Chelsea Striker Hosts Charity Ball

Chelsea and Ivory Coast footballer, Didier Drogba, held his third charity ball at The Dorchester Hotel, London on Saturday evening. The ball was to help raise funds to build the Foundation’s biggest project to date, a clinic in the capital Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 

The auction raised over £250,000 with all the money from the night going directly to The Didier Drogba Foundation. The 3 charity balls that the Foundation has held have so far raised over £1 million. 

In Decemeber 2011, Didier Drogba was honoured with Beyond Sport’s Humanitarian in Sport Award – supported by Virgin Atlantic.

The Award was in recognition of Drogba’s work with the Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as his unique place in Ivorian society. 

The Chelsea star has played a pivotal role in the quest for peace in his home country – not just as a talisman of Ivorian success and cooperation on the sporting field, but by actively participating in the search for reconciliation within the country.

The evening was hosted by Ben Shepherd and Ayden and saw Estelle perform “American Boy” as well as songs from her new album All of Me. 

Other performers included The F2, magician Damien O’Brien and Amadou & Mariam. QPR players Djibril Cisse and Shaun Wright-Phillips made a guest DJ appearance. 
 
Guests who attended in support of the Foundation included Princess Beatrice, Chelsea team mates John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Petr Cech, as well as players Bacary Sagna, Gervinho and Emmanuel Adebayor.
 
Guests had the opportunity to bid for a number of unique auction items including a private party with Calvin Harris in Ibiza, a coaching session with Didier and an exclusive Hublot watch, which saw Ashley Cole bid against English rapper Wretch 32.
 
Didier said at the event: ‘The support and generosity that everyone has given to the Foundation has been overwhelming. I am honoured that the people who have attended have made this all this possible.’