A charity benefit gala weekend is to become an annual event, with potentially even bigger stars lined up for next year.

Project Change Bermuda hosted a glittering array of events at the weekend, presenting some of the best international entertainment here in Bermuda.

A jam-packed schedule offered residents the chance to see the amazing acrobatics of DanceBrazil, the powerful play 'Black Man Rising', the soulful voice of Grammy-nominated songwriter and sister of Wyclef Jean, Melky Jean, plus a fashion show, luxury cruise, and gospel brunch featuring the Island's own talented Sia Spence and the Seventh-day Adventist Inspirational Choir.

If that was not enough, the cream of Bermudian society attended a black tie 'Passport to Paradise' Gala Ball on Saturday. Hosted by HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Emmy Award-winning actress Lynn Whitfield, guests wined, dined and danced the night away at the Hamilton Princess. While none of these events sold out, organisers nevertheless hailed the weekend as "very successful".

Next year they plan to scale back the number of events but to bring in even bigger stars from the worlds of music, entertainment and fashion.

Project Change Bermuda organised the Charity Benefit Weekend to raise funds for its Burundi 2009 Mission. In May and November, a medical team will visit the east African country to carry out reconstructive surgery, train doctors and nurses, and kit out operating rooms in two hospitals in Bujumbura.

At Saturday's Gala Ball, the charity saluted the work of its founder Dr. Christopher Johnson, presenting him with an award on behalf of the Project Change Bermuda team.

Dr. Johnson told The Royal Gazette: "I cannot tell you how much we raised yet at the weekend, but as for my award, I accept it from our board on behalf of all of the volunteers who donate their time, love, sweat, and tears.

"The most important thing that happened this weekend was that Project Change placed itself on the map. My goal this year was to move it to being sustainable. We may find that we raised little cash but we did raise hope for the future of this organisation."

He said: "This will be an annual gala that will be scaled back a bit. We will focus on DanceBrazil, the fashion show and theatrical performance."

Dr. Johnson added Melky Jean was likely to return next year.

New York producer Carl Nelson, a friend of Dr. Johnson's, is also hopeful more celebrities will get involved.

"We will have some big name entertainment," he said. "This year was a setting-up of what is to come. We will probably have people from the entertainment world but also music and fashion.

"I have friends in different areas of the entertainment industry and so I may ask an actress and a supermodel, it just depends on who has availability at that time (April 2010)."

He said: "We had a great weekend this year. There were so many things to do and so many choices.

"Everyone seemed to love it. I really loved the atmosphere, it was great."

Mr. Nelson said HRH Princess Katarina, the great-niece of the Queen and Prince Philip, also had "a wonderful time".

"She has pledged her support to the charity so she will also be back next year," he said.

"She is going to work with the charity during the year so most likely this will also help to raise awareness in the UK."

Mr. Nelson returns to New York today where he will finalise his next production, 'Drums Along The Hudson'.

He said: "This was the first year for the Project Change gala weekend and I was really pleased with everything, the attendances and calibre of the performances.

"We hope to make it even bigger next year."

For more information or to donate to Project Change, contact 292-2000 or e-mail info@projectchangebermuda.org.

Visit the charity at: www.projectchangebermuda.org