London 2014 charity auction and ball raise £3,700

The Annual Charity Ball and distance bidding auction organized by “Giving for Latvia” in London on 9th of May has raised an aggregate of £3,700 towards children’s and young mother’s crisis centres in Latvia.

The event attended by the Ambassador of Latvia in UK Mr. Andris Teikmanis and Latvian celebrity chef Martins Ritins aimed to “embrace and celebrate all the best from Latvia”. The ball featured young musicians accordion virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova and vocalist Tina Gelnere. Auction items included artworks by Vineta Kaulaca and Andrejs Ritins, who was also the Master of Ceromonies and quiz master for the evening.

The jewel of the charity auction was a unique wooden rocking horse, gifted by the Embassy of Latvia. Traditional wooden rocking horses, manufactured in Latvia since 1956, are among the most marketable toys in Latvia and have entertained children in Latvia through many generations. In 2013 the Latvian ambassador had the honour to present such a toy to the British Royal family – Prince William and Catherine Middleton – on the occasion of the birth of their son Prince George. The Embassy gifted the exact double of the horse to our “Giving for Latvia” charity auction, together with the ambassador’s letter on its origins. The two leading bidders rather than desiring the item for themselves, sealed a deal, each of them matching each other’s bids on the condition that the special rocking horse be gifted to a crisis centre in Latvia for children to play with. (Photo: Ambassador of Latvia in UK Mr. Andris Teikmanis (far right) and winning bidders, including celebrity chef Martins Ritins (second from left))

“Giving for Latvia” says a warm thanks to all the donors and supporters of the charity event: The Embassy of Latvia in UK and His Excellency Mr. Andris Teikmanis – restaurant “Vincents” and Martins Ritins – accordionist Ksenija Sidorova – vocalist Tina Gelnere – artist Vineta Kaulaca – artist and master of ceremony ceremonies at the ball Andrejs Ritins – barista Ingemars Dzenis – fitness club “Vingro sev” and Ieva Kundzina – Latvian Welfare Fund (LWF) London branch – LWF London B&B – The Grange Hotel – bands “Brainstorm” and “Instrumenti” – confectioner “TasteCaps” – jewelry craftswomen from “ameli.lv” – beauty clinique “4.dimensija” – light and sound specialists Baumanevents.co.uk – news portal AngloBalticNews – news portal latviesiem.co.uk – Facebook group for Latvians in London “LaLonda”.