This year’s ARK (Absolute Return for Kids) 2007 Gala Dinner at Marlborough House on Pall Mall, London had a spectacular light, video and laser show, with Prince as the main act, many companies pitched in to raise an amazing £26.2 million ($51.7 million) for the charity. The event was set up by the hedge fund industry to raise money for children affected by poverty, abuse, disability and illness.

The event was produced by Starlight Design and attended by a star studded guest list of over 1000 including Bill Clinton, Madonna, Sir Bob Geldof, David Bailey, Liz Hurley and many more.

During the dinner, the ARK charity organization announced the launch of the Clinton-ARK Initiative for Mozambique, through a strategic partnership with the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI). The partnership will support the delivery of rapid and high quality care and treatment for HIV/AIDS sufferers in Mozambique.

On the main stage were 35 square meters of visuals, flown over the stage, showing images and moving footage created and edited specially for the event. One of the evening’s highlights was the screening of a hard-hitting film illustrating the work performed by ARK workers worldwide over the last 12 months, underlining the issues the organization is trying to address. This pulled no punches in order to energize the wealthy and fortunate to be generous in their donations!

Renowned visual designer/video artist Gary Oldknow of Deepvisual was commissioned by CMT to VJ for the evening, He created an exciting organic style collage of interesting abstract images on the LED screen.

Creative Media Techniques (CMT) supplied video and image based services and lasers for the last effect the guest saw when leaving, the total money, £ 26.6 million ($51.7 million)– raised by the event from tickets, lasered on the ceiling. The event was sponsored by Bloomberg, UBS, Merril Lynch, BlueCrest and a charity auction that alone brought in over £4 million.

Tim Fothergill says: “The ARK event is a show that, despite being draining physically, mentally, and emotionally, gives the greatest feeling of being a part of something so important to those less fortunate in the UK and around the world. Our team are proud to be a part of it and put in an incredible amount of work to make it all happen in seemingly impossible timescales.”

Alex Akesson

Contributing Writer
HedgeCo.Net
Email: Editor@hedgeco.net