The Heart-Held Icon Project Cocktail Auction, presented by Ranmore Fund Management, will bring a collection of one-of-a-kind sculptures created or personalised by figures from film, sport and contemporary art to The May Fair Hotel in London on Thursday 17 September 2026, in aid of Make A Difference Leadership Foundation (MAD).
The project centres on bespoke sculptures based around the same form, a heart held between two hands, with each piece reflecting the story, personality or creative interpretation of the individual who contributed to it.
Funds raised will support MAD’s comprehensive scholarship and development programme for young South Africans with academic and leadership potential who face economic and other barriers. The Foundation provides financial support for education alongside mentorship, leadership development, career guidance, psychosocial and medical support, helping scholars progress through their studies and into employment.
The event is sold out. However, members of the public can still take part in the auction, with the silent auction already open for online bidding through the Handbid platform until approximately 9.00pm to 9.15pm on Thursday 17 September.
The story behind the project has a direct connection to Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory. Pienaar, who captained the Springboks to victory that year, founded MAD in 2003 following a commitment he made to Mandela to make a difference beyond the rugby field. Their story was later brought to a global audience through the film Invictus, with Morgan Freeman portraying Mandela and Matt Damon playing Pienaar.
Among the works being auctioned is Freeman’s The Invictus Spirit, inspired by his experience portraying Mandela. Other contributors include Springbok World Cup-winning captains Francois Pienaar, John Smit and Siya Kolisi, former England rugby captain Owen Farrell, England and British & Irish Lions star Maro Itoje, former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, and contemporary artists Lionel Smit and Ros Koch.
Koch currently has work on display at London’s National Portrait Gallery as part of the 2026 Portrait Award, while Smit received the Viewer’s Choice Award at the BP Portrait Award in 2013.
Francois Pienaar, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, commented:
“Because of a promise I made 23 years ago, we started Make A Difference Leadership Foundation. Since then, we have supported more than 550 young leaders through school and university, with wrap-around support, incl. mentorship, leadership development, medical aid support and psychometric testing along the way.
“The team then came up with the Heart-Held Icon Project, asking some very special people, including Morgan Freeman, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, David Coulthard and Siya Kolisi, to create and personalise their own Heart-Held Icons, which will be auctioned in London this week.”
Morgan Freeman, the Academy Award-winning actor who portrayed Nelson Mandela in Invictus, commented:
“Invictus is a story about the power of forgiveness and the possibility of unity. This heart carries the colors of South Africa in tribute to Nelson Mandela’s belief that what connects us can be stronger than what divides us. The film and the time we spent in South Africa making it holds a very special place in my heart.”
The Heart-Held Icon Project silent auction is open for bidding here:
https://events.handbid.com/auctions/heart-held-icon-project-cocktail-auction-46417
