ONEXONE, the charitable organization committed to fighting health issues and preserving the lives of children locally and globally hosted its 2nd Annual ONEXONE Fundraiser at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, CA on Thursday, October 22.

Academy Award-winner® Matt Damon who had been scheduled to host, had to miss the event due to a family emergency in Boston.

The evening featured keynote speaker Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, along with a special headline performance from Snow Patrol, who is coming off their highly successful solo tour in the U.S. and recent sold-out tour with U2. Also performing was Josh Groban. Additional speakers and entertainment included Carlos Santana on behalf of The Milagro Foundation, Spencer Day, a local jazz vocalist from San Francisco, and Ethan Bortnick, the 8-year old pianist and composer. Jay Bilas was the Master of Ceremonies for the second year in a row.  

The annual fundraiser announced details surrounding the organization's latest program in partnership with ONEXONE Ambassadors Matt Damon and Mia Hamm, and Academy-Award winner® Charlize Theron and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project.

The partnership between ONEXONE and the Charlize Theron African Outreach Project pools their resources and combines their dedications in a new and unique charitable initiative that was unveiled at the October 22 fete. 

The fundraising auction included a trip to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa complete with tickets to the game, a safari and a meet-and-greet with Nelson Mandela. The winning bid of USD$140,000 came with a kiss from Charlize Theron as well!

“We feel lucky to be able to bring this event back to San Francisco after such a successful launch last year,” said Marc Joubert, President of ONEXONE U.S. “It’s a great city and the people of San Francisco are so generous, they genuinely care about the issues and are committed to helping make a difference.  We’re also excited to come back and unveil a brand new initiative that will make this year’s event even bigger and better than last year’s.” 

The ONEXONE event in San Francisco focused not only on raising funds and awareness for he issues, but also provided a top-notch show that entertained and educated the audience at the same time.  Last year’s inaugural event to celebrate the launch of their U.S. operation, and the international charity’s first American home, did just that while raising more than $1 million for the organization.

ONEXONE was founded in 2005 by Diesel Canada President, Joelle Berdugo Adler, and has raised more than $7 million for children around the world since that time.

From ONEXONE
We live in a world where we often forget the simplicity of not only celebrating life but preserving it. ONEXONE began with a simple dream to honour one life and blossomed into an extraordinary and passionate movement to help so many more. Joelle Adler (Joey Adler) founded ONEXONE to celebrate the life and times of her spiritual force, her late husband Lou Adler. She never dreamt that ONEXONE would become a global force with a mission to help preserve a quality of life for children locally and globally; every child's birthright.

ONEXONE took its place on the global fundraising stage in 2005 when actress Kate Hudson hosted an elegant gala that had audience dazzled by guests including Bono, and sensational performances including Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk and The African Children's Choir. That evening the stage was set for a year long annual campaign that not only honours extraordinary people that have made a difference but also a celebration of many many vital philanthropic partners who need our help to reach children in need every where. ONEXONE raised over $1.5 million in one night. In 2006, millions of people around the world took notice as ONEXONE and its extraordinary gala host Matt Damon welcomed extraodinary guests like Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz and performers like John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and welcomed back Chantal Kreviazuk and The African Childrens's Choir and rocking after gala concert. We also honoured 5 more incredible people with the ONEXONE Difference Award. We proudly raised over $3.5 million that night. We are deeply grateful to media sponsors like CTV, The Globe and Mail and Rogers for taking our message everywhere.

As a non-profit foundation, we endeavor to celebrate and preserve the value of LIFE. The dream and vision of a small group of people has resonated on a large scale.

For more information on ONEXONE, please visit www.onexone.org.