Many Hopes Appoints Issa PR to Launch 2016 Annual Gala

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May 02, 2016, 08:07 ET

NEW YORK, May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury brand strategy and public relations agency Issa PR will handle pro bono work for the Discover Many Hopes gala on May 23, 2016 in New York City. Many Hopes is a non-profit organization that rescues children from poverty, corruption and abuse in Kenya, then advocates for them in court and educates them in order to build future networks of influencers who will break the cycle of injustice. Issa PR will help to launch the organization's fourth annual fundraiser, which will be hosted by supermodel, Karen Elson; Thor: The Dark World and Heroes Reborn actor, Zachary Levi; and fitness and wellness entrepreneur, Tracy Anderson.

This year's gala will also be co-chaired by iconic photographer, Patrick McMullan; film producer and director, Jeff Oppenheim; and founder, chairman and CEO of STARR African Rum and an executive producer of The Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, Jeffrey Zarnow. The gala takes place at 180 Maiden Lane and will bring together 500 influencers to build a school for 900 boys and girls in Kenya - 100% of the proceeds will go toward the building. Previous celebrity supporters of the non-profit include: Sofia Vergara, Jessica Stam, Leighton Meester and AnnaLynne McCord.

"This is the gala's fourth year and we are proud of the progress made to date to create an innovative solution to the injustice children face every day," said Thomas Keown, co-founder of Many Hopes. "However, there is still much more to be done. We are thrilled to work with Issa PR, who have created breakthrough campaigns for other clients while supporting NGOs."

Many Hopes was founded in 2007 by Kenyan journalist, Anthony Mulongo and Irish columnist, Thomas Keown. Moved by the brutality, abuse and exploitation of children in Kenya - Mulongo took in a 6-year-old girl named Gift, whose mother had just died of AIDS and 10-month-old brother had died on her back while she was begging for food on the streets of Mombasa. During a meeting with Mulongo in 2007, Keown wrote a newspaper article about their story, resulting in an outpour of letters from supporters, volunteers and donors. Many Hopes was founded shortly thereafter.

The Many Hopes Justice Framework rescues children from abuse and raises them into networks of influential adults with an imagination for justice and the tools to act on it. Over the past 50 years, Africa has received $1 trillion in aid, but for Many Hopes it's not about money, it's about leadership. Many Hopes strives to rescue, educate and advocate for exploited children and transform them into a network of teachers, doctors, lawyers, mothers and businessmen. By doing this, in 20 years' time these children will become leaders who create a continuing cycle of justice that eliminates the need for charities altogether.

Currently in Kenya, 2.6 million children are homeless and live under $1 a day. Every day they beg and steal to stay alive in the face of hunger, violence, disease, rape, forced prostitution and worse. Girls shave their heads and wear ill-fitting clothes to look like boys for protection and safety. In some cases, the government has also exploited the poor by keeping them illiterate and denying provision of ID cards, for which children are arrested for not having.

"At Issa PR, we are deeply committed to philanthropy and are honored to represent Many Hopes as part of our pro bono work this year," said Viet N'Guyen, founder and CEO of Issa PR. "We hope the campaign against poverty and injustice in Kenya will make a difference to improve the intolerable quality of life children must endure every day."

To buy tickets for the fundraiser on May 23 please visit http://discover.manyhopes.org/. The event takes place from 7pm to 10pm at 180 Maiden Lane in New York.

About Many Hopes

Founded by journalists Anthony Mulongo and Thomas Keown in 2007, Many Hopes rescues children from abuse and raises them to be networks of influential adults with an imagination for justice and the tools to act on it. The organization educates local children to solve the problems that charity alone cannot. The Many Hopes Justice Framework is a template for sustainable, replicable justice globally. 100% of public donations go toward work in Kenya, as private donors cover operating costs. For more information, visit www.manyhopes.org or follow Many Hopes at @Many_Hopes on Facebook and Twitter.

About Issa PR

Luxury brand strategy and PR agency Issa PR is headquartered in New York with team members in London, Los Angeles and Miami. Creating captivating campaigns and thoughtful dialogue, Issa PR represents luxury, fashion, art and entertainment clients. With over 15 years' experience traversing the luxury and lifestyle industry, the dynamic team is comprised of a global network of experts, influencers and leading-edge creatives. For more information, visit www.issa-pr.com or follow Issa at @IssaPRofficial on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Press Contacts

Viet N'Guyen
[email protected]
212-837-1852

Aleesa Stockton
[email protected]
305-215-6197

Laura Neff
[email protected]
860-908-9720

SOURCE Issa PR