The Seventh Annual Ball of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) raised a record BGN 36,000 to support the prevention of breast cancer and child abandonment.

Half of the raised funds will benefit a breast cancer screening project, implemented by Sofia Municipality in cooperation with four Sofia hospitals that will cover women working in education in Bulgaria's capital

The other half of the proceeds will support the efforts of the For Our Children Foundation to take the last remaining children out of the St. Sofia institution for abandoned babies and provide them with loving and caring families, the foundation’s Executive Director Ivanka Shalapatova said at the event held on 5 February at Sofia Hotel Balkan.

The charity auction featured tennis star Grigor Dimitrov’s jersey, shorts and sneakers from Brisbane and Acapulco 2014 tournaments. There was also bidding for works of prominent Bulgarian artists Pencho Balkanski, Marin Georgiev Ustagenov and Atanas Neykov, a painting from President Rosen Plevneliev’s collection and a photo edition of Istoriya Slavyanobalgarska.

The gala began with a harp performance courtesy of  New Symphony Orchestra. A duet performance by BBLF Board member Maxim Behar and seven-year-old Sara Gusheva followed, setting the tone of the evening overflowing with music and an air of generosity.