BGC Annual Charity Trading Day 2011 – 12th September, 2011

Sarah, The Duchess of York and her two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie recently took part in BGC Partners’ Charity Day helping to raise funds for 75 charities worldwide, including Children in Crisis.

Howard Lutnick has always led with compassion and goodness, and BGC is such an excellent example of giving back in the market place. We were very grateful to be part of their trading day to change the lives of people.

It meant a great deal for Beatrice, Eugenie and Myself to be able to contribute during the day, with the girls taking to the phones in the name of the cause.

This was the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, a day that will never be forgotten on the trading floor at BGC Partners. With every trader wearing red rugby jerseys, sporting the number 10 on their back, this is an office with some very close knit ties amongst themselves, a real community spirit. I really was able to see how in the face of such adversity this office managed to beat all the odds.

Cantor Fitzgerald a global inter-broker dealer and an affiliate of BGC Partners, was one of the hardest hit offices from 9/11, losing a third of their global workforce. This day is not only a representation of the awful losses that happened ten years ago, but also a celebration of the strength and courage of everyone at BGC Partners, determined to succeed and fend for those who have nothing. At first it was the families of the colleagues and friends they had lost, and now it is the charities that prosper because of their hard work. I can only commend and give thanks to each and everyone involved.

The day of course was a spectacular success. It raised approximately $12 million globally, as BGC donated 100% of their commissions for the day. Children in Crisis really benefit from the tremendous generosity on display each anniversary.

Of course the main reason we were there, amongst the traders, was to help represent Children in Crisis, one the chosen charities. Since 1993, Children in Crisis has stood for education. Our goal is to provide all children across the world with the resources, facilities and support to gain an education. An educated background should not be a privilege but a priority.

With millions of children dropping out of school every year, and 56 million to still be out of school by 2015, substantial efforts on our behalf from the traders at BGC Partners make a tremendous difference to raising the opportunities for an education for millions worldwide.

Thank you all Traders!