Jul 09, 2026

The fifth jubilee edition of TOP CHARITY 2026 in Warsaw raised EUR 20 million in 90 minutes, with Martin Vohánka and the King of Asante among the guests

Prague Morning

Czech entrepreneur Martin Vohánka, the King of Asante from Ghana, members of the Ethiopian royal family, international leaders in technology, diplomacy, contemporary African art and philanthropy, as well as cultural figures including DJ Cuppy and Vanessa Williams, gathered in Warsaw for the fifth jubilee edition of TOP CHARITY.

The event raised approximately €20 million for social, educational, cultural and humanitarian projects across Europe and worldwide, confirming the growing role of Central Europe in building new models of global philanthropy. During the main auction, Polish entrepreneurs and collectors bid around EUR 10 million in just 90 minutes. The result was then doubled from private funds by Rafał Brzoska, co-founder of TOP CHARITY and founder and CEO of InPost, one of Europe’s leading technology-driven parcel delivery and out-of-home logistics platforms.

Founded by philanthropist Omenaa Mensah and entrepreneur Rafał Brzoska, TOP CHARITY has now raised more than EUR 55 million since its launch in 2022, strengthening its position as one of the most influential philanthropic platforms in Europe.

The international character of this year’s edition was reflected in the presence of guests representing culture, new technologies, art, philanthropy, diplomacy and royal families. The guest of honour was Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of Asante in Ghana, whose first visit to Poland gave the jubilee edition a deeply symbolic dimension. His presence referred directly to the leading theme of this year’s edition, “In the Kingdom of Asante”, and to the Ghanaian heritage of Omenaa Mensah, whose father came from the Asante royal family. It created a powerful bridge between Europe and Africa, linking culture, heritage, identity and social responsibility.

The gala was also attended by a delegation of the Ethiopian royal family comprising Asfaw Shiferaw Sahle, Kelmwork Asfaw Shiferaw, Tedla Khan and Blane Shieraf. Invited guests included DJ Cuppy, Nigerian DJ, philanthropist and cultural entrepreneur:

John Caudwell, British entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Phones 4u, whose philanthropic work includes Caudwell Children, Caudwell Youth, the John Caudwell Foundation and The Life-Changers Circle – a network of philanthropists supporting life-changing initiatives for children and young people,

June Sarpong, entrepreneur and the BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity,

Lady Dentaa, British-Ghanaian entrepreneur, founder of the GUBA Foundation and GUBA Awards,

Kristofer Ruscon, CEO of the Swedish-French champagne house HATT et SÖNER,

Marwan Zakhem, founder of Gallery 1957 in Accra and London and an important promoter of contemporary African art,

Vanessa Williams, American singer, actress and the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America,

Jo-Ann Strauss, Miss South Africa 2000,

Johan Ernst Nilson, Swedish explorer,

Ekow Eshun, British-Ghanaian curator,

Phyllis Newhouse, a US Army veteran, technology entrepreneur and cybersecurity leader, who became the first woman to win EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® US award in the technology category,

Kami Gahiga, curator and art-market expert working between Kigali and London,

Theresa Adjei-Mensah, Ghanaian diplomat and Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to the Czech Republic,

Hannah O’Leary, specialist in the African art market associated with Sotheby’s,

Azu Nwagbogu, Nigerian curator,

Kwame Mintah, Asante culture scholar specialising in Twi, kente symbolism and Akan social and religious structures.

This year’s auction reflected the increasingly international character of the initiative. Among the most talked-about Great Emotions was a visit to the United States, during which the auction winner will meet Elon Musk, one of the most important figures in the world of new technologies. The experience offers not only the opportunity to meet the creator of SpaceX, Tesla and Neuralink, but also to present to him the winner’s own project, idea or initiative. This Great Emotion was auctioned for more than EUR 570,000.

