A benefit dinner held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kong on September 20 brought in $2.5 million for the U.S.-based Diamond Empowerment Fund and the China Charity Federation.

Chaired by Dr. Henry Cheng, vice chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Group, and Varda Shine CEO of the Diamond Trading Company, the dinners honorary co-chairs were Russell Simmons,  DEF's co-founder and advisory board chairman, and Li Bengong, CCF's vice president. The gathering was in aid of both CCF and DEF's shared mission to empower the economically disadvantaged in, respectively, Africa, where diamonds are a natural resource as well as China, the fastest-growing diamond purchasing market.

The live auction, which was emceed by Tim Dabson from the Diamond Trading Company $700,000, with lots consisting of diamond jewelry sponsored by Chow Tai Fook and an exclusive selection of celebrity experiences including travel packages, dining packages, sports packages and a unique one-day fashion photo-shoot in New York.

“The money raised will go a really long way towards benefitting the youth in Africa that DEF supports," Simmons,told participants at the dinner.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund was founded and based in the United States since 2007. Its aim is to raise funds to support education initiatives in diamond producing countries, empowering youth and promoting sustainable economic growth and social change. DEF has three named beneficiary organizations which serve as models for access to higher education: CIDA City Campus based in Johannesburg, South Africa; African Leadership Academy also based in Johannesburg and drawing students from all 54 African countries; and the Botswana Top Achievers Program, based in Gaborone.

Founded in 1994, with the objective of sustaining the traditional Chinese culture of helping others, China Charity Federation has been actively involved in numerous humanitarian activities and charitable endeavors in various aspects. Since its inception, CCF has raised more than RMB18.85 billion benefiting people throughout China.