Out of the twenty-five live auction lots, iconic experiences include Centre Court tickets to the Ladies and Gentlemen’s Wimbledon singles finals (with lunch and a parking spot!), a stay at Kevin Costner’s ranch in Aspen, and a fully paid-up two-year lease on a race horse courtesy of the Drakenstein Stud and Snaith Racing.
Covetable luxury goods include a bespoke Panerai Radiomir Bronzo Imibala watch, and a custom-made Mercedes-Benz G 400 d with a host of exclusive specifications, and in a unique colour.
These lots sit alongside tickets to Billy Joel in New York City, a 480cm leopard sculpture by Dylan Lewis; plus further collectable wine, art and travel experiences.
Many of these lots have been generously donated by individuals and companies who support the Imibala Trust. Founded in 2002 by Gaynor Rupert, the Imibala Trust has helped over 87 000 children since inception. Through the Sponsor A Child initiative (where donors provide a full school kit for learners for only R1,400 a year) and the core academic, social, creative, mental and physical offerings at Imibala, over 3,000 children are impacted annually.
The unique hands-on approach prevalent at Imibala ensures children identify and maintain self worth and dignity through the programmes. These include academic learning and literacy, robotics and coding, art, music and dance, pottery, drama, cooking and gardening.
Last year, at the inaugural Imibala Summer Gala, over R12million was raised. These funds have been channelled directly into expanding the impact of the Imibala Trust — through buying more buses to enable more children access to Imibala, to growing a new Imibala village in Hermanus, and furthering the programmes on offer in the Graaff-Reinet Imibala village.
Alongside the live auction taking place on Gala night, a silent auction is live on BidPro, enabling those not able to attend the Summer Gala to still place bids on desirables items, and experiences. The silent auction lots include two nights in a suite at the Mount Nelson with a personal pool cabana, dinner at Klein Jan in Franschhoek, luxury fashion from Merchants on Long, accessories from Okapi, and a diamond and ruby necklace from Chopard. Plus further art, travel and wine lots.
“Through the wonderfully generous support of guests who attended the inaugural Imibala Summer Gala, we have been able to make great strides in further developing the reach of the Imibala Trust,” says Gaynor Rupert, Imibala Founder and Chairwoman.
“My great wish is to see an Imibala village in every small town where there is need, and I invite those with means to support our 2024 Gala, to celebrate the children and their efforts, and to make a positive contribution towards their development and future prospects.”
For full details of the catalogue please see here
To bid in the silent auction, please register with BidPro here
Silent auction bidding is open Feb 2 – Feb 8
