Philanthropy
“Thanks to HEROES, research in genetic diseases is speeding up, whatever the obstacles, to the benefit of sick children and their families. The researchers and physicians at the Institut Imagine are committedly and skillfully practicing the best science of today in order to invent the best medicine for tomorrow.”
— Stanislas Lyonnet, President of the Institut Imagine & Kamel Mennour, President and Founder of Mennour
HEROES for Imagine
Launched in 2015 by Kamel Mennour, HEROES for Imagine is a fundraising auction for the benefit of Institut Imagine, a European leader in research, care and teaching related to genetic diseases.
Every two years, in autumn, an exceptional dinner is held in the heart of the Institut Imagine, located on the campus of the Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades AP-HP, in Paris.
This initiative rests on the commitment of gallery owner Kamel Mennour, with the support of the auction house Christie’s and Galerie kreo, and the participation of artists, designers and celebrities such as Gad Elmaleh, who are donating their work or their time to offer artworks and exceptional moments for sale.
On average, around forty lots are auctioned off during this unique evening, attended