Nothing says it’s the holiday season better than a family reunion! The GEANCO Foundation, whose powerful mission is to save and transform the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Africa, hosted its Family Reunion Hollywood Gala on Dec. 5 at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, California. The marvelous event was indeed a reunion, bringing together supporters of the foundation and many terrific celebrity guests.
The outstanding event celebrated the rich and extraordinary culture of Africa and featured African-inspired appetizers, Nigerian music, and more. The spectacular gala was filled with excitement and packed with a full agenda. Guests were treated to a special celebrity panel, a keynote discussion with Shay and Shab Safarzadeh of Safar Global Foundation, and a short video of the foundation’s recent Creative Arts Summit in Nigeria featuring David and Jessica Oyelowo.
Longtime supporters of the foundation, David and Jessica Oyelowo, attended the event. David Oyelowo works closely with the GEANCO Foundation on the David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for Girls, which provides full tuition, medical care, leadership training, and mental and emotional support to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria. Proceeds from the event will continue to fund this scholarship.
Other fantastic celebrities, including Adrian Holmes, Caroline Chikezie, Paul Russell, Edi Gathegi, and Megalyn Echikunwoke, showed their support at the inspiring event.
Oyelowo shared the heartwarming post below on Instagram showcasing the impact of the foundation on girls in Africa. Along with the post he wrote, “These young ladies are my heart!! Thanks to everyone who came to our @geancofdn gala to raise funds for our David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship for girls in Nigeria. We now have over 50 girls whose education, mental health and menstrual health needs are being fully met. Please join us as we aim to be in the hundreds of girls being given the gift of education and safety from terror. The need is now greater than ever. Go to http://www.geanco.org to DONATE. 🙏🏾.”
The GEANCO Foundation continues to garner support from top changemakers. In fact, this past May, Oprah Winfrey and Oyelowo co-hosted A Good Evening with Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo in Montecito. The conversation highlighted service, leadership, and legacy, and raised more than $400,000 for GEANCO’s healthcare and education programs in Nigeria.
In addition, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their Archewell Foundation have pledged their support to GEANCO, with a focus on youth health across Nigeria, funding menstrual-health workshops and mental-health summits that have already reached hundreds of students.
Support like this helps power stupendous foundations like GEANCO and propels their incredible mission forward, making a profound difference in the lives of many.
Check out more photos below from the GEANCO Foundation’s Family Reunion Hollywood Gala! To learn more about the foundation, visit here.
Photo Credits: Chris Schmitt
