Presidents Club guest Tarby said ill kids will miss out because of charity ban
Yesterday Tarbuck stood by his defence of the event, insisting the decision of many charities to return donations was a mistake.
He said: “I think it’s a great shame that money aimed at children’s well-being and children’s hospitals was removed.
“It’s a great shame that money was withdrawn from children’s hospitals. That would have enabled children to have operations.”
Meanwhile, we can reveal tycoons at the event are linked to women’s charities. They include one millionaire boss whose high- flying firm talks of “empowering women” by handing cash to the Girl Guides.
Another has a company that gives million-pound support for 11 different women’s charities.
And a third speaks of “philanthropic commitments” including personal s upport f or a “women’s empowerment initiative”.
Critics last night said the good works are in stark contrast to the seedy exploitation of women, as witnessed during the now notorious Presidents Club fundraiser at central London’s Dorchester Hotel – which was billed as “the most un-PC event of the year”.
David Pears, who jointly runs one of Britain’s biggest property firms, The William Pears Group, was listed on the seating plan at table 23. Pears and his brothers Mark and Trevor, who was knighted last year, established the Pears Foundation.
The organisation talks of its five- year partnership with Girlguiding, describing it as the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women. Pears’ website states: “This partnership, empowering young girls and expanding volunteering opportunities in communities, expresses the Foundation’s belief i n the importance of active citizenship.”
Ian Urbanowski was listed on the seating plan on table 12 – hosted by James Andrew International – alongside guests including Tarbuck, Presidents Club trustee Harvey Soning and former Goldman Sachs banker Phillip Hylander.
Urbanowski i s an associate director at private bank Coutts, whose f oundation supports 11 different “organisations supporting women and girls, including End Violence against Women, Women Centre and Working Chance”.
The Coutts Foundation website says it has given at least £1million to the 11 charities since 2015.
Elsewhere, cosmetic surgeon Dr Yannis Alexandrides drides was sitting on one of the two o tables sponsored by London’s largest private landlord and letting agents, Residential Land. nd.
He founded the 111 Harley Street clinic and d his firm donated a course of plastic surgery auctioned off for or £25,000 on the night of the charity arity dinner.
Sacking cking
A biography aphy o n Dr Alexandrides’ company website tells of his support port for charities including “the women’s empowerment initiative Cash & Rocket” – a car rally to help Africans.
The scandal, revealed in a Financial Times es report this week, caused used a national furore e that led to a top Tory y donor quitting as a Government aide, de, plus a Labour ur peer’s sacking.
Theresa May y