The first edition of 'The Global Gift Gala,' a novel fundraising initiative attended by leading celebrities including actress, activist and philanthropist Eva Longoria and Grammy Award winner, Ricky Martin in Dubai this week, raised more than $350,000.

The event held at at the supperclub Dubai attracted global and local celebrities, socialites, popular TV personalities and many others. The evening was hosted by Longoria.

It was held in collaboration with Kaskada Management and was generously supported by Falcon Private Bank, GinzaFashion.com, Yanina, Jumeirah Emirates Tower, supperclub Dubai, and Magrabi.

The raised funds will be benefiting the Noor Dubai Foundation, which unites forces to raise money to provide support and medical need to vulnerable groups in Dubai with the hope to create a world free from preventable forms of blindness and The Global Gift Foundation, said the organisers.

In addition, The Global Gift Foundation has partnered with collaborating foundations Sunrise K Foundation and The Eva Longoria Foundation, to help raise awareness towards their missions in support of women and children in need.

On the debut event, Longoria said: "This was our first gala in Dubai and I am delighted that it has been such a phenomenal success. The people of Dubai have been so welcoming and generous and I am incredibly thankful. We have raised a lot of funds tonight, which will go towards Noor Dubai Foundation and Global Gift Foundation, both fantastic with worthwhile causes."

Ricky Martin, was honoured with the ‘Global Gift Humanitarian’ Award for his continued philanthropic work with the Ricky Martin Foundation, which focuses on the well-being of children around the world in critical areas such as education, health and social justice, said the organisers.

Longoria and Falcon Private Bank, represented by Annette Hoiness, Head Private Banking Abu Dhabi and Dubai, presented him the award.

In his address, Ricky recalled his first experience of child trafficking when visiting India with a friend, where they rescued young girls, as young as 5 years old, who were being forced into prostitution.

The Global Gift Humanitarian award is given to individuals who raise awareness and selflessly give up their time to help socially disadvantaged communities. Past winners include Will.i.am, Nicole Scherzinger and David Beckham, the organisers stated.

Eduardo Leemann, the CEO at Falcon Private Bank said, “The Global Gift Foundation’s dedication to bettering lives around the world and its partnership with local charity Noor Dubai offers a real platform for positive impact in the region. With our strong presence in the Middle East, it is an honour for Falcon Private Bank to support Dubai’s first Global Gift Gala in realizing its philanthropic goals for the UAE.”

Stars walked the red carpet before enjoying a cocktail reception followed by dinner and a live auction. Lots in the auction included, an Eva Longoria Experience – where 2 guests would join Eva at The Global Gift Gala in Marbella, an exclusive Montegrappa Pen crafted especially for the evening, an exclusive pair of 18 ct gold Magrabi sunglasses which are not available to the public and a surprise lot of signed headphones by 50 Cent, auctioned off by the man himself during the evening.

Performances on the evening came from Grammy award winner, Maxwell, new 12 year old singing sensation Katie Kittermaster, Turkish pop star Metin Senturk and Lebanese star Haifa Wehbe. The MC for the evening was popular local TV personality, Layne Redman.

The Dubai event is the final gala for 2013 held by the Global Gift Foundation, which overall has raised over $3.4 million with all the 2013 Global Gift Galas. The 2014 galas will begin with Mexico in January, followed by LA in early next year, they added.-TradeArabia News Service