Monique Pean & Amikaeyla Gaston Photo by:Patrice Casanova

Amikaeyla Gaston Performing Photo by: Amber De Vos

Ambience Voss Foundation Lunch Photo by: Amber de Vos

The VOSS Foundation is dedicated to providing access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene as a means to enable community driven development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Women helping Women (WHW) is a Voss Foundation Global Initiative that has raised over $650,000 in the United States and in Europe to fund 21 water access points and 291 sanitation facilities across Africa. Monies were raised through benefit events in New York City, The Hamptons, and in Boston.

This year’s Luncheon took place at The Stephen Weiss Studio in the West Village. Stephen Weiss is the late husband of Urban Zen and avid Voss Foundation supporter Donna Karan. In addition to a catered lunch by PTL catering and wines from Chateau Ste Michelle there was an African Bazaar with authentic artisanal handmade jewelry, scarves, baskets, and toys purchased directly from communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Liberia, Swaziland, and Uganda, where the foundation does active work.

The benefit luncheon raised over $135,000 to fund VOSS Foundation’s ongoing water projects in Sub- Saharan Africa.

This year’s honorees were Monique Pean, a premier sustainable fine jewelry designer who raises awareness of art, culture and global environmental issues and Amikaeyla Gaston, an award winning singer, activist and executive director/founder of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute. (ICAHSI). The ladies were presented with handmade beaded walking sticks from Samburu, Kenya used by Nomadic Pastoralists.

June Ambrose Photo By Amber De Vos

Charlotte Ronson & Simon Doonan Photo by Amber de Vos

Latham Thomas Photo by Amber De Vos

Justin Parks & Estelle Girard Photo by Amber de Vos

Veronika Varekova Photo by Patrice Casanova

Andrea Greevan Douzet Photo by Patrice Casanova

Notable attendees included: VOSS Water CEO & CFO; Jack Belsito and Jan Saeboe, June Ambrose, Georgie Badiel, Elizabeth Belfer, Bill Cummings, Lydia Carlston, Carla Carstens, Greta Caruso, MacDella Cooper, Laura Currie, Rickie De Sole, Emie Diamond, Lauren Driscoll, Simon Doonan, Estelle Girard, Andrea Greeven Douzet, Susan Fales-Hill, Lindy Gad, Kara Gerson, Bernt Heiberg, Yaz Hernandez, Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, Jill Iscol, Angelina Jolin, Katherine Kung, Sandy Leong, Charlot Malin, Chloe Malle, Stephanie Nass, Edris Nichols, Dale Noelle, Beth O’Donnell, Taylor Olson, Gina Otto, Justin Parks, Sanjay Rawal, Cayli Cavaco Reck, Draya Rose, Charlotte Ronson, Maya Samuelsson, Kimberly Ayers Shariff, Latham Thomas and Veronica Varekova.

http://www.VossFoundation.org