Grammy-nominated rapper Wale added to the lineup of the night’s performers
[New York, NY – October 30, 2015] – Keep a Child Alive (KCA) today announced that Chairman of the Motsepe Family Foundation, Patrice Motsepe and Deputy Chairman, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe will be honored with the Humanitarian Award at the 12th annual Black Ball held on Thursday, November 5th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe will be recognized for their efforts to address the issues of social and economic inequality for Africa’s poorest people, and their generous support of HIV and AIDS initiatives over the years.
“We are thrilled to be honoring Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe at this year’s Black Ball,” said Peter Twyman, CEO of KCA. “They are true champions of Africa, working tirelessly to raise communities by supporting their most vulnerable populations. And understanding that ending AIDS is a critical next step in achieving social justice for all.”
Patrice and Precious founded the Motsepe Foundation in 1999 and were the first African family to join the Giving Pledge in 2013, where they committed half of the proceeds of their family assets to charitable causes and sustainable development of the people in South Africa and on the African continent.
“Over the years, we have initiated and supported various HIV and AIDS projects and are thrilled to join Alicia Keys at KCA’s 2015 Black Ball,” said Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe.
“The Motsepe Foundation is committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and applauds KCA for their work to increase access to HIV treatment and care for children, youth and families in Africa. By coming together and keeping HIV/AIDS front and center, we can end this epidemic once and for all.”
The 12th annual Black Ball will be hosted by Grammy award-winner, Alicia Keys and emceed by actor, comedian and director, Chris Rock. Grammy-nominated rapper, Wale will join the exciting lineup of performers including Wizkid and LION BABE, who will take the stage with Alicia Keys for electrifying performances. The star-studded evening will celebrate the work of KCA and help raise the necessary funds to provide treatment and care for children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV in Africa and India.
Presenting partners for the 2015 KCA Black Ball include the Jynwel Charitable Foundation Limited, Microsoft, Givenchy Parfums and Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits.
To date, Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball has raised over $24.9 million for children and families affected by HIV. Past performers of the event have included Jay Z, Carole King, Bono, Adele, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake and many more incredible artists. This year marks the 9th year that the Black Ball will be held at the Manhattan Center’s iconic Hammerstein Ballroom, which is known for its extraordinary performances and unforgettable special events.
ABOUT THE BLACK BALL
The Black Ball is a star-studded event where celebrity and philanthropy join hand-in-hand. The evening celebrates the work of Keep a Child Alive (KCA) and raises millions for children and families living with and affected by HIV in Africa and India. In years past, Alicia Keys has shared the Black Ball stage with Jay-Z, Bono, Adele, Carole King, Pharrell Williams, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, Chris Martin, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Common, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, Norah Jones, will.i.am, Janelle Monáe, Femi Kuti, Bonnie Raitt, Damian Marley, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, Usher, Swizz Beatz, Sean Puffy Combs, NAS, David Byrne, Angel Haze, among others.
The Black Ball has honored humanitarians who use their passion, fame, and courage to better our world. Previously, KCA had the pleasure of honoring President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson, Bono, George Harrison, Stephen Lewis, and Riccardo Tisci, amongst others.
ABOUT KEEP A CHILD ALIVE
Keep a Child Alive (KCA) was founded in 2003 by AIDS activist Leigh Blake and Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys, as an emergency push to get life-saving HIV medications to African children and families, who otherwise would not have had access to treatment.
KCA’s work has since grown to include the critical components necessary for successful, life-long HIV treatment: comprehensive, holistic care that supports the complete health of children and their families, ensuring their physical, mental and social well-being.
KCA provides financial and programmatic support to 7 innovative, grassroots programs in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India, serving over 56,000 people annually. With the help of its supporters, KCA continues to use its voice to raise awareness, mobilize people to take action, and rally resources in the global response to HIV. For more information, please visit keepachildalive.org
Twitter: @keepachildalive; Facebook: www.facebook.com/keepachildalive;
Instagram: http://instagram.com/keepachildalive
See updates from the event at #KCABlackBall
JYNWEL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LIMITED
For a third consecutive year, Jynwel Charitable Foundation Limited is a presenting sponsor of Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball. Jynwel Foundation is committed to funding breakthrough programs that accelerate and scale solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges in the fields of global public health, education and conservation.
GIVENCHY PARFUMS
Givenchy Parfums is proud to return as a presenting sponsor of Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball. Givenchy Parfums is a luxury fragrance and cosmetics brand that cultivates a unique blend of aristocratic elegance and daring creativity. The creative freedom of the brand, which combines style with impertinence, is reflected in its Couture-inspired perfumes, its audacious and trend-setting make-up products with genuine leather cases, and its innovative skincare formulas.
MICROSOFT:
Upgrade Your World is a year-long initiative from Windows 10 to celebrate those who inspire and empower others, led by Microsoft’s vision to help people achieve more through technology and in celebration of Windows 10. Windows is partnering with 10 global and 100 local nonprofits to help them upgrade the world. A total $10 million cash investment will be made in support of their missions and to promote awareness of their causes.
Available for the first time as a free upgrade, Windows 10 delivers a fast and familiar experience that is more secure and always up-to-date, featuring new innovations like Cortana, Microsoft Edge, and Xbox integration. For more information on how to get involved and #UpgradeYourWorld, visit Windows.com/UpgradeYourWorld.
SHERRY-LEHMANN WINE & SPIRITS:
Spirits for the evening are generously donated by event sponsor Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits, a long-time partner of Keep a Child Alive. Founded in 1934, Sherry-Lehmann is located in the heart of Manhattan, at 505 Park Avenue. The Sherry-Lehmann store combines old-world charm with modern sophistication, and caters to seasoned wine lovers and beginners alike. Renowned for its deep stock of fine wine and spirits from across the globe, its helpful, knowledgeable staff, and award-winning website, Sherry-Lehmann is committed to delivering an incomparable level of customer service. Entering its 80th year of business, Sherry-Lehmann’s dedication has learned many awards, including: “Retailer of the Year” (The Wine Enthusiast), “New York’s #1 Wine Shop” (Zagat), and the “#1 Wine Shop in America” (Forbes). Visit www.Sherry-Lehmann.com for more information.
