Growth Reaching Africa (GRÁ) Ball has been a featured event in calendar of young Irish people as it is a real party with a purpose. GRÁ’s (Growth Reaching Africa) first formal fundraiser was held Friday, the 12th of October 2007 in the Alexander Hotel, Dublin 2. The sell-out Charity Ball was a tremendous success raising €45,000 net funds. Growth Reaching Africa Charity (GRÁ) held our second annual GRÁ charity ball in D4 Hotel on Friday September 26th 2008, which was a tremendous success. GRÁ invests all the net funds to educate children and invest in development projects in Kenya.

Further Details: Growth Reaching Africa (GRÁ) Ball 2008

Growth Reaching Africa Charity (GRÁ) second annual GRÁ charity ball in D4 Hotel on Friday September 26th was a tremendous success. GRÁ raised over €40,000 net funds to educate children and invest in development projects in Kenya.This glamorous black tie event had top Irish celebrity couple Pippa O’Connor as MC and Brian Ormond hosted the charity auction. Other guests on the night included Irish Rugby player Jamie Heaslip, the Ambassador of Kenya H. E Ms Catherine Muigai Mwangi and the Escort of the Year, Donal Droney and lovely Roses of Tralee.

Over 300 guests attended to party with a purpose. Guests enjoyed entertainment from a Gospel Choir, Eoin O’Toole as Guitarist, Emma Martin as Harpist , Good Intentions as the special featured Band and DJ Hanny.

Auctioneer Brian Ormond presided over the Ball's charity auction, which brought in €9700. The auction featured signed a Irish Rugby Jersey, a signed Print from Irish Legend Padraig Harrington with the Claret Jug at Carnoustie (limited edition), a weekend in Jurys Inn, a Sunderland Signed Jersey, a date with the Rose’s Number 1 ‘Escort of the Year’ and a luxury K-Club Get Away with Helicopter trip.

At the Ball, 24 year old founder, Maria Butler shared with the audience her anecdote when she was told “you’ve really got the grá” which began this initiative. She told the audience in a humble and honest voice… “Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we’ve all got the grá!”

Growth Reaching Africa (GRÁ) Ball 2007

GRÁ’s (Growth Reaching Africa) first formal fundraiser was held Friday, the 12th of October in the Alexander Hotel . The sell-out Charity Ball was a tremendous success raising €45,000.

The black tie event got off to a great start with a cocktail reception followed by a three course meal and plenty of wine. The night was opened by successful Assets model Ruth Scallon, daughter of Dana. Entertainment was memorable included The Gospel Project, Good Intentions Band, DJ Hanny, a live auction and a slice of River Dance.

Maria Butler spoke honestly and passionately about the time she spent as a volunteer in the remote and mountainous regions of Kenya . The experience clearly had a profound effect on the young enthusiast and her compassion and benevolence was not lost on her audience. She spoke about GRÁ's work and future aims and the duty of us, the privileged generation to give something back to those less fortunate.

A theme running through the night was that of love, how in all countries rich or poor it exists in abundance. The universality of love is in stark contrast with the imbalanced distribution of wealth in the world. Although love is universal, provision of basic needs are not. GRA aims to tackle the lack of basic rights at a local level in Kenya.

The €45,000 raised will go towards GRÁ's work in Kenya, specifically the funds will be used to build a well in the Eastern province, send numerous students to secondary school and establish feeding programmes in a number of schools.

The event was attended by many of Ireland's young professionals, not to mention Former Miss World Rosanna Davison, Miss Ireland Blathnaid McKenna and Assets model, Pippa O'Connor.

Speaking after the event, Maria enthused, "The Inaugural GRÁ Ball was an unqualified success. 350 guests attended and it really was a party with a purpose. We are overwhelmed by the success and that such a huge amount of money was raised by a group of young dynamic friends and supporter. And we hope that this will become a popular annual event since it's clear that the GRÁ guests and supporters have a strong desire to show their support to GRÁ and the developing world."

Auctioneer John Butler presided over the Ball's charity auction, which brought in €6000 and featured signed a Irish Rugby Jersey, Hairdressing for a year in exclusive Reds Salon, Louis Copeland suit (Louis also attended), a unique print from the renowned Artist John Ironside, Slieve Russell get away, Ballymolloe treat and Golf with a Pro, John Kelly.

GRÁ would like to thank its main sponsors Paul W Tracey Solicitors who generously sponsored the entertainment and Century Management for providing the table wine. Guests from the Irish corporate world included those from Paul W. Tracey Solicitors, Eml Architects, Davys Stockbrokers, Anglo Irish Bank, Ascon/Rohcon, Foster McArteer, Bank of Ireland, Deloitte, KPMG, Century Managementm RTE, PWC to name a few.