Catriona Gray to hold 'Legacy Ball' for the benefit of Young Focus
The Miss Universe title is not just about physical beauty—it's about compassion, intelligence, and overall character. Six years after her crowning moment, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray continues to embody these qualities through her advocacy work.
Catriona is set to launch a "Legacy Ball," which aims to raise funds for Young Focus, a non-governmental organization in Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila.
"My heart is so full. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to keep casting the spotlight [on] Young Focus. Pandemic or not, typhoon or not, they are always there," Catriona said during a press conference.
The ball will take place on Friday, Nov. 22 at the City of Dreams in Parañaque City.
The collected funds will be used to "give free education to more children."
"In my work in Young Focus, this is one thing I can do. This is my purpose as a person. I hope there are many many more efforts to give back to the community," she said.
The 30-year-old beauty queen also plans to auction off some of her fashion pieces to raise more funds.
Catriona's partnership with Young Focus began in 2016 when she and her mother visited the organization. Since then, her advocacy work has extended to the world of beauty pageantry, using her platform to raise awareness about issues such as the importance of education for the urban poor.
During the final round of the 2018 Miss Universe pageant, Catriona was asked what important lesson she had learned and how she would apply it to her reign as Miss Universe.
Catriona emphasized the importance of finding beauty in difficult situations. As Miss Universe, she aims to use her platform to promote positivity and make a difference in the world by helping those in need.
"I work a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila and the life there is poor and it's very sad. And I have always taught myself to look for the beauty in it; to look in the beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining. And to assess where I could give something; where I could provide something as a spokesperson. And if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity cannot grow and prosper, and children will have smiles on their faces," the singer-host said.
According to its website, Young Focus is a non-government that has been working with children and their families in the Smokey Mountain area of Tondo, Manila, since 2008. It enrolls children from elementary to college into government education while providing extra tutorials, life skills training, personal coaching, and social support.
Currently, the NGO has a total of 936 beneficiaries for the present school year 2023-2024.
