On October 19th, Help Peru hosted its Fourth Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction. The event gathered over 220 people at The Metropolitan Club. The evening featured our three ambassadors: celebrated chef Javier “Chez” Wong, Peruvian soccer idol Teófilo “El Nene” Cubillas and famous singer and actress Stephanie Cayo. We were also honored with the presence of Carlos Pareja, Peru’s Ambassador to the U.S., and Maria Teresa Merino de Hart, Consul General of Peru in New York.

During the cocktail hour, a jazz duet livened up the atmosphere, guests enjoyed pisco sours, courtesy of Pisco 100, and placed bids on silent auction items, such as bottles of French wine, a round of golf at the famed course of Shinnecock Hills, a week stay in St. Lucia, and gift certificates for Peruvian restaurants in Lima (Lima 27, Maido, Cala, Astrid & Gaston) and New York (Panca and Baby Brasa).

A sit-down dinner and auction followed the cocktail hour. The dinner started with opening remarks from Help Peru’s President, Fernando Bravo. Michael Holme, Help PeruDirector, presented a video of Juan Carlos Sznak, CEO and co-founder of Hoseg, one of the foundations we support, donating jackets to children in a remote Andean community. Later on, our keynote speaker, Leslie Espinoza, a young woman beneficiary of Peru Champs, one of the organizations we are privileged to work with, delivered an inspiring speech about her experiences growing up in Peru and opportunities provided by gaining access to quality education.

Before the live auction, a beautiful traditional marinera dance and a lively performance by Stephanie Cayo and Roxana Valdivieso, accompanied by the Yuri Juarez Afro Peruvian Band, entertained the audience. The successful auction included art by artists Patica Jenkins and Rosemarie Glasier, tickets to Broadway’s play Hamilton, and Peruvian soccer shirts signed by the national team. This was our most successful event to date, raising in excess of $120,000. The proceeds will help expand our charitable efforts in Peru. Thank you for your contribution!