Another highly emotional lot was a journey to Ghana with Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska. The several-day experience includes participation in Accra Cultural Week, meetings with artists from the contemporary African art scene, visits to Kids Haven social projects and special events prepared by the hosts. The trip reached a total value of EUR 900,000.

The automotive world was represented by a limited-edition Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ “APXGP Edition”, inspired by the film “F1” and limited to only 52 pieces worldwide. The car was auctioned for EUR 450,000.

The collector character of the auction was also underlined by a Great Emotion prepared in partnership with HATT et SÖNER. Three families gained the opportunity to create their own family champagne in the heart of Champagne – a limited Personal Vintage bearing their own name and comprising 60 bottles of their bespoke cuvée. The experience, delivered under the guidance of Kristofer Ruscon, CEO of the Swedish-French champagne house HATT et SÖNER, includes a visit to the vineyards of the Côte des Blancs, a tasting, a Masterclass Blind Tasting and a stay for two people at a five-star hotel in Champagne. The total amount raised from this auction was EUR 480,000.

Since the beginning of the initiative, the Great Emotions category has been one of the strongest elements of the TOP CHARITY auction, each year attracting exceptional donor engagement and transforming exclusive experiences into measurable social impact.

The art auction further confirmed TOP CHARITY’s position at the intersection of philanthropy, collecting and the global contemporary art market. The top-selling artwork at this year’s auction was the monumental sculpture “On, Venus, Youth” from the “Universale” series by Krzysztof Renes. The aluminium composition reached a price of EUR 420,000, more than four times above its upper estimate. Renes, a third-generation sculptor and artisan, is steadily strengthening his position on the international art scene. His works are held in private collections in Poland and abroad, and the “Universale 4000×5” series was presented in 2025 at NordArt, one of Europe’s largest contemporary art exhibitions.

Among the key lots was also “Gaj” / “Grove” by Ewa Juszkiewicz, one of the highest-selling contemporary Polish artists internationally. Her distinctive reinterpretations of classical female portraiture have attracted strong attention from the global art market. The work sold for EUR 400,000.

One of the most anticipated works was “Laced Fingers” by Amoako Boafo, one of the most important contemporary African artists, known for his expressive finger-painting technique and portraits of Black subjects. His works are held in major international collections, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Albertina Museum in Vienna and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The painting sold for EUR 350,000.

Strong results were also achieved by Tomasz Koclęga’s “Lux Mentis (Światło Umysłu)”, auctioned for EUR 340,000 / “Lux Mentis (Light of the Mind)”; Charlotte Colbert’s “Out with Lanterns”, which reached EUR 300,000; and “Mademoiselle Pogany” after Constantin Brâncuși, also sold for EUR 300,000, almost ten times above its upper estimate. Another major lot was “Ptak II” by Magdalena Abakanowicz, the most internationally recognised Polish contemporary artist, whose works are held in leading museum collections including Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sculpture sold for EUR 240,000.

The remaining list of artists and amounts achieved was as follows:
– Philip Colbert – “Flower III (with Dots)” (2025), EUR 220,000,

– Karolina Żądło – “Ulotny smak truskawki lub poziomki” (2025) / “The Fleeting Taste of a Strawberry or Wild Strawberry” (2025), EUR 100,000,

– Wojciech Ireneusz Sobczyk – “Drzewo z serii O próżnej sławie i ulotnym smaku truskawki lub poziomki” (2020) / “Tree from the series On Vain Glory and the Fleeting Taste of a Strawberry or Wild Strawberry” (2020), EUR 160,000,

– Ibrahim Mahama – “HYMNS FOR THE REBEL SOUL” (2026), EUR 280,000,

– Modupeola Fadugba – “The Kiss” from the Ojude Oba series (2025), EUR 160,000,

– Paweł Althamer – “Erico” (2023), EUR 100,000,

– Pola Dwurnik – “Nowa choreografia Alcyny: rozdział trzeci, taniec ze słoniami (za Richardem Avedonem)” (2024) / “Alcina’s New Choreography: Chapter Three, Dancing with Elephants (after Richard Avedon)” (2024), EUR 160,000.

