"Unlike natural disasters such as droughts, floods, or earthquakes, hunger is often overlooked by us and therefore fails to gain the attention of society on a global scale," Duke said, now that a specialized foundation was to be established—he would make sure to deliver a solid speech. "Hunger doesn't occur only in specific locations. It is widespread in the slums, shanty towns, and neglected rural areas of both continents. Nor does hunger happen only during specific times; for many years now, the number of children suffering from hunger has been steadily increasing."
It had to be said—Panny Kallis had written a very well-targeted speech for Duke.
"The abolition of slavery, the end of colonialism, the dismantling of apartheid, environmental awareness, and the recognition of women's rights are all major social changes of our time. And all these changes began as verbal commitments before turning into real action. As we step into a new century, it's time we turn our attention to the issue of children."
The speech wasn't just a call to action it was backed up by data.
"Currently, forty thousand children lose their lives every day, and the weekly death toll among children is 280,000. No natural disaster—be it floods or earthquakes—claims as many children's lives. The killers behind these deaths are diseases triggered by hunger. The most terrifying among them is dehydration caused by dysentery, which results from drinking unclean water and suffering from malnutrition."
Duke raised his head and looked at the individuals seated below, saying, "These diseases are actually all preventable. Treating one child for dehydration costs only six cents. Spending just eighty-four cents a year can prevent blindness caused by a lack of vitamin A! Children should be regarded as the greatest treasure, and they are the hope for the future of our world."
At this point, Duke emphasized again, "Children are our most important resource and the hope for our future. We shouldn't only ensure that children survive; we must also protect them from emotional, social, and physical abuse. Only then can we envision a world without unrest and violence. To turn this vision into reality, we must rely on ourselves."
After this lengthy speech, he finally turned the topic to the newly established foundation. "The D&S Children's Foundation is not only a charitable organization, but also a humanitarian one. It will provide welfare aid and do its utmost to help people solve long-term problems. Miss Scarlett Johansson has been to African countries like Ethiopia and Sudan. She once told me that what she saw there weren't outstretched hands begging for help, but silence filled with dignity and a desire for the opportunity to help themselves."
"The D&S Children's Foundation is committed to protecting children keeping them away from hunger, thirst, disease, abuse, and death!"
Naturally, when doing such things, one had to make the slogans sound powerful.
"Thank you!"
He put away the script, bowed slightly, and then walked off the stage.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience below, as if countless starving African children had already escaped their plight thanks to Duke's words.
"That was a wonderful speech."
Just as he sat down, Duke heard his mother's words. He couldn't help but smile, nodded subtly toward the PR manager across the table, and said, "I should properly thank Panny later."
"It's my job,"
Panny Kallis turned to Scarlett. "Darling, it's your turn."
"I've been ready for a while now."
As the other host of the foundation, Scarlett Johansson was also bound to say a few words. Unlike Duke, who had never been to Africa, her speech was very brief. Plus, as someone frequently involved in political events in Hollywood, she didn't even need a written script.
Scarlett walked up to the stage, and once again, the hall was filled with warm applause.
"Thank you. Thank you all for your support!"
Her speech was much shorter. "As we step into the twenty-first century, there are still many problems that deserve deep reflection."
Compared to an amateur like Duke, Scarlett's emotion-packed delivery felt much more sincere. "We look around us and find that many past promises remain unfulfilled. Many people still live in poverty and endure hunger. Among them, I've seen children—bloated bellies, sorrowful eyes, and expressions full of pain…"
In that moment, Scarlett absolutely exuded Oscar-level presence. "As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, we're confronted with a cruel irony whether a country is rich or poor, there are always children suffering to varying degrees. Globalization has unified our indifference, abuse, and lack of care toward them."
She turned around and pointed to the foundation's logo on the background screen, saying, "The mission of the D&S Children's Foundation is to make the world pay attention to these children, to urge people not to forget them, not to let them become the sacrificial lambs of empty promises, and to help them live better lives."
Scarlett's eyes turned to Duke. "Just like Director Rosenberg said, in those parts of Africa, I didn't see hands reaching out to ask for help—I saw silence with dignity, and a deep longing for the opportunity to help themselves!"
