SAVE THE DATE - NEW YORK GOAL BALL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th 2008, CIPRIANI WALL STREET

GOAL’S 2007 30th ANNIVERSARY BALL RAISES A MILLION DOLLARS

GOAL USA’s 19th annual Ball on Friday November 2nd, 2007 was a record-breaking night, celebrating 30 years of operation and raising a phenomenal one million dollars for the poorest of the poor in 11 countries. 

The money raised represents a 100% increase on proceeds from last year’s Ball and  GOAL founder and CEO, John O’Shea, who flew in for the event to act as key note speaker, described the Ball as ‘an overwhelming success’. He was introduced on the night by legendary tennis player and GOAL USA President, Mats Wilander, who later auctioned off a game of tennis with the pro himself to the highest bidder in the room.   

The black tie Ball took place at New York’s Gotham Hall for the second year in a row and guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, a live and silent auction, casino by Duro and dancing to the Arthur Stuart Band.

The annual Ball raises funds to support GOAL’s humanitarian work in the developing world.  The live auction alone took in $358,000 with dinner guests bidding on items ranging from a South African Safari, and a Wine Tasting Holiday in Italy to a super exclusive one-of-a-kind Marc Jacobs bag. Afterwards auctioneer Michael Saperstein asked guests to dig deep to fund a GOAL housing project in Uganda. In the end, enough money was raised to built 32 houses for HIV/AIDs affected Ugandan orphans.

All proceeds from the Ball will go towards GOAL’s programs in 11 developing countries, which serve some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.  GOAL spends millions every year implementing relief and development programs ensuring that those affected by humanitarian crises and poverty have access to the fundamental needs and rights of life, such as, food, water, shelter, medical attention and literacy.

GOAL is proud to have maintained an exceptionally low administration cost over the past 30 years, meaning that the maximum amount of money will get to those most in need.

Long term friends of GOAL and new supporters made the evening possible with generous sponsorship from dinner chairs Leslie Buckley and Digicel and Maurice Buckley and ICCUSA, Facey Telecom, AIG, Sony Ericsson, RMK Worldwide, DHL, NECO, ZTE USA, Gemalto, Candidate Manager, Global Excess Partners, Adrian Jones, ICCUSA, Setanta Sports, Tourism Ireland, Terry Michael, Stout and Doug Koch. GOAL would also like to thank the 500 guests who gave so generously, and the committee members, volunteers and caterers who made it an unforgettable night.

GOAL is also indebted to our table sponsors: Leslie Buckley – Digicel, AIG, American Ireland Fund, Andrew Boszhardt, Great Oaks Capital, Greylock Capital Management, LLC, Kaye Scholer LLP, Riemer & Braunstein LLP, Sony Ericsson, Troutman Sanders LLP, David McCormack – Sheffield Haworth, Inc., Davis Fleming – Samscreen LLC, Douglas Millar – Murphy & Durieu, Finton Fleming – Samscreen LLC, Heather James – Federal Street Partners, Hugh Finnegan – Sullivan & Worcester, John Duffy – Keefe Bruyette & Woods, John Kennedy – NY Hospital for Special Surgery, John Moore – Marwood Group, Mike Brewster – Lehman Brothers, Mike Higgins – CIBC, Patrick Hogan – Merrill Lynch, Paul Brophy Anglo Irish Bank, Paul Galligan – ICAP, Richard Boseley – Merrill Lynch, Rosemarie Taglione – NECO Foundation, Ryan Reid – Candidate Manager, Tony Dalton – Bank of America, Alexa Gonzales, Ciara Walsh, Clarence Lynn, David Keating, Geoff & Caitlin O’Sullivan, Grainne Coen & Genc Osmani, Mark & Mandy Husson, Ricky & Angela Dean-Hendry, Jay Kaplowitz, Gerry McGorman, Jim Bonfils, Joseph Rinaldi, Shelley Johnson, Stephen Murphy, Sue Waterbury, and Zamile Vilakazi.

GOAL would also like to thank our prize sponsors, Afshin Montagie, Agua, Alba Cera, Ali Hewson, Arctica Bar & Grill, Art Smart Adventures, Artisanal Bistro & Wine Bar, Banc Café, Barnes & Noble, Bebhinn Gallen, Biddy, Bondi Road, Bono, Chantal McLaughlin, Ciara Walsh, Ciaran O'Reilly, Cipriani, Clarion Hotel,  Claudio Velitti, Conor O'Driscoll, Crover House Hotel & Golf Club, Grosvenor House Hotel, Cynthia Sin-Yi Cheng, David Blackmore, Davis Flemming, Delano Hotel, Digicel, Dooley Car Rentals, Doug Millar, EDUN, Eileen Shields, Eugenio Velitti, Etienne Touzot, F.M. Allen,  Falcon, Flowers of the World, Garrett Ronan, G.H. Mumm, Glenmorangie, Gotham Dream Cars, Grainne Coen, Half Moon – Jamaica, Harmony Walton, Harry’s, Heather Blanton, Heather James, Hotel Cielo Rojo, Irish Connections Magazine, Irish Links Tours & Travel, Jamaica Airlines, James B Clarke, Jean-Louis Gerin, Jim Cronin, Judith Walsh, K Club, Kelly Cook, Laurie Campbell, Leslie Buckley, Los Angeles Lakers, Luke Walton, Macy's, Mad Hatter Saloon, Magaschoni, Maidstone, Manursing Island Country Club, Marc Jacobs, Mary Bullard, Mats Wilander, Maura Nolan, Maurice Buckley, MAXjet Airways, Metropolitan Opera, Miguelina, Moët Hennessey, Morgan George, Murphy & Durieu, Nora Roach, Oasis Day Spa, O’Briens Irish Pub, Paddy McCarthy, Papillon, Pashah Salon, Perrier-Jouet, Picholine, Ricky Hendry, Roland P. Trandafir, Safari Golf Tours, Sharin Fitter, Shelley Johnson, Shona Thomson, Singita Game Reserves, SmartWool, Soledad, South African Airways, Spier Hotel & Estate, Stephen Murphy, Sue Waterbury, Sugarbush, Sun Burned Cow, Tee Faircloth, Terrance Brennan, The Annelli Collection, The Australian, The Beverly Hilton Hotel, The Club at River Oaks, The Irish Repertory Theatre, The Metropolitan Opera, The Palm, The Peninsula Hotel, The Pierre, The Ritz - Battery Park, The View, The Westin New York, Theory, Tonic, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Tully's Travel, Tuxedo Park Portraits, TY KU, Union Square Hospitality Group, Veuve Clicquot, Victoria's Secret, W.Quillen Securities, Wendy Knight, Wendy Waugh, Yolanda Johnson.

Browse the 2007 New York GOAL Ball Journal here