"It really was a joy to be able to help these orphans through the amazing work All As One does," said David Thomson, General Manager Corporate Affairs of Jebel Ali International Hotels, after the event.
All As One Founder & Executive Director Deanna Wallace said she was so encouraged and blessed by the outpouring of support from Dubai: "We are totally thrilled and our hearts are filled with gratitude to the people of Dubai for their generosity and kindness. All of the money raised will be sent to Sierra Leone to pay for the monthly ongoing needs of the orphanage, with this amount allowing us to operate for up to 2 months. These funds will provide food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care for the children and wages for the Sierra Leonean staff whose families depend on All As One."
Matthew Morgan-Jones, the All As One representative in Dubai also expressed his thanks:
"The night was an amazing success and I thank everyone who attended for their support. I would specifically like to thank the key sponsors of the evening; Jebel Ali International Hotels, African & Eastern, Nokia and all the companies that donated auction prizes for the fundraising."
All As One currently implements several programmes such as a children's centre, medical clinic, school, monthly child sponsorship and assistance to destitute women and families. The organisation was founded in 1997 in an effort to ease the suffering of abandoned orphans in Africa, especially Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. Sierra Leone has the world's highest child mortality rate, with one out of three children dying before the age of five.

Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor



