Red Cross Children's Hospital Art Benefit

Art Auction raises final funds needed for New Burns Unit for Children 3 September 2011

Amanda Bloch with buyers of the Kentridge tapestry at Saturday 03 September’s Art Benefit for the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

Buyers of Zanele Muholi's work

Essops with buyers of work

Massimo Moschini with Kentridge tapestry

Premier Helen Zille

Premier, Kenneth Marcus and Amanda

Venue with Kentridge tapestry

Justine Gevisser and Amanda Bloch

Amanda Bloch

ART AUCTION RAISES FINAL FUNDS NEEDED FOR NEW BURNS UNIT FOR CHILDREN

On Saturday 03 September 2011, the Children’s Hospital Trust held its 2011 Art Benefit in aid of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, hosted by BoE Private Clients. This event took place at Leeuwenhof, official residence of the Premier of the Western Cape and raised over R4.2million from an auction of artworks from acclaimed South African artists – a total of R18million raised by this event since its inception in 2003.

The funds raised were the last funding needed for the upgrade of the new Burns Unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The artwork was donated by artists, galleries and private collectors. The 2011 Art Benefit is the sixth auction organised by Amanda Bloch, Patron of the Children’s Hospital Trust, in collaboration with Linda Givon, founder of the Goodman Gallery and curator of the body of work that was auctioned. Together with the Goodman Gallery and Stevenson Gallery, Amanda and Linda have created a partnership that has benefited thousands of sick children treated at the Hospital annually.

Art connoisseurs bid on phenomenal artworks from celebrated artists including William Kentridge, Wim Botha, Hasan and Husain Essop, Deborah Bell, Willie Bester, Steven Cohen, Kendell Geers, David Goldblatt, Pieter Hugo, Moshekwa Langa, Berni Searle, Penny Siopis, Mikhael Subotzky and Sue Williamson, amongst many others.

For more information on the Children’s Hospital Trust and the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital visit www.childrenshospitaltrust.org.za and follow us on www.facebook.com/childrenshospitaltrust and Twitter @chtrust1

 The highest bid was for William Kentridge’s tapestry sold to Massimo Moschini of Venice for R500 000. William Kentridge’s 2.5 square metre mohair tapestry entitled Diva, was woven at the Stephens Tapestry Studio in collaboration with Marguerite Stephens. Wim Botha’s Untitled (‘Witness’ series VI), stainless steel and wood sculpture was sold for R240 000. These are only two of the sixty artworks auctioned at Saturday’s charity auction.  Built in 1956, the Hospital’s existing Burns Ward treats approximately 3500 children with burns every year. It is the only specialised burns centre in the Western Cape treating children under the age of 13 with burn injuries, and also a referral centre for children with severe burns from areas outside the Western Cape.  The 2011 Art Benefit was hosted by leading wealth management company BoE Private Clients, as part of its commitment to the cause of philanthropy in South Africa. Participation in the Art Benefit event is an initiative on the part of the BoE Private Clients Philanthropy Office, which was specifically established to facilitate the involvement of High Net Worth individuals and families in benevolent causes, and to assist Non-Profit Organisations to achieve longer term financial sustainability. Managing Director Paul Finlayson explains that philanthropy underpins the company’s vision ‘to create prosperity through people and partnerships.’  Tumi Makgabo, one of South Africa’s most acclaimed broadcasters both locally and internationally, was the eloquent compere for the evening and guests were entertained by choreography from world-renowned performance artist and choreographer Jay Pather in collaboration with acclaimed composer Phillip Miller.

A number of guests won extravagant prizes, generously donated for the benefit evening.  The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital was built in 1956 and manages more than 250 000 patient visits each year from all over Africa and abroad.  A third of the patients are under a year old and the majority are from poor and marginalised communities.  The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital provides training to paediatric healthcare professionals from the entire sub-continent and does important research into the illnesses of childhood.  As a major centre of learning, the paediatric disciplines taught contributes enormously to the advancement of children’s health in developing countries worldwide.  The Children’s Hospital Trust has been the Fundraising Arm of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital since 1994 and this year will expand its fundraising reach beyond the Hospital’s doors which will impact paediatric care in the Western Cape.  The 2009 Art Benefit raised the funds needed to build a Family Resource Centre at the Hospital. Having a sick child can be extremely traumatic for a parent or

 The Children’s Hospital Trust is funded from an endowment, ensuring that 100% of all donations received go directly to specified projects and not a single cent of donations are used for administration or operational expenses. All donations over R100 per annum are tax deductible under Section 18A of the South African Income Tax Act.  The 2009 Art Benefit raised the funds needed to build a Family Resource Centre at the Hospital. Having a sick child can be extremely traumatic for a parent or caregiver and this centre has become a haven for patients’ families where they can access vital, moral and psychological support in a pleasant, stress-free environment.