When some of the top corporate honchos turned up at a five star hotel this Saturday, it wasn’t to stay cooped up in a business meeting — it was to entertain everyone else with their musical abilities (or lack thereof)!
This was a unique fundraiser, carrying on the trend of inviting CEOs and celebrities to show off other aspects of their personality, be it donning an apron and cooking for charity or walking the ramp with underprivileged kids.
Bengaluru’s glam set talks about this new concept and how it works for a noble cause.
“I haven’t done anything like this before,” says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD of Biocon about Genesis Foundation’s ‘CEOs Sing for their Supper’ evening.
The fundraiser was held in aid of critically ill orphans. She adds, “It was a novel concept and a good gesture.” It’s certainly successful, as has been proved in the Gurgaon and Mumbai editions of the event which raised Rs 15 lakhs and Rs 9.5 lakhs respectively.
These events bring out a different dimension of the who’s who of Bengaluru, observes Uzma Irfan, director, corporate communications, Prestige Group.
She says, “CEOs may be tough tycoons in their offices but these events give them a chance to show their humane side. I have also participated in a fashion show, called ‘Ramps for Champs’ where we had the city’s celebrities walking the ramp alongside kids from the Smile Foundation.
” While many of these events are high-profile, the aim is not to attract media attention but to spread awareness and to give these underprivileged kids aspirations, she opines.
Being in a position to give back to society, one has to pick one’s causes carefully, adds actress Priyanka Upendra. She states, “Yes, I have been part of charity fashion shows, but I have also participated in a walk for spreading traffic awareness among children, a run for diabetes along with Uppi, and other events. Being a celebrity gives you a certain visibility and I think if that can be used to help others, why not?”
Involving corporate heads and celebrities in such events is a trend that’s catching on, according to MC Divya Vithalani.
“It’s a positive trend because these people are not only contributing money, but also their precious time for a cause that’s important to them. There will always be page three parties, but the satisfaction of being a part of these events is something to cherish,” she says.