Together, the results underlined the role of TOP CHARITY as a platform where art patronage, international collecting and philanthropy meet in support of social impact.

Beyond fundraising, this year’s edition highlighted the growing role of Central Europe in building new models of cooperation between business, philanthropy, culture and diplomacy.

A day before the gala, Warsaw hosted TOP CHARITY ChangeMAKERS 2026, an international platform for dialogue bringing together leaders from business, diplomacy, technology, security, culture, art and philanthropy to discuss the future of responsible leadership, Europe-Africa cooperation and cross-sector collaboration.

Among the participants was Martin Vohánka, Czech entrepreneur, philanthropist, founder and CEO of Eurowag Group and recipient of this year’s Philanthropic Impact Award. The Czech business leader joined the ChangeMAKERS conversation on strengthening regional cooperation, deepening European alliances and creating opportunities for future generations across Central Europe.

“We must strengthen and deepen alliances in Europe while creating a space where talent can grow – not only in Poland, but across the entire region. A space that builds prosperity and leadership rooted in humanity. I believe our countries have everything they need to make this vision a reality” – said Martin Vohánka.

Other participants included representatives of UNESCO, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and international business figures who discussed Europe’s resilience, emerging technologies, public-private partnerships and new forms of cooperation between Europe and Africa.

The jubilee edition also underscored TOP CHARITY’s expanding international reach. The guest of honour was Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of Asante in Ghana, whose presence reflected the initiative’s growing emphasis on cooperation between Europe and Africa through culture, education and social responsibility.

“For me, TOP CHARITY has always been about more than fundraising. It is about building bridges – between people, cultures, continents and ideas. This year’s edition, inspired by the heritage of the Kingdom of Asante and my Ghanaian roots, showed that philanthropy can become a space for dialogue, partnership and real social change” – said Omenaa Mensah, co-founder and initiator of TOP CHARITY.

“What Omenaa and I have been building for years has long gone beyond the standard framework of philanthropy. With each successive edition, TOP CHARITY shows that it is possible to think more boldly and build projects on a truly international scale” – said Rafał Brzoska, co-founder and initiator of TOP CHARITY.

Founded by Omenaa Mensah and Rafał Brzoska, TOP CHARITY was created in response to the wave of solidarity following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Over five years, it has evolved into a platform connecting business leaders, cultural institutions, philanthropists and social organisations to support projects across Poland, Europe and worldwide.

According to the organisers, at least 30 percent of the funds raised each year are directed through the initiative’s Philanthropic Consortium, which supports NGOs, foundations and social initiatives. To date, the consortium has backed more than 160 initiatives, benefiting around 800, 000 people worldwide, with funding directed to education, children’s support, culture, humanitarian assistance and long-term social impact projects.

The fifth season of TOP CHARITY has also become a wider international story. It opened with the success of the OmenaArt Foundation at Malta Biennale 2026, where the Polish-Ghanaian thematic pavilion “Redefining. Polish-Ghanaian Textile Narratives” received the Best Pavilion Award. The season continued through the fourth edition of TOP CHARITY ART in Warsaw, followed by TOP CHARITY ChangeMAKERS, the main TOP CHARITY Gala auction and TOP CHARITY Lazy Sunday, a family-focused event dedicated to children and the youngest guests.

This year, the project was also recognised at the international Eventex Awards, winning three Gold awards in the categories of Fundraising, Impact and Expo, confirming the scale and international relevance of the initiative.

The fifth season will culminate abroad with the first international edition of the initiative, TOP CHARITY Venice, taking place on 10 September 2026 during one of the most important cultural moments of the year in Venice.

The event will coincide with the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and the fourth edition of Homo Faber Biennial. This symbolic closing chapter brings together the key themes of the jubilee season: art, philanthropy, European cooperation and global dialogue.

Websites: https://topcharity.eu/ https://omenaartfoundation.com/