An extraordinary evening of unity, compassion and collective action saw £250,000 raised for Gaza at the To Gaza With Love gala dinner, held on Saturday 14th February at the Marriott Grosvenor Square.
The landmark event was a collaboration between Donate Directly, the innovative charity platform founded by Pakistani investigative journalise Iqrar Ul Hassan and SimplePR & Events, bringing together faith leaders, community figures, philanthropists and supporters from across the UK for a powerful night of solidarity and fundraising.
The evening stood out as a truly interfaith gathering, demonstrating how communities can unite beyond religious and cultural boundaries in support of humanitarian causes.
Guests heard inspiring speeches from:
- Ravi Singh, CEO of Khalsa Aid
- Rabbi Beck and Rabbi Sofer
- Osama Qashoo of Palestine House
- Bishop Joel Thomas
- Tariq Sheikh, who led a dynamic and highly successful fundraising segment
- Saira Hayati, Ambassador for Donate Directly
Each speaker delivered moving reflections on faith, justice, compassion and collective responsibility, reinforcing the evening’s central message: humanity transcends division.
The fundraising segment, led by Tariq Sheikh, energised the room and resulted in a staggering £250,000 pledged on the night to support urgent humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.
Adding warmth and vibrancy to the evening was entertainment from comedian Sundeep Bhardwaj, whose humour brought moments of lightness, and a powerful cultural performance by Palestinian dance group Dabke Roots, whose traditional Dabke performance received a standing ovation.
A spokesperson for Donate Directly said:
“To Gaza With Love was more than a gala dinner it was a demonstration of unity, compassion and shared humanity. Seeing different faith leaders stand together for one cause was deeply moving. The £250,000 raised will make a tangible difference to families in urgent need.”
Nafila Khan, Founder of SimplePR & Events added
“Collaborating with Donate Directly on To Gaza with Love has been an incredibly meaningful experience. From the outset, we shared a clear vision to create an evening that brought people together across faiths in solidarity and purpose. The response, the unity in the room and the generosity shown have been truly overwhelming. This is what happens when professionalism meets compassion.”
The collaboration between Donate Directly and SimplePR & Events marked a significant milestone, with organisers describing the event as the beginning of what could become an annual gathering dedicated to interfaith solidarity and humanitarian impact.
The evening concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a shared commitment to continue supporting those affected in Gaza.
