London, January 15th 2007.
The StratREAL Foundation is to hold a charity gala event at Claridges on March 24th 2007.

The event aims to raise thousands of pounds for programmes that benefit children and young people and will be attended by a number of the Foundation’s supporters. The Gypsy Legends – the new generation of the Gypsy Kings – will provide the entertainment for the evening and Lorenzo Quinn, the lauded sculptor, will unveil his latest piece at the event. The Signature Smart car will also be auctioned off during the evening to help raise funds for the worthy charities.

The StratREAL Foundation was established in 2003 to help improve the lives of children and young people around the world. The Foundation works to forge partnerships that support carefully thought-through projects and programmes that make a tangible difference in the lives of young people. The Foundation also assists philanthropists who wish to make a positive difference in the lives of young people by helping to ensure that their charitable contributions are directed toward projects that have a direct and apparent impact.

The StratREAL Foundation currently works with the Foundation for UNESCO – Education for Children in Need, Learning Through the Arts, The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation, VSO and The Prince’s Drawing School. These partnerships currently focus upon education, which is vital to the future of young people – once young minds are opened, great things can follow!.

Pierre Rolin, Chairman and founder of The StratREAL Foundation commented, “I believe that children are our future, and so I am fully sponsoring this event to ensure that every penny raised through the evening can be used to focus on real projects that achieve real results and make a long-term difference in the lives of young people.”

Antonico Reyes, lead singer of The Gypsy Legends said, “Poverty affects millions of children around the world and to be able to help these children by supporting The StratREAL Foundation is an honour. Through our music we hope to not only bring joy to those at the gala event but also to the children who will benefit from the generosity of those attending the evening.”

Note to editors:

  • The Foundation for UNESCO– Education for Children in Need finances hundreds of initiatives to help rehabilitate children who are victims of violence and neglect, solely through private donations. This allows the direct support of over 300 projects in 81 countries, all designed to improve the plight of distressed children through basic and vocational education as well as material and psychological support. The assistance provided is concrete and immediate, giving children around the world the means to help themselves secure a long-term future.
  • Learning Through the Arts (LTTA) is a fundamentally new approach to education that brings artists into schools with teachers to teach core subjects. Independent research demonstrates the academic value of the approach, but its value goes far beyond academic achievement and into the areas of creativity, innovation and emotional intelligence. Founded in 1994 by Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music, LTTA is now the most extensive arts-based school education initiative globally.
  • The Prince of Wales Arts & Kids Foundation aims to give children and young people the opportunity to get involved with the very best of the arts. Arts & Kids was established by The Prince of Wales in 2002 and by April 2005, over 500, 000 children had already benefited from its work. Arts & Kids believes that the arts transform lives and are an essential component in shared humanity. The charity specifically targets children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be involved in the arts and aims to work in partnership with the arts to create high quality artistic experiences for children.
  • VSO is an international development charity that works through volunteers. Since VSO began over 50 years ago, education has been one of the fundamental cornerstones of it work. 48% of all volunteers are involved in education – through a diversity of roles – as teachers, policy advisers, managers, administrators and many others. In this way VSO is making lasting improvements in the lives of children globally, through education programmes to give them a brighter future.
  • The Prince’s Drawing School is an independent educational charity dedicated to teaching the art of drawing from life. Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2000, the School attracts dedicated students from all means, backgrounds and abilities. In a world where the skill of drawing is not actively encouraged, children are given exposure to a professional drawing school where they are able to discover their hitherto untapped or unappreciated potential.
  • The Gypsy Legends - Originally from the Camargue in southern France, The Gypsy Legends convey the wild traditions of the gypsy culture through their unique style are that rare thing. A household name solely thanks to their musical prowess and related to the infamous Jose Reyes and Manitas de Plata of the Gypsy Kings, The Gypsy Legends have continued to enthral the public with their vivacious performances and have carried on the enigmatic style passed down to them through the family. The Gypsy Legends are formed by members of Los Reyes family, who shot to fame on the back of the Gypsy Kings’ hits such as Djobi, Djoba and Bamboleo, and have forged a successful career thanks to their gypsy-style music, travelling the globe and releasing 6 albums to date.
  • Lorenzo Quinn was born in Rome and studied at The American Academy of Fine Arts in New York. Inspired by the great masters such as Michelangelo, Bernini, Carpaux and Rodin, Lorenzo uses his sculptures to express his innermost feelings to the viewer. His vision and talent has lead to his work being included in many impressive private collections throughout the world and to a prodigious amount of commissioned work including a sculpture of St Anthony that was commissioned by the Vatican. Lorenzo showcases his works throughout the world and his ongoing project, 'The Globe Of Life' which represents the hundred most important moments in history, looks set to be his most significant work to date.
  • The Signature Smart Car is a truly unique item. Created by UNESCO in 2003 The Signature Smart car features over 100 original signatures over the bodywork including those of notable individuals such as Dr Helmut Kohl, Kofi Annan, Beyonce, Jay Z , Sir Paul McCartney, Boris Becker, Bill Clinton, and Paulo Coelho to name but a few.