelain manufactory.
An emotional program for a good cause
The gala offered a colourful stage program that combined musical diversity and entertainment. The band Bell Book & Candle thrilled the audience with their hit "Rescue Me", while stand-up comedian Lisa Feller provided bursts of laughter. The "Kids on Stage" tradition was also continued: Eleven-year-old Erika Tanase, known from "The Voice Kids", melted hearts with her rendition of "Rise Like a Phoenix". She was accompanied by an ensemble from the Heinrich Schütz Conservatory in Dresden, which, under the direction of Prof. Milko Kersten, further raised the musical level of the evening.
Soul and jazz at its finest was offered by Pat Appleton and Karl Frierson from "De Phazz" together with Dresden musician Lars Kutschke and his band. A special musical highlight was the performance by Rolf Stahlhofen, who performed the song "Gib mir Musik" together with Appleton and Frierson, delighting the audience.
The variety act "Mirror" provided visual wow effects: Four artists in futuristic, reflective costumes, which reflected the light impressively, brought a touch of magic to the stage.
The evening was hosted by presenters Andrea Ballschuh and Karen Heinrichs, who charmingly and with a lot of heart promoted the cause of the gala. With this mixture of elegance and familiar atmosphere, they created the perfect setting for an evening full of empathy and commitment.
After-show party under a sky of lights
After the gala program, the stage of the Schauspielhaus was transformed into a dance floor for the after-show party, which lasted until the early hours of the morning. Martin Schmitt and his big band, Pamela O'Neal and Harry Herrmann as well as the party band Flo & Chris provided the best entertainment with live music and show interludes. Later, DJane Gitta Sax took over the musical helm and continued to heat up the audience under a light blue "starry sky".
In addition, the restored salon of the Schauspielhaus opened its doors and offered a relaxed retreat for the guests. Dresden restaurateurs provided culinary specialties throughout the gala and the after-show party, contributing significantly to the success of the evening.
Background on HOPE Cape Town
Proceeds from the HOPE Gala will go to the HOPE Cape Town project, which was founded in 2001 and is committed to the health and education of children in Cape Town. The project takes a holistic approach and combines medical care with educational opportunities in order to offer children long-term prospects. The focus is particularly on HIV-positive children and supporting their families to give them a better future. In South Africa alone, around 8.3 million people are living with HIV today - a fact that further underlines the relevance of the HOPE Gala and its fundraising goals.
In the last 15 years, the HOPE Gala has raised a total of almost 2.7 million euros for HOPE Cape Town, helping to fund a wide range of health and education programs. This year's result confirms Dresden's commitment to the good cause and shows once again how much a community can achieve.
