Mumbai:  Magic Bus will be organizing its seventh Benefit Dinner and Auction at The St. Regis in Mumbai on 26th October, 2018, to raise funds to help support its cause towards alleviating poverty in India. Over the past two decades, Magic Bus has been largely instrumental in making a qualitative difference to the lives of children and young people living in poverty. In support of Magic Bus, a high profile committee comprising of Sunaina Murthy, Smiti Kanodia, Adhuna Bhabani, Mala Srivastava, Samantha Nayar and Superna Motwane have garnered support from celebrities and top brands towards the annual Magic Bus Benefit in Mumbai, since 2012.

The Magic Bus Benefit hosts some select elite and influential personalities who come together for a curated evening of top-notch entertainment and fine dining, towards fundraising to ensure a happy journey from childhood to livelihood for children living in poverty. The star-studded evening this year will be attended by the who’s who of tinsel town such as Kalki Koechlin, Dia Mirza, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Dino Morea, Bhavana & Chunky Pandey, Mandira Bedi, Lara & Mahesh Bhupathi and Naina Bachchan. The Magic Bus Benefit is partnered with Sona BLW, OAGN and Hello!. Some of the world’s largest luxury brands have contributed experiences towards Magic Bus to help raise funds for the cause; including Aman-i-Khas, Armani, JA The Resort, Manish Malhotra, Palazzo Versace Dubai, Sotheby’s and The St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. The highlight of the star-studded soiree will be a performance by popular British pop rock band The Vamps.

Magic Bus is one of the largest poverty alleviation programmes in India, impacting more than 3,75,000 children and young people in 22 States and 77 districts of India (FY 17-18). Its sports activity-based sessions are carried out across more than 798 schools. Magic Bus works with India’s poorest children and young people, taking them from a childhood full of challenges to a life with meaningful livelihoods. The Childhood to Livelihood programme ensures children complete secondary education, have delayed age at marriage and are placed in jobs, making them economically self-reliant.

Matthew Spacie MBE, Founder, Magic Bus expresses his gratitude towards patrons for their support, “I am happy to share that with the help of our supporters, between 2012 and now, we have touched and transformed the lives of 9,23,000 children and young people across India. Last year alone, at the     Magic Bus Mumbai Benefit, the support we received helped 20,000 children begin their journey out of poverty. While this is a huge achievement, we carefully remind ourselves that our final goal is a highly ambitious dream; to move every child and young person living in India, out of poverty. Year on year, the support of our patrons have helped Magic Bus increase its sphere of influence for which we are deeply grateful.”

Highlighting the importance of the event, Jayant Rastogi, CEO, Magic Bus, said, “The Magic Bus Benefit is an excellent platform to leverage funds and maintain our programmes that focus on school regularity, skill development and livelihood. The funds raised with support from our patrons, are vital for us to keep delivering our programme successfully and consistently across all locations with a firm focus on our goal to end poverty. We are thankful to all our patrons for lending their unconditional support year on year that has given us the confidence that no matter how daunting a task it may seem, we can always achieve it together.”

Sunaina Murthy, Co-Chair of the Benefit Committee expressing her optimism about the upcoming event, said, “Over the years, the staunch support of prominent personalities and leading brands along with the unflinching generosity of donors have helped us make a substantial difference in the lives of children and young people in the country. We look forward to yet another amazing evening for both our patrons and the cause at this year’s Magic Bus Benefit.”

Abhishek Bachchan, patron of Magic Bus expresses his happiness towards associating with Magic Bus, “Magic Bus has taken up a herculean task of uplifting children and young people of the country out of poverty. I feel privileged to contribute to this cause of helping children realize their dreams and enjoy a better future.”

Tanaaz Bhatia, Founder and Managing Director, Bottomline Media, shares “We are extremely happy to get The Vamps with a noble cause like Magic Bus, Music is a healer in its way and when it is helping a young one for a better life, it’s Magical.”