Stunning Array Of Maseratis Parade Into Rome As Cash & Rocket Tour Ends And Raises $300,000 For African Charities

Barcelona, June 18th 2013 – Seven red Maseratis led the way as all 70 entrants to this year’s Cash & Rocket Tour reached Rome, Italy’s Capital city. The 35 cars were escorted by the Italian Police through the heart of Rome, right into Piazza del Popolo, where a gorgeous car display was organised.

The 70 ladies completed 1,383 km over 3 days behind the wheels of high powered, luxury and vintage automobiles, wrapped in red, with the aim of collecting funds for three non-profit organisations in Africa: Shine On Sierra Leone, Orphan Aid Africa in Ghana and Sumbandila in South Africa.  Last year, over $250,000 was raised and this year’s goal was to exceed that figure.

Upon arriving in Rome, the participants were treated to a celebratory lunch at Palazzo Mignanelli, Valentino’s breathtaking headquarters, hosted by the Maison’s Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri, who had completed the drive from Barcelona onboard a Maserati GranCabrio Sport, and Pierpaolo Piccioli.

As the sun set on the eternal city, all 70 participants changed into red ball gowns and joined other VIP guests to attend an elegant dinner in the gardens of the Hotel de Russie, followed by a charity auction presided over by Italian television presenter Milly Carlucci. Valentino’s Maria Grazia Chiuri was awarded the prize for best online fundraiser and her red Maserati GranCabrio Sport took pride of place at the hotel entrance.

Amongst the celebrities who attended the gala dinner were Saudi Princess Reema Bandar, fashion photographer Terry Richardson, actress Alessandra Mastronardi and Carlos Souza, presenter Milly Carlucci and her daughter Angelica Donati, super model Jodie Kidd, Julie Brangstrup, CEO of Cash & Rocket, Victoria’s Secret model Selita Ebanks, Margherita and Teresa Missoni, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, actress Patricia Arquette and Jo and Leah Wood.

The charity auction featured amazing items donated by some of participants and other supporting partners. Amongst them were a stunning red dress by Valentino, a diamond ring designed by Delfina Delettrez Fendi, a private polo lesson with Jodie Kidd and a long weekend on one of the world’s most luxurious sailing yachts, Parsifal III: the auction raised a total of $300.000, thus beating last year’s figure.

Later on in the year, a group of ladies will travel to Africa to witness first-hand the difference these funds have made to the life of children, mothers and whole families supported by the three charity partners: Shine On Sierra Leone, Orphan Aid Africa in Ghana and Sumbandila in South Africa.

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Notes to editors:

1)   Charity Partners – Cash & Rocket 2013

Shine On Sierra Leone

Shine on Sierra Leone is a cutting-edge international charity celebrating its seventh successful year this May.  Focused on increasing access to all levels of education, SOSL has six fully developed and executed initiatives including primary education, adult literacy, computer literacy, micro lending, agricultural investment, and sustainable development using the earth-bag building method. Shine On’s flagship programme funds 500 students receiving a free and excellent education, a nationwide computer literacy programme that has resulted in 12,000 computer literate individuals nationwide thus far, more than 6,000 micro lending loans for small business owners especially women, and now a healthcare programme supported by the First Lady of Sierra Leone and Wellbody Alliance.

OrphanAid Africa - Ghana

OrphanAid Africa (OA) is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation originally founded as NGO in Ghana in 2002 and which progressively grew internationally with registered branches in Europe and in the United States. Its aim is to support orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana through programmes in Care Reform, education and development.

Sumbandila - South Africa

Focused initially in northern South Africa, the Sumbandila vision, through its educational scholarship and mentorship programme, is to transform the lives of underprivileged children with exceptional potential and create entrepreneurs and leaders who make significant contributions to society and their own communities.

2) The 2013 Edition of the Cash & Rocket Tour started in Barcelona, stopped in Cannes, Forte dei Marmi, Florence and finished in Rome. There were seven Maseratis taking part in the Tour, two media cars and five teams who are raising money for the three charities involved:

Team 12 – Maria Grazia Chiuri and Rachele – Valentino
www.crowdrise.com/Team12CashandRocket

Team 14 - Francesca Leoni and Eleonora Pratelli - Valentino
www.crowdrise.com/Team14CashandRocket

Team 6 – Sarah Dean and Torrey Sargent
www.crowdrise.com/Team6CashandRocket

Team 29 – Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Fiona Scarry
www.crowdrise.com/Team29CashandRocket

Team 20 - Yasmin Mills, Lauren Kemp and Carolina Tong
www.crowdrise.com/Team20CashandRocket