Warsaw, Poland

Will Smith and Dr Jill Biden help TOP CHARITY art gala raise €14 mln – a record for European philanthropy

09 June 2025

More than €14 million. Record-breaking bids. The presence of global leaders including Will Smith and Dr Jill Biden and a historic partnership with luxury brand Dictador. The fourth edition of TOP CHARITY has once again proven that philanthropy born in Poland can resonate on a truly international scale.

“Special thanks to Omenaa and Rafał, as well as Sara and Mariusz Jawoszek from Dictador. Mariusz said last year this would be the perfect event for my first visit to Poland. We made it happen. The charitable vision, the values, and the integration of art, business, and social impact – it’s powerful. Let the world know you’re here.”

— Will Smith, Dictador & Guest of Honour at the TOP CHARITY Auction 2025.

Fot.: Omenaa Foundation. Omenaa Mensah, Will Smith, Rafał Brzoska

At the personal invitation of Dictador, the event’s main partner, Will Smith arrived in Poland as the Guest of Honour at the TOP CHARITY Auction 2025 and took the stage, engaged with key stakeholders, and presented a preview of Dictador’s upcoming artistic ventures that blend luxury with purpose. His presence, alongside Dictador—a brand with Polish roots and a global impact—was nothing short of transformative, significantly enhancing the global scope and ambition of the event, which took place on June 7th.

Love, purpose, and global impact: the story behind the founders. When Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska met, it was more than a romantic connection – it was the beginning of a shared mission. She, a Polish-Ghanaian philanthropist and cultural entrepreneur, and he, one of Poland’s most visionary business leaders and tech innovators, were both deeply moved by the urgency to act, to give, and to inspire. Their relationship, rooted in mutual respect and a powerful sense of responsibility, became the driving force behind a new philanthropic movement in Central Europe. Today, they are recognized across the continent as the faces of a bold, purpose-driven approach to leadership, proving that love and legacy can walk hand in hand.

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Since its founding, TOP CHARITY has aimed to build long-term, international alliances rooted in real-world impact. Just three weeks prior to the event, Omenaa and Rafał met with President Barack Obama during the Impact conference, affirming a shared vision for the future of education and philanthropy. This led to renewedcommitment from the Omenaa Foundation to support the Obama Foundation through the Philanthropic Consortium – a unique European network co-founded by Mensah and Brzoska. Equally strategic was the invitation of Dr. Jill Biden. As a global advocate for education and equality, the First Lady’s presence in Warsaw reinforced the values TOP CHARITY seeks to advance. Speaking at the ChangeMAKERS conference held at Wilanów Palace the day before the gala, Dr. Biden praised Mensah’s commitment:

“Omenaa, I know your father would be proud. You told me he taught you that life isn’t just what we lose – it’s what we give to others. Education is the key to change. And you are living that truth.”

Dr. Jill Biden

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Fot.: Cezary Piwowarski. Dr Jill Biden x TOP CHARITY ChangeMAKERS 2025

In just under two hours, more than €6.5 million was raised from the auction, with Rafał Brzoska announcing that he would personally match the entire amount, doubling the total to over €13 million. As of now, donations have surpassed that threshold and continue to grow.

TOP CHARITY 2025 has set a new benchmark for philanthropic engagement in Central Europe. What started as a Polish response to the war in Ukraine has become a global movement. Thirty percent of the funds will support the Philanthropic Consortium, Europe’s first platform uniting over 60 NGOs and working with partners like the Obama Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation, and Andrea Bocelli Foundation. Seventy percent will fund a newly created endowment to secure long-term support for projects in Poland and abroad – a model inspired by the Gates, Ford and Rockefeller foundations.

The auction featured 15 extraordinary artworks and 10 unique experiences from the “Great Emotions” category. The top-selling artwork, a sculpture by Pablo Atchugarry, reached €720,000. Yves Scherer, a visual artist based in New York City, exhibited his piece Imagine, which had a starting bid of €50,000 and was ultimately sold for €130,000. His work confronts the integrity of existence, blending elements of antiquity with the contemporary. In both sculptural forms and lenticular works, different realities are blurred and presented as one. Complexity orbits simplicity, encapsulated by avid desire. Perception, both biological and cultural, is questioned and dismantled as viewers reevaluate notions of depiction itself.

The work Salted like the Ocean by Larry Amponsah, a Ghanaian multimedia artist, was auctioned for €60,000. Yaw Owusu, a Ghanaian artist born in Kumasi, uses his art to dissect the shifting meanings of value. His artwork We face forward was auctioned for €55,000 with an estimate of €30,000. Ablade Glover, a Ghanaian painter and educator, presented his piece Red Townscape, which was auctioned for €40,000 with an estimate of €14,000. Rita Mawuena Benissan, a Ghanaian American interdisciplinary artist sold her artwork The wisdom from above II for €60,000 with an estimate of €14,000, resulting in a percentage increase of approximately 328.57%.

Rita Mawuena Benissan

The auction featured a significant collection of African art, highlighting the growing appreciation for this vibrant cultural expression. This aligns perfectly with the mission of the OmenaArt Foundation, founded by Omena Mensah, to promote and support African artists and their work.

The most sought-after experience was a week in the Six Senses resort in the Seychelles with wellness icon Ewa Chodakowska, sold for over €1.6 million. Other experiences included a private stay at Regnum Carya with tennis and golf training and personal meetings with Omenaa and Rafał, a Dolce&Gabbana jewellery set, a rare collector’s Mercedes, a course at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and time with Richard Branson and Shaquille O’Neal.

Ewa Chodakowska & Lefteris Kavoukis

The gala was co-hosted by June Sarpong, an esteemed British journalist and television presenter known for her advocacy of diversity and inclusion, and Marcin Prokop, a prominent Polish TV host and journalist. Sara James delivered a touching performance, showcasing her incredible talent as a vibrant and colorful singer.

