Young people and solidarity take centre stage at the 6th Paris Saint-Germain - Children First Gala

On Tuesday 22nd May 2019, Paris Saint-Germain - Children First held its 6th annual gala dinner in the Pavillon Cambon Capucines, in the heart of Paris. The last event of the season, this dinner brought together Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation and Endowment Fund, the first team players, player Marie-Antoinette Katoto, judoka Teddy Riner and more than 350 guests.

The ceremony was an opportunity for Sabrina Delannoy, deputy director of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation, to sum up the actions carried out by the Club in the aid of children this year, and to thank all of the partners and educators that work alongside her every day.

One of the most noteworthy events this year was the presentation of the Club’s new commitment to Action Contre La Faim in the shape of a programme to fight malnutrition in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. More than 4,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition have been treated thanks to the human and financial contributions from Paris Saint-Germain - Children First.

Paris Saint-Germain - Children First has also stepped up its partnership with the Necker Hospital for Sick Children. In addition to the traditional visits paid to young patients by the Club’s athletes, a project to renovate one of the paediatric recovery rooms in the operating theatre has taken shape. The long-running agreement between the two parties will be developed further next season with the opening of a new Rouge & Bleu School within the Parisian hospital.

The high point of the evening was the auction organised by Artcurial which raised the outstanding sum of €1.268 million. The money raised will enable Paris Saint-Germain–Children First to continue and increase their commitment to children in France and abroad. Among the 14 lots put up for auction were a Wild Kong by Richard Orlinski wearing a black Jordan shirt, a Foot US version of the Paris Saint-Germain shirt signed by Neymar Jr, a unique piece by Patrick Rubinstein created in honour of Kylian Mbappé, and an extraordinary experience for 30 people behind the scenes at the Parc des Princes.

Thirty-five children from the Rouge & Bleu Schools in Paris and Mantes-la-Jolie, and from the “Allez les filles” programme, attended this dinner. They were accompanied by the eighteen Foundation-trained educators who work daily on the 360 or so operations put in place each year.

A number of famous faces also took up Paris Saint-Germain–Children First’s invitation, such as: Ary Abittan, Frédéric Chau, Youri Djorkaeff, Franck Dubosc, Gad Elmaleh, Tony Estanguet, Cyril Hanouna, Kheiron, Marine Lorphelin, Ophélie Meunier, Richard Orlinski, Pedro Miguel Pauleta ou encore Harry Roselmack.