New York - Former US President Bill Clinton on Wednesday hosted an exclusive Mandela Day Gala Dinner at the stunning Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday evening, ahead of Mandela Day.
Graca Machel-Mandela attended the event to mark her husband's birthday together with Nelson Mandela's daughter and grandson, according to the Mandeladay website.
A number of leading world figures, musicians and stars of stage and screen all attended the event to show their support for Mandela Day and join the call for people to pledge 67 minutes of their time to making it a better world on Saturday.
Morgan Freeman gave a special birthday tribute and former President Clinton made a key not address. There were also performances from Jonathan Butler and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Other notable guests included Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Harry Belafonte, Beyonce and Jay Z.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the gala by video message pledging his full support for Mandela Day.
All the proceeds raised by the event will benefit the Nelson Mandela charities.
New York City is the centre of celebrations this year, with citizens taking up the global call to create a better world by realising their individual power to make a difference.
On Monday, Shrek the Musical star and 2009 Tony Award nominee, Brian d'Arcy James, helped kick off Mandela Day Volunteer Week with a reading of "Nelson Mandela's Favourite African Folktales" for over 100 children aged between 5 and 9 from the Harlem School of the Arts at Washington Square Park.
On Tuesday, volunteers sorted more than 50 boxes of donated clothing and shoes at the AIDS Service Centre, while New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other volunteers helped bag food for hungry families with City Harvest at Union Square Park.
Other events have included the Mandela Day Exhibition at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal with performances from LOVE, HALLIE and NYC park clean-up days at Jackie Robinson Park, Union Square Park, and Sarah D Roosevelt Park.
Volunteers on Wednesday packed and shipped online book orders at the Housing Works Bookstore Caf,.
On Thursday, the 46664's HIV and AIDS prevention play will be performed at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Park. It is entitled Khululeka - It's in our hands.
Later in the day, David Beckham's Major League Soccer team, the LA Galaxy, take on the New York Red Bulls in a tribute match commemorating Mandela Day.
Final rehearsals will take place on Friday in preparation for the first ever Mandela Day concert on Saturday, at Radio City Music Hall featuring performances by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban, Queen Latifaf, Lil' Kim and Jesse Clegg.
