Singapore couple paid S$2.7 million for dinner – to help Nigerian ‘witch-children’
Charity galas and dinners may be mutual in the world of philanthropy – but shelling out S$2.7 1000000 on a single dining matter is certainly attention-grabbing. Yet, Singaporean couple Vincent and Jane Hee believe the coin goes to a worthy cause and, certainly, a incomparably uncommon feel.
The dinner in question is billed as "The World'south Well-nigh Expensive Dinner", an experience curated past the director of Russian diamond company Globe of Diamonds, Karan Tilani.
Over iii days, the Hees have paid for the opportunity to be chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce auto to an 18-form dinner by chef Kirk Westaway of Jaan on lath a Bombardier Global 6000 individual jet, a cruise on a luxury yacht, a nighttime at the Outpost Hotel in a room with 10,000 roses, and another nighttime at the Presidential Suite of Raffles Hotel.
At the dinner, they volition be presented with two pairs of diamond encrusted chopsticks, along with a rare 2.08-carat cushion-cutting fancy brilliant blue diamond ring. The ring is named subsequently former Bond girl and Dr Quinn, Medicine Adult female, extra Jane Seymour.
Notably, proceeds from the dinner are going to a cause that may be unfamiliar to many in the region: "Witch-children" – in Nigeria.
'WHEN Y'all THINK OF NIGERIA… YOU Retrieve OF SCAMS'
Danish NGO DINNødhjælp operates Land of Hope, a children's center in Nigeria that houses children accused past their own families of witchcraft. According to the arrangement'south website, they aim to "save innocent children, accused of witchcraft, from exclusion, torture and death" and to "lay the foundation for a future, where children grow upwards to exist independent, active and social individuals". The funds from the dinner will be used to buy and administrate pneumonia vaccines for the children.
Speaking to CNA Luxury at Tilani's residence prior to the start of their three-solar day luxury rendezvous, Vincent, a old engineer turned educator and manager of Charis Montessori Preschool in Singapore, shared that while he has notwithstanding to travel to Nigeria to visit and interact with the children of Land of Hope, video clips depicting their plight, shown to him by Tilani, were enough to move him to role ways with S$two.vii one thousand thousand.
"Initially I did not know most this trouble of the witch-children. I've never heard about this. But when Karan shared the video clips with me, I was sad to run across it," said Vincent.
The cause was chosen past Tilani, who claimed that "everything is going to relieve the kids". "We are looking at purchasing a total of 20,000 vaccines. These vaccines are pneumococcal vaccines to combat pneumonia," said Tilani.
He sees channelling the proceeds to a Nigerian charity as a means to "do something dissimilar".
"When yous think of Nigeria, it is a very negative connotation. You lot think of scams, you think of cheating. Mayhap we have received in our lifetime an email from a Nigerian prince asking for our depository financial institution details," he admitted. "Only people want to requite back. As human beings, we are empathetic."
"When y'all recall of Nigeria, it is a very negative connotation. You call up of scams, you think of cheating. Possibly we accept received in our lifetime an e-mail from a Nigerian prince asking for our bank details." – Karan Tilani
Vincent has been active in philanthropy since 2012. He has extended financial back up to educational institutions, donated to old folks' homes and, most recently, the couple planted a total of 3,000 trees in Malaysia to gainsay the brume.
The Southward$2.vii meg he spent on dinner is the most that Vincent has ever contributed to a cause.
"I always enquire questions whenever I donate to charity. Will all the coin go to the charity? Volition the coin be of good use?" said Vincent. "This time around, Karan has given me assurance."
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SURPRISES GUARANTEED – THE 2nd TIME Around
"The Globe'south Nearly Expensive Dinner" was offset put on sale past World of Diamonds back in 2016. It was purchased a year later past Ville Oehman, a Finnish cryptocurrency fund director and owner of blueish diamond visitor, V Diamonds.
Through an Initial Money Offer (ICO), Oehman planned to raffle off the diamond ring. A million tokens were issued, with each token priced at S$two.7 (Us$2). The ICO somewhen fell through due to "administrative issues", said Tilani. The dinner was then put back on the market, now with an added layer of philanthropy, and was purchased past the Hees.
Purchasing the dinner was Vincent's idea, said Jane – "I am just supporting him." The experience is also a treat for Jane, who has not been given whatever details nigh the programme. "I believe ladies dearest surprises, right?" said Vincent, every bit his wife smiled beside him.
The couple also described beingness taken by the beauty of the Jane Seymour ring, a major factor in their decision to purchase the dinner. "The band is very precious, the color is so clear. I really like information technology," said Jane.
According to Tilani, the band is certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). While the couple have yet to view the GIA certification every bit of this interview, Tilani shared that it volition exist presented to them after the dinner.
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Co-ordinate to Vincent, receiving the certification is not a priority. "It'south non the most important affair at the moment," he said. "It's just like when y'all purchase a watch, y'all won't ask to take a look at the certification. That'due south not the most crucial thing."
"We are more focused on its dazzler," added Vincent.
The couple have decided to store the band in Le Freeport, a maximum security private vault in Singapore described as "Asia'southward Fort Knox".
"It's like if you desire to run into a famous painting, y'all go to a museum. And so if people desire to see the ring, they can come to the vault," said Vincent. Invitations, however, will be restricted to family and friends.
The Hees said they are looking forward to their dinner. "Karan told me it's full of surprises," said Vincent, "so we will definitely love information technology."
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