Great Ormond Street Hospital has given back donations raised at seedy Presidents Club event where women say they were groped
- A Financial Times investigation alleged sexual harassment at a society charity fundraiser.
- One of its chief beneficiaries, Great Ormond Street Hospital, is now returning all the money it raised.
Great Ormond Street Hospital has said it will return all of the money raised for it at the scandal-hit Presidents Club Charity Dinner, where women say they were groped and harassed by wealthy and influential patrons.
A story by the Financial Times detailed how more than 100 hostesses were hired to parade in skimpy outfits for powerful figures in finance, business, and the media at the charity event.
Many, including a Financial Times reporter, said that men groped them. Some were asked to meet the men in their rooms, or asked directly whether they were prostitutes, according to the FT.
The event was held at The Dorchester, a ritzy London hotel. Lots auctioned to attendees included lunch with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson or Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, cars, and plastic surgery for "your missus."
Great Ormond Street, a world-leading children's hospital in London, was one of the chief beneficiaries of the event, which has been running for more than 30 years.
But after FT investigation was published, it issued a statement saying it would never have accepted any money from the event had it been aware of the allegations. It also said it would return all the cash raised at previous events.
Great Ormond Street tweeted its statement: