Stars including Kristin Scott Thomas, Damon Hill and Paul Simonon from The Clash joined together at Abbey Road Studios June 13 for the annual “End the Silence” charity gala in aid of Hope and Homes for Children. Guests were treated to a “five Michelin star” dinner by chefs Paco Roncero, Óscar Velasco and Chris Naylor from NH Hotel Group along with performances from Fun Lovin' Criminals, Tom Odell and Snow Patrol. The event raised a massive £600,000 to help rescue millions of children suffering silently in dangerous overseas orphanages.
A stunning “five Michelin star dinner” was prepared by three of NH Hotel Group's renowned chefs – Paco Roncero (2* Michelin, La Terraza del Casino), Óscar Velasco (2* Michelin, Santceloni) and Chris Naylor (1* Michelin, Vermeer). NH Hotel Group's gastronomic offering in its establishments amounts to a total 13 Michelin stars including The White Room (1* Michelin) at NH Collection Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam led by Arturo Dalhuisen and under the signature of Jacob Jan Boerma (3* Michelin) and DiverXO, the only 3* Michelin in Madrid, led by David Muñoz, among others.
Hope and Homes for Children's “End the Silence” charity gala helps to fund the closure of orphanages by preventing child abandonment, developing family support services and establishing foster and adoption care networks.
More than £600,000 was raised for the charity on the night through a spectacular “money can't buy” auction. Lots ranged from 18 holes of golf with Thomas Bjorn at the British Masters, to a five-star weekend in Madrid for six people with NH Hotel Group, dining in two of the Spanish capital's finest Michelin starred restaurants – Paco Roncero Taller by multisensory Chef Paco Roncero and Santceloni, from renowned chef Óscar Velasco.
“As a company that is deeply committed to corporate and social responsibility, we are delighted to support this worthy cause through the End the Silence gala. We have a long-standing record of charitable collaborations around the world, and it has been our pleasure to be part of this extraordinary event to help millions of children as we do in the communities where we are present”, said Ida Gutiérrez de Escofet, Corporate Affairs and CSR Officer of NH Hotel Group.
Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham - one of the organisers of the End the Silence fundraiser - said it was overwhelming to see some the world's biggest stars come out in force to help some of the world's most vulnerable children. “The idea of End the Silence is to bring together top musicians, sportspeople and businesspeople with those who have grown up and suffered in orphanages. By sharing their experiences of growing up without a family, they are helping to raise awareness and funds so Hope and Homes for Children can condemn orphanages to the history books and support children to move into loving families.”