Fot.: Cezary Piwowarski. June Sarpong & Omenaa Mensah

The event was also attended by UK Ambassador Anna Clunes, former US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski and Olga Leonowicz, former US Ambassador Georgette Mosbacher, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar, Maltese Ambassador Gavin Gulia, and Greek Ambassador Kamba. Additionally, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, a former NBA player and ambassador for the Kids Haven Sport & Art Complex in Ghana, created by the Omenaa Foundation, was present. Phyllis Newhouse, a notable figure in cybersecurity, also joined the gathering. The event featured artists including Rita Mawuena Benissan, Saad Qureshi, Monika Falkus, Igor Dobrowolski, as well as Florence Dyan and Gilles Dyan, the owners of Opera Gallery. Other distinguished guests included Ekow Eshun, a British curator and writer, Philip Hoffman, CEO and Founder of The Fine Art Group, Hannah O'Leary, Senior Director and Head of Modern and Contemporary African Art at Sotheby's London, and Isabel de Vasconcellos, a British curator and writer.

UK Ambassador Anna Clunes, Omenaa Mensah, Rafał Brzoska

Former US Ambassador Mark Brzezinski and Olga Leonowicz

TOP CHARITY is more than a gala – it’s a growing movement. Since its creation in 2022, the initiative has raised over €34 million, with the 2025 edition adding another €14 million. Most of these funds are directed toward Polish-led, locally embedded projects. Founded by Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska, TOP CHARITY proves that modern philanthropy can thrive at the intersection of art, business, and social innovation. Through the Philanthropic Consortium, Poland has created a model of inclusive, strategic giving that inspires global dialogue.

“This is more than charity – this is our shared future."

Omenaa Mensah,

“When we act with passion and integrity, we can achieve extraordinary things.”

Rafał Brzoska

Main Partner: Dictador
Strategic Partners: Corporate Connection, Polswiss Art, Dolce&Gabbana, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Mercedes-Benz Garcarek, Guerlain, Oshee, Sunreef Yachts Eco, Antonius Caviar, Regnum Carya, InPost, BeBio.pl, Moët Hennessy, Kinga Pienińska, Jake Vision, Kubota, Aqua Expeditions, Dassault Aviation, Lewiatan, Employers of Poland, Polish Business Roundtable, SprawdzaMY, SkwaraArt
#topcharity2025 #topcharity #omenaafoundation

TOP CHARITY is the flagship philanthropic initiative of Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska, uniting the worlds of art, business, and social engagement. Since 2022, through auctions of unique works of art and experiences, the organization has raised over 85 million PLN for charitable purposes, supporting projects in Poland, Africa, and Europe.

TOP CHARITY ChangeMakers is a prestigious forum for change leaders that brings together representatives from business, diplomacy, and culture. The event, organized since 2023, serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and creating synergies in areas such as deregulation, security, education, and the role of art in social development. In 2024, the honored guest was Phyllis Newhouse, a veteran of the U.S. Army who transformed her military experience into a fight against cyber threats as the founder of Xtreme Solutions, a company specializing in cybersecurity and defense technologies. In 2025, Dr. Jill Biden, the former First Lady of the USA, emphasized the importance of global cooperation for equality.

The TOP CHARITY Auction is a prestigious charitable event held annually as part of the TOP CHARITY initiative. The auction gathers artists, donors, and art enthusiasts who have the opportunity to bid on unique works of art and other exclusive items. The proceeds from the auction are allocated to charitable purposes, supporting aid projects in Poland and around the world. It is not only a platform for art and culture but also a space for building community and collaboration for the common good. The TOP CHARITY Auction is proof that art can be a powerful tool for social change.

The initiative is distinguished by the Philanthropic Consortium – the first platform for collaboration among non-governmental organizations in Europe, including the Obama Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation, Andrea Bocelli Foundation, and Doctors Without Borders.

The project is led by Omenaa Mensah – founder of the Omenaa Foundation and an icon of modern philanthropy – and Rafał Brzoska, president of InPost and initiator of SprawdzaMY, who combine innovation with real social impact.

Omenaa Mensah, Ghanaian heritage and growing up in homogeneous Poland in the 1980s. Founder of Omenaa Foundation (10 years), OmenaArt Foundation, Vice President of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation, organizer of the TOP CHARITY Auction, recognized as the Best Luxury Auction in Europe—rais- ing 86 million PLN for charity across 3 editions. Initiator of Poland’s first Philanthropic Consortium—a project supporting organizations such as the Obama Foundation, Rafa Nadal Foundation, Bocelli Foundation, ShoulderUp Foundation, and Seed Academy Ghana. First Polish member of the Africa Acquisitions Committee at Tate Modern, juror of the Kuenyehia Trust for Contemporary Art Prize, supporting contemporary African artists and promoting their work in- ternationally, and juror of the Yaa Asantewaa Prize, recognizing African women artists for their contribution to art and innovation.

Rafał Brzoska, Entrepreneur and philanthropist whose unparalleled contribution to business and society has made him one of the most in- fluential leaders in Europe. As the found- er and CEO of Integer Capital Group, he revolutionized the Polish delivery market with InPost—Europe’s leading parcel de- livery platform that transformed e-com- merce logistics through parcel lockers.Business Innovations and Global ExpansionRevolution in Logistics: InPost currently operates nearly 79,000 parcel lockers across nine countries, processing bil- lions of packages annually. Strategic Acquisitions: The takeover of French logistics giant Mondial Relay for €513 million and the complete acquisition of the UK-based Menzies Distribution Group attest to InPost’s rapid growth across the continent.

Media contact: Justyna Komorek, Justyna.komorek@omiimage.com, +48 534 108 802