On October 25, at the Hyatt Regency Sofia hotel, we held our 20th Charity Ball. This event marked not only our anniversary, but also twenty years of successes and challenges, of support and trust, of common goals and belief in goodness. Twenty years in which we have helped change thousands of lives.
This special evening brought together over 150 guests – friends, partners, supporters, and donors who have been walking alongside us for two decades. Together, we remembered that every change begins with one person who believes they can do good. And when more people join them, the good becomes greater, stronger, and more alive than ever.
It was this community that led to a truly impressive result – during the event, we managed to raise a record 300,000 leva in support of the children and young people we care for. The funds will be invested in providing quality care, training, therapy, and activities that give the most vulnerable a chance for a better and more dignified life.
Our 20 years
20 years is not a short time. We have witnessed hundreds of little miracles – first words, first steps, first dreams come true. They give us strength in the moments when it is most difficult – that is, when we see most clearly why it is important to keep going.
“Tonight we celebrate a truly special milestone – 20 years of Cedar Foundation’s journey. For 13 of those 20 years, Cedar has been a central part of my life. And throughout this time, one question has come up again and again: Isn’t it emotionally exhausting? Yes, it is emotionally exhausting, but more than anything, it is profoundly rewarding. Because lives are changed – not just patched together, but truly transformed. And this is because of the people I’ve been fortunate to walk this path with. The dedicated team at Cedar who never cease to inspire me. And because of you in this room tonight – people who genuinely care, who choose to stand beside us, time and time again, said our long-standing Executive Director, Alexandrina Dimitrova, in her speech.
An evening of sharing and inspiration
Our first 20 years have taught us that real change happens when we walk together and look in the same direction. Our anniversary ball was an example of this – an evening where people who believe that goodness is an action, not just a word, came together. An evening that gave us stories, smiles, tears of joy, and the feeling that we belong to something bigger than ourselves.
Our charity ball was filled with a sense of unity – the kind that can only be created by people who do everything with dedication and heart. The hosts of the event, actress Neda Spasova and our long-time friend Yavor Popov-Neobozrim, guided the guests through the evening with cheerfulness and infectious energy, while Flawless Trio and Acoustic Point contributed to the unique atmosphere with their music.
During the event, a charity auction was held with unique items donated by famous people, including an autographed T-shirt from Formula 2 racer Nikola Tsolov, a photograph by astrophotographer Mihail Minkov, and a painting by artist Venelin Sainov-Lino. A painting created by the young people from our counselling centre caused particular excitement – a symbol of what we have been building together for two decades.
We express our deep gratitude to our sponsors and partners – the people and organisations that stood behind us so that our every wish could become a reality: our gold sponsors CMS Sofia and A Data Pro, our silver sponsors America for Bulgaria Foundation and DPM Metals, and our bronze sponsor AG Capital.
We would also like to thank everyone who donated their labour, products, and time – Hyatt Regency Sofia, Hyatt Regency Pravets Resort, Pepsi Bulgaria, Pernod Ricard, Georgievi Bros Wine Makery Club, Gift Tube, Nimeria Shop, Dabov Specialty Coffee, Angelove Estate, Clos Bibliothèque, Dar ot Bogovete, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuker Hut, and Radiance by Tina Petkova.
And, of course, we would like to thank the media partners that have stood by us over the years and told stories that are worth hearing – BNT, Capital, Dnevnik, Mediapool.bg, and Darik Radio.
Together, we are changing lives! ♥
