Click here to view the 2008 NY Ball Tribute Journal

WALL ST. LOSES ITS HEAD BUT NOT ITS HEART

On Friday November 7th, GOAL USA celebrated 20 years of operations in the US at the GOAL New York Ball at the Ciprani on Wall St. The Ball was a sell-out event and lived up to its reputation as one of the best nights on the New York social calendar.

GOAL Founder and CEO John O'Shea, who flew in from Ireland for the event said; “The support shown for GOAL on the night was phenomenal, especially given the financial turmoil that’s been so prevalent in recent times. It’s humbling to see that people’s love for the poorest of the poor is still as strong as ever.” 

A staggering $850,000 was raised from the evening and as all event costs were covered by sponsors, the money will go to those who need it most - the poor and most vulnerable in our world.

Leslie Buckley of Digicel, who had also flown in from Ireland for the event called it “an absolutely fantastic success... a great evening with enormous energy in the room - and in the current economic climate an overwhelming result.”

GOAL aids the poorest of the poor and those affected by natural and man made disasters in 11 countries across the developing world. GOAL strives to bring the basic needs and rights of life such as food, water, shelter, health and education to those who find themselves in desperate situations through no fault of their own.

The fundraising evening included a cocktail hour followed by a gourmet three course meal, a live and silent auction and what has become for many guests, the key moment of the evening - a chance to bid directly on a project in the developing world.

This year's “special” project was providing water and sanitation in schools in Calcutta. In less than 5 minutes, the auction style round of bidding had raised $205,000 - enough money to provide a drinking water supply, bathroom and sanitation facilities in 30 schools for 12,000 children and their communities! This is part of a larger integrated program to provide water and sanitation facilities for 700 schools - approximately 280,000 children!

The most striking part of the evening for GOAL organizers was the overwhelming vote of support from GOAL followers in the US. Many of these work in finance, or in real estate – two of the industries that have been savaged by the financial crisis.

It seems then, that individuals and companies really do care deeply about those who are suffering most in our world. While losing jobs and bonuses is hitting people hard in New York, it seems that many perhaps still recognize that they are lucky to have those basic needs and rights of life - food, water, health, education and shelter - that are all too often denied those in the developing world.

GOAL keeps its administration costs exceptionally low, which means that the money raised from the Ball will have the maximum possible impact on the lives of those in the developing world.

GOAL would like to thank our Dinner Chair, Leslie Buckley of Digicel with co-Chairs Ned Cloonan of AIG, Paul Galligan of ICAP, Ian Hyland of Business and Finance Magazine, Heather James of Federal Street Partners LLC. GOAL would like to extend a special thank you to Tom Bryant of Digicel.

Our generous sponsors include Heather James, Facey Commodity, Commonwealth Associates Merchant Bank, DHL, RMK Worldwide, Sbarro, Setanta Sports, Stone St Tavern, Cummins Power Generation, Sarar USA, Douglas Kotch, Terry Michael, B&N Industries, TalkPool, Motorola, True Solar Autonomy, Microsoft, ZTE Corporation, Better Energy Systems, Atlantic Hoisting.

Our wonderful prize donors: 12 Apostles, Cape Town, 5th Avenue Theatre, a la Maud, Alan Cumming, Alba Cera, Alex Boardley, American Airlines, Ananas, Anthony Nak, Arcona, Argosy Lunch Cruise, Art Smart & Judith Walsh, B.R. Guest, Baltusrol Golf Club, Bar Milano, Barbara K, Bebhinn Gallen, Beirn, Benners, Betsey Johnson, Bice, Biddy, Blind Pig, Bloomingdales, Bradford Portraits, Buddakan, Cartier, CC Skye, Celtic Thunder, Chantal McLaughlin, Charlie Sheil, Charlotte Ronson, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Cheesecake Factory, Chef Pascal Féraud, Chris Wolkenstein, Ciara Walsh, Cipriani 55, Circe Photography, Claire Coghlan, Clarion Hotel, Classic Kids Photography, Commonwealth Associates Merchant Bank, Conor O'Driscoll, Cork Golf Club, Corto Moltedo, Crocs By You, Danny McDonald, Davis Fleming, Desperate Housewives, Diane von Furstenberg, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, Digicel, Don & Jenny Healy, Donald Trump & Briarcliff Manor, Dooley Car Rentals, Doug Millar, DPS Sporting Club Development Co., Dyan Lyon, Dylan Hotel, EDUN, Eileen Shields, Elizabeth and James, Estee Lauder, Etienne Touzot, Euphoria Day Spa, Facey Commodity, Fiamma, Fidelity jeans, Flowers of the World, Friarshead Golf Club, Gary Freidlich, Gary Lilley, Gary Magruder, Grace Bay Club, Grainne Coen, Harpers of Fairfield, Harry's, Heather Blanton, Heather James, Heidi Klum, Heritage Golf & Spa Resort at Killenard, IRISH LINKS, J & Company, Jack Lenor Larsen, Jean-Louis Gerin, Joe Opp, John Burns, Katie Erbe & Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Kelly Cook, Kelly Schmid, Kevin Cruz, Late Night with Conan O’Brien & NBC studios, Le Jules Verne, Leading Hotels of the World, Leslie Buckley, Lever House, Levinson Furs, LIVE with Regis & Kelly, Louis Licari Salon, Luke Bailes, Marc Ecko, Marc Jacobs, Mario Cantone & Caroline's Comedy Club, Mariska Hargitay, Market Square Brasserie, Martha Clara Vineyards, Mary Ballard, Mary Murphy, Mats Wilander, Maud McClay, Maura Nolan, Maurice Villency Furniture, Metamorphosis Day Spa, Mimi Crume, Molyvos & Jim Botsacos, Morgan George, Murphy & Durieu, Nancy Davis, Naomi McMahon, Niamh Bushnell, Nicola Parish, Nicole Miller, Nora Roach, NUDE, NYSC, Olivier Manoury of Pierre Michel Salon, Paradisus Playa Conchal, Costa Rica, Parish Public Relations, Patrick Scott, Peter Carbone, Phyto Universe, Picholine, Posh-Nosh Imports, QC’s Bistro, Rebecca’s of Greenwich, Robert O'Sullivan, Roland P. Trandafir, Rothmann's, Sara Merians, Sarar USA, Saxon Hotel, Johannesburg, Sharin Fitter, Shelley Johnson, Shizu Homma, Singita, Solio, Sound Bar, St. Annes Golf Club, Dublin, St. Martins Lane, London, Stepping Out Studios, Steve's Great Cookies, Stuart Sternberg, Susan Donohue, Tacori, Tampa Bay Rays, Tatiana Jerine, Taurus Investments, Terrance Brennan, The Affina Hotel, The Club at River Oaks, The David Letterman Show, The Hotel Raphael, Paris, The Morgan Library & Museums, The New Jersey Nets, The New York Jets, The New York Palace, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, The Reserve at Paradisus Punta Cana, The Ritz Battery Park, The Washington Athletic Club, Thread Salon, Ticketmaster, Tom Bryant, Tullys Travel, Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, Ulysses, USA Basketball, Venita Farrier, Vera Bradley, Veuve Clicquot, Waldorf=Astoria NYC, Wendy Knight, White Ice, Windfall Grill, World Yacht, Yolanda Johnson and ZTE Corporation.