Senhoa's 2017 Jazz & Charity Under the Stars Gala Recap

On Saturday, November 18th, the all-glass Pavilion and Lagunita Terrace at the Hotel Maya Doubletree by Hilton was transformed into a beautiful display of white and gold. Guests dressed in beautiful gowns and suits came together to celebrate and give. Senhoa raised $26,531.02 in donations and an additional $2,345 in jewelry sales.

When guests arrived during the cocktail hour they posed for photos on the Pink Carpet and against the backdrop of the gorgeous Los Angeles skyline and waterfront. They sipped on specialty cocktails compliments of Hennessy and were invited to participate in games, raffles and a silent auction while listening to the Alex Smith Jazz Quartet. On display for purchase were beautiful jewelry handmade by Senhoa survivor artisans. VIP guests received swag bags with gifts from Kora Organics by Miranda Kerr, Ziba Beauty, House of Lashes, Eco Eats Partyware, The Meal Prep and Senhoa.

Besides the donated gifts provided by Swarovski, Harrah’s Resort Southern California, SEN Couture and Charity Lives; there were a large number of sponsors who dedicated services and products to help make the event truly successful. The full list of sponsors is at the end of this blog. Guests are encouraged to also support these sponsors.

Sumita and Jay won the Hennessy Paradis Imperial collector's bottle in our live auction. This rare cognac from Hennessy has magisterial complexity, balance and the finest texture! A toast to Hennessy for your generous donation!

4 things everyone should know about this gala:

1. 100% of donations, child sponsorships, raffles and auction funds raised will go directly to Cambodia to fund our programs. 

2. 100% PROMISE. Senhoa is incredibly fortunate that all of its overhead costs were covered by corporate donations and private fundraising initiatives. Therefore, 100% of public donations go directly to fund programs for the education and protection of vulnerable women and children.

3. The whole event was organized and produced by volunteers. The Senhoa 2017 Gala Organizing Committee is 100% volunteer-based.

4. GUESTS MADE IT POSSIBLE. Without the presence and generosity of all those in attendance, the event would not have been such a great success. Celebrities, Influencers and VIPs in attendance included: Keynote Speaker and Founder of My Saint My Hero, Amy D’Ambra; Sumita Batra (Ziba Beauty CEO); Thy Van (Executive Producer of Asia Entertainment); Cat Lynh Nguyen and Thuy Huong (Musicians); Andrew Philip Nguyen (Wardrobe Stylist, Creative Director & Fashion Editor); Olivia Ku (Social Media Influencer & Blogger); Amanda Nguyen (Social Media Influencer & Blogger); Leena Nguyen (Social Media Influencer); and Yvon Nguyen (Fashion Designer, Influencer & Brand Ambassador).

Senhoa Foundation thanks everyone for joining the organization in celebrating with us at our 2017 biennial gala and taking a stance against modern-day slavery.

Senhoa’s founder, Lisa T.D. Nguyen says of the gala: “We are grateful for everyone who came out to the event to support us and for the sponsors and volunteers who made it all possible. Hotel Maya provided a stunning backdrop to such an amazing event. We raised over $25,000 for our ever-growing programs in Cambodia. This has helped us greatly in our journey this year toward sustainability, as we are ramping up our jewelry social business. Senhoa is evolving and there are many positive changes that are coming up that we are excited to share with you soon. Raising funds to cover the program costs while we are building up the business is helping us achieve sustainability.”