Future Hope Tokyo Ball

November 2009

A huge thank you to Kevin Morgan, Helen Fridell and everyone else in Tokyo who helped raise the magnificent sum of £6300.00 for Future Hope.

Here is Kevin's Report...

The inaugural Future Hope Tokyo black tie ball was held at the well known Westin Hotel on 14 November 2009.  The event was organised by the Japan Gaelic Football club.  A dedicated website was established to promote the ball which was a sell out with demand exceeding supply and all 110 tickets selling out.  A commemorative booklet was also produced which highlighted the work of Future Hope.  

Ball attendees were entertained throughout the evening by two bands: No Burrito and Mutiny, a traditional Irish music band as well as a performance by traditional Irish dancers.  A speech was also given on the work and children of Future Hope by Kevin Morgan.  A raffle of prizes generously donated by Tokyo businesses including PTS Consulting, Tokyo Physio, The Westin Hotel, the Luna Hotel, Suji's, Roti and Paddy Foleys was held.  The raffle tickets sold out very quickly.

In attendance were the Irish ambassador to Japan Brendan Scannell and his wife Margaret, the owner of Japan's largest hotel chain and a supporter of Japan Gaelic Football Norimasa Nishida and many other representatives of the foreign embassies and the business community in Tokyo.

The highlight of the night was an auction of paintings produced by Future Hope students.  Demand was extremely high for the Future Hope art work with frenzied bidding continuing for some time.  The framed paintings depicting Kolkata and Future Hope life each sold for between 19,000 and 35,000 Rupees.

The official after party event was held in Patrick Foleys Irish Bar with festivities still going strong at 5am.  All the ball attendees agreed that it was a tremendous night and people were anxious to hear more about Future Hope and support it in the future.  Another Future Hope ball is planned in Tokyo later this year.

Ultimately Six thousand three hundred pounds profit was generated by the ball, 100% of which was paid to Future Hope.

Many people worked very hard to make the event such a success but special thanks go in particular to Helen Fridell, Linsey Bower, Emily Ward, Gerard Keown, Sarah McInerney, Kevin Morgan, the Japan GAA Committee and the Irish Embassy in Tokyo.