Gathering returns in person after 4 years
NEW YORK CITY – After a 4-year hiatus due to the challenges of a global pandemic, FACE Africa hosted its 12th Annual WASH Gala on Saturday, March 25th in New York City, welcoming guests to a night of impact and celebration.
The event has so far collectively raised $140,000 USD through ticket purchases, live donations, and sponsorships. Funds raised from the evening will go directly towards providing vital access to sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities to last-mile communities in Liberia, as well as in-depth training in health, water pump maintenance, financial management, and nutrition, to residents in those communities.
For 12 years, the FACE Africa WASH Gala has served as the annual gathering spot to raise awareness and funds for clean water projects while celebrating the contributions of the diaspora community to development on the African continent.
The WASH Gala is an official UN World Water Day event and helps shine the spotlight on the global water and sanitation crisis, as well as empowering people to take action to change the lives of people on the Continent. FACE Africa was founded in 2009, by Liberian, Saran Kaba Jones, who fled the county when she was 8 years old due to the civil war and returned when she was 28 years old, to help rebuild her nation.
“We’re thrilled by the outpouring of support and generosity tonight. By simply buying a ticket to attend, you changed an entire household’s life by gifting them clean water, sanitation, hand washing facilities, and education in maintenance, financial management, and health. By making a donation, you showed that through your courageous action, you are willing to sacrifice some of your hard-earned money for people you may never meet, but whose lives will be forever changed, because of you.” Saran Kaba Jones, FACE Africa Founder and CEO said about the effort to create impact in one night.
The night was hosted by author and media personality, Shoana Cachelle, whose electric energy helped rally guests to make live donations during the event. The evening included captivating videos from the organization’s recent work in Liberia, highlighting inspiring stories from individuals directly impacted by their projects, as well as remarks by Former WASH Gala ‘Excellence in Leadership’ Award Honoree and CEO of Global Black Economic Forum, Alphonso David, FACE Africa’s COO and Field Director, Pauline Egan, and Abiola Oke, FACE Africa’s recently appointed Board Chair.
This year’s WASH Gala sponsors included the Niraj Bhatia Foundation whose Founder, Mr. Niraj Bhatia pledged to match a portion of the total donations made, the National Basketball Players Association Foundation, Moët & Chandon, and the Cordes Foundation.