Another round of thunderous applause filled the banquet hall.
As the applause died down, Scarlett Johansson, her eyes red, said, "The world is inherently unfair. But there is only one world, and it's getting smaller by the day. People are coming into more frequent contact with one another. In this environment, those who are wealthy have the duty and responsibility to help those who have nothing!"
She bent down and bowed. "Thank you!"
After leaving the stage, Scarlett returned to the table and sat beside Duke again. Still shaken by her emotions from earlier, she asked, "How much can we raise?"
Duke gently patted her hand. "No matter how much, it's a good thing."
Unlike many other Hollywood celebrities, he wouldn't manipulate his own charity foundation. The D&S Children's Foundation would certainly have transparent, public, and clear financial accounts.
Given Duke's wealth, there was no need to touch donation money.
Many celebrity-run charitable foundations in Hollywood were essentially fronts used to fund their own lavish spending under the guise of doing good.
To some extent, it was more reliable to donate money to the American Red Cross than to trust these celebrity charity foundations.
Correspondingly, the declared donation amounts from celebrities were often unreliable. For example, when a celebrity claimed to donate a large sum to a certain foundation, actually receiving that money could be quite a challenge.
The best example of this was Oprah. Known for being warm-hearted and empathetic, this famous Black woman also had a reputation for making donation promises that she rarely fulfilled. She'd casually announce an amount on someone's show, but the actual fulfillment rate was embarrassingly low.
Naturally, Duke would never invite someone like her.
Even though he had ulterior motives for doing charity, he would never stoop so low as to default on a donation such behavior was simply beneath him.
Such a party, of course, would not be complete without a charity auction segment. A professional auctioneer from Sotheby's presided over the event.
The first items to be auctioned were those provided by the hosts.
The first to appear was a custom-made crocodile leather handbag donated by Leah.
Despite it being a no-reserve auction, the price was instantly driven up.
Sofia Coppola was the first to raise her paddle. "Fifty thousand dollars!"
Right next to her, Charlize Theron smiled slightly and said, "Sorry, Sofia."
She then raised her own paddle. "Sixty thousand dollars!"
At a table in the front row, George Lucas's current girlfriend, Mellody Hobson, also raised her paddle. "One hundred thousand dollars!"
Charlize Theron raised her paddle again. "Two hundred thousand dollars!"
The banquet hall gradually quieted. Sofia Coppola was just about to raise her paddle when Scarlett Johansson, sitting beside Duke, made a gesture toward the stage.
"Three hundred thousand dollars!"
Charlize Theron frowned slightly but didn't bid again.
The handbag was ultimately won by Scarlett Johansson for three hundred thousand dollars.
Next, a pair of emerald earrings donated by Scarlett was purchased by Duke for four hundred thousand dollars.
This was a charity auction just like the early rounds of bidding unless there was a deep, irreconcilable grudge, few people would continue to wildly raise their bids after someone else clearly showed a desire to win the item.
Of course, there were always exceptions, like the next item Duke put up for auction.
"This is a student experimental film reel that Mr. Duke Rosenberg shot before entering Hollywood. No reserve!"
In Duke's eyes, the strange things he shot back then had no value whatsoever.
But others saw it very differently.
Especially those who wanted to make a strong impression on Duke or remind him of their presence.
"Mom, I want that reel!"
After asking her mother, Taylor Swift was the first to raise her paddle. "Fifty thousand dollars!"
Scarlett certainly wouldn't let Duke's belongings fall into someone else's hands, and she stepped up without hesitation. "Two hundred thousand dollars!"
According to past experience, once she showed a strong intent to purchase something, others usually wouldn't continue bidding. But this time was different.
Charlize Theron shot a cold glance in that direction and also raised her paddle. "Three hundred thousand dollars!"
Hearing that voice, Scarlett turned her head, and immediately spotted the strikingly tall Charlize Theron. "Four hundred thousand dollars."
From a seat further back, Taylor Swift had already pulled her hand far away from the paddle. For someone who had only released a single track, that number was astronomical.
"Four hundred thousand dollars!" Charlize Theron also noticed Scarlett's gaze and merely offered a smile.
Scarlett raised her bid once more. "Five hundred thousand dollars."