I’ve been in the beautiful city of Hong Kong for almost a week now. I am here to raise money for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), my non-profit organization which is dedicated to supporting the empowerment of African youth.
The event I’m here for, Diamonds in Sky: Hong Kong is already off to an amazing start!
The Diamonds in the Sky event is a benefit dinner and auction that is supporting The Diamond Empowerment Fund and The China Charity Federation. After the huge successes of DEF London last fall, we are excited to be apart of Diamonds in the Sky: Hong Kong and with the full support from the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) and Chow Tai Fook (CTF), DEF is honored to be a beneficiary.
We kicked it off with great press conference announcing the event. When Cheng Yu-Tung, Chairman of Chow Tai Fook, said “The more that I give, the more happiness I gain,” I immediately knew this was going to be a special event.
While in Hong Kong I am keeping up with my yoga and medidation regimen. On the way out of Pure, a yoga spot in Hong Kong, I got the news that Swizz Beatz was in the area as well. Immediately I contacted him to see if he was available join me at the benefit. Without hesitation, Swizz agreed not only to attend but to make a $50,000 donation to empower African youth. Hip-Hop unites to change lives.
The benefit dinner and auction was hugely successful! DEF Angel Rahma M. raised $115,000 for @DEF_Africa at Diamonds in the Sky: Hong Kong. Megaupload.com won Rahma M for $115,000 in a bidding war against Swizz Beatz who bid a just as incredible $100,000.
For more information on DEF, visit: www.diamondempowerment.org
Check out all of the photos I took with my blackberry. More to come throughout the night.
~Russell Simmons
