Football great and "Dancing With the Stars" hoofer Emmitt Smith co-hosted with Hip-hop king Russell Simmons, and along Magic Johnson and others, helped raise a grand total of $320,000 for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF), a non-profit international organization that raises money to support education in African Nations where diamonds are a natural resource, and benefits the Community and Individual Development Association (CIDA City Campus) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dallas’ Cityplace was packed with an energized crowd. Emmy nominated television personality Suzanne Sena from FOX National served as the Master of Ceremonies while Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Terrell Owens (Dallas Cowboy‘s wide receiver), Ray Crockett (former Broncos corner back) and Michael Johnson (Olympic Gold Medalist). and others roused the attendees to help raise the $320,000 for DEF.
Magic Johnson used his charm and influence with his friends and rallied sports stars Smith, Owens, Olympic track star Michael Johnson and Simmons to buy the ‘Dinner with Magic Johnson’ with his ‘Personal Lakers Tickets’ package, of which Johnson offered several more than originally planned, each time pushing the energized crowd to donate another $20,000 for each dinner. The fired-up audience elicited riotous applause as each was scooped up.
Retired NFL player Ray Crockett and wife April helped to auction an African Safari, which sold for $17,000. After the excitement of his first successful charity event, Russell Simmons stated he was, “thrilled with the outcome of the Dallas Rocks event and grateful to the Dallas community for opening its heart to DEF and its mission. In these economic times, it was a blessing for our young charity to raise a substantial amount of money.”
Simmons presented Magic Johnson with the Humanitarian Empowerment Award for his tireless work around preventing HIV/AIDS, and Eva Longoria Parker received the Lonestar Empowerment Award for her longstanding work with special needs children and adults through her charity "Eva’s Heros" (accepted via videotaped message and showed her love and support for her older sister who is a special needs person).
The smashing success of Dallas Rocks sets high hopes for the next DEF event, the Diamonds Give 2008 New York DEF Greenhouse Event, on Nov 19th. The star-studded affair will be co-hosted by Russell Simmons and David Blaine. Both events are part of an umbrella Diamonds Give 2008 online charity auction, orchestrated by auction experts, Charitybuzz.com.
The auction kicked off on October 30th and will come to a close on December 2nd. Bidders can click on the Charity Buzz website for a chance to snag gorgeous diamond jewelry, luxurious travel packages, fabulous fashions and exclusive celebrity experiences.
Auction experiences include:
* Fashion Fabulosity with Kimora Lee Simmons – Want to take a bite out of the Big Apple during New York Fashion Week?
Kimora Lee wants to be your Fashion Fabulosity tour guide. She is sending one fashionista two tickets to her Fall ’09 New York Fashion Week Baby Phat Runway Show and will include access to her exclusive after party. She is not only sending you there, she wants to make sure you get there in style. Kimora’s official Baby Phat Glam Squad will personally outfit you in fabrics from her collection at her high-rise showroom in New York City.
She will make sure you have some cash to stay chic, offering a $500 travel voucher to apply to your travels. After the whirlwind of Fashion Week, you can sit back and relax and read your new autographed book, Kimora’s ‘How To’ Guide to Fabulosity.
* Forget stealing a celeb’s style. Kim Kardashian, Erykah Badu and Eva Longoria Parker are letting you raid their closets! Each of these lovely starlets is donating one of their beloved garments or jewels exclusively to Diamonds Give 2008 bidders.
* Beyonce fans – here is one ride you won’t want to miss! Movie buffs can bid on two tickets to see Beyoncé portray Etta James in the new movie Cadillac Records at the December 1st official New York City movie premiere and after party. You and your guest will get to attend the red carpet event and brush shoulders with the cast members, including Adrien Brody, Cedric the Entertainer, Mos Def and Beyonce, herself.
* Super Bowl Frenzy is about to begin and the Diamond Empowerment Fund has secured two tickets to one of its hottest after parties, the Leather & Laces event. Tampa, watch out! This year it will be hosted by a bevy of beauties, including Kim Kardashian and Carmen Electra.
* Hamptons A-List Summer 2009 Weekend – New York’s Hamptons socialites are laying out the welcome mat to one lucky bidder to stay at their trendy home, best known as the HYTE ME Estate, located in the ritzy, celeb laden town of Bridgehampton. The winning bidder will secure a weekend stay at the Estate, as well as tickets to the ultra fabulous 10th Annual Rush Philanthropic fundraiser, ART FOR LIFE, taking place at Russell Simmons’ East Hampton home. It is the summer’s hottest charity event, where attendees rub shoulders with Hollywood heavyweights like Diddy, Brett Ratner, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and even Governor Patterson of New York. Two business class travel awards from to New York from within the 48 contiguous states, Caribbean, Mexico or Canada provided courtesy of American Airlines.
* Feeling the stress of the economy? Time to unwind in a special 90-minute yoga class with Russell Simmons in New York City.
* Winter is here, but true music fans are getting a head start on purchasing summer concert tickets for their favorite bands. Platinum selling American rock band Good Charlotte is putting a pair of its hot concert tickets up for grabs. Don’t worry, you can say you are with the band and mean it. The bid comes with a complimentary back stage meet and greet pass because the lucky winning bidder gets an exclusive meet and greet with the band!
* Bling in the New Year for a great cause! Whether you’re shopping for the holidays or looking to self-indulge, the Diamonds Give 2008 online auction is filled with stunning jewelry, with pieces being added daily, from such designers as Neil Lane, Erickson Beamon and Movado.
About D.E.F.
Founded in 2007, the Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.) is a non-profit international organization with the mission to raise money to support education initiatives that develop and empower economically disadvantaged people in African nations where diamonds are a natural resource.
Other dazzling celebrity experiences are available like a Super Bowl after party, a 90 min Yoga session with Russell Simmons, concert tickets and backstage passes to platinum recording artist Good Charlotte, and a Hamptons A-List Summer 2009 weekend.
For a chance to snag these amazing celebrity packages and fabulous fashions, log on to charitybuzz.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: Photography by Doré Marcelle Madere
Event sponsored by Rose’s Mojito
