Last Saturday, Friends of the World once again met at a charity ball in Łódź and once again did not disappoint, raising PLN 75,000, which will be allocated to support the Maria Konopnicka University Center of Paediatrics on Sporna St. and the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Łódź on Pomorska St. The ball, which this time took place in the atmosphere of a spring carnival, was organized by the Friends of the World Association in cooperation with the Heart for Hearts Foundation. Special guests of the initiative were the host of the event Conrado Moreno and the well-known dancer Anna Głogowska, who got the participants of the ball to dance.
Another edition of the charity ball took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. That was the venue where 250 people met throughout Saturday evening to raise funds for organizations in need. This time there were two medical facilities of Łódź: Maria Konopnicka University Centre of Paediatrics and the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University. The ball featured a traditional auction where a painting by Adam Kalinowski entitled “Girl in Golden Shoes”, donated by the newly established AOKZ Art Gallery in Łódź, was auctioned for PLN 16,000. During the event, guests also bid for weekend stays in hotels in various cities in Poland (for amounts ranging from PLN 2,000 to PLN 10,000) These are Solaris – Leisure and Conference Centre in Łazy, The Bridge Wroclaw MGallery – the best 5-star hotel in Wroclaw, Radisson Blu Resort & Conference Center, Ostróda Mazury, Mierzęcin Palace (stay with a tour of the vineyard and wine tasting. At the ball, there was also an opportunity to rent a 4-person motorhome from the Nordic Automotive Center, which was auctioned for PLN 9,000. At a special stand, the participants of the ball could buy mugs with drawings and autographs of famous people from the world of culture and famous chefs. In total, PLN 75,000 was raised to support medical facilities.
The Spring Carnival ball was hosted by Conrado Moreno, a Polish-Spanish host, media and television personality, actor and TV entertainer. An S-class dancer (the highest dance class) and an extremely popular and popular TV presenter, Anna Głogowska, joined the initiative. The musical setting of the ball was covered by the band Stage Fever which performed in a 7-person line-up with a brass section and two vocalists. Stage Fever performs alongside the biggest Polish stars, such as Lady Pank, Sylwia Grzeszczak, Wilki or Mezo.
“Following the huge success of our main initiative “Friends Cook”, which has already become a permanent fixture in the calendar of charity events in Łódź, we decided to organize the spring edition of our ball entitled “Spring Carnival”. We hosted 250 people at the event, thanks to whom the University Center of Paediatrics and the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University will receive financial support for their activities. I wish to thank all our guests and partners who joined the event. It is thanks to people like you that we change our environment and the world for the better,” says Joanna Nordyńska, Vice-President of the Friends of the World Association.
Friends of the World Association is a non-profit organization. Its activities focus on helping the youngest, targeting such facilities as hospitals, orphanages and community centres. In addition to charity dinners, the Association also offers mugs and plates with autographs of famous people, and the funds obtained in this way are allocated to noble causes. Among the personalities who supported the activities of Friends of the World are, among others: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Agnieszka Holland & Kasia Adamik, Agnieszka Radwańska, Allan Starski, Andrzej Bartkowiak, Andrzej Pągowski, Andrzej Polan, Andrzej Seweryn, Artur Partyka, Bad Boys Blue, Basia Trzetrzelewska, Beata Kozidrak, Bogumiła Wander & Krzysztof Baranowski, Bonnie Tyler, Claudia Cardinale, Dawid Tomaszewski, Ewa Minge, Ewa Wachowicz, Jary OZ, Jerzy Janowicz, Jerzy Stuhr, Justyna Steczkowska, Karol Okrasa, Kenzo Takada, Kurt Scheller, Leszek Możdżer, Magda Gessler, Maciej Stuhr, Mario Vargas Llosa, Michał Urbaniak, Michel Moran, Mietek Szcześniak, Pascal Brodnicki, Patrizia Gucci, Paprocki & Brzozowski, Pectus, Piotr Fronczewski, Rafał Brzozowski, Robert Sowa, Sting.
For its activities for the benefit of those in need, the Association received the Grand Prix in 2013, and in 2014 it was awarded the Sabina Nowicka Pro Publico Bono Medal. 14 May 2016, the Foundation for the Development of the Polish Mother’s Memorial Health Institute in Łódź awarded the Friends of the World Association with the Honorary Medal Heart for a Heart. The medal is a great distinction and a token of gratitude for the years of support the Polish Mother’s Memorial Health Institute, one of the largest highly specialized medical centres in Poland, received from the Association. By decision of the City Council of 13.05.2022, thanks to the application submitted by the Łódź Hospice for Children – Łupkowa, the Friends of the World Association was awarded the distinction for its contributions to the City of Łódź.
The Association does not incur fees related to its seat, does not employ employees, and all administrative costs related to the Association’s activities are covered by membership fees. Members of the Friends of the World Association do not enjoy material benefits from their activities, and their compensation is the satisfaction of bringing a smile and a bit of joy to those who have experienced hardships in life.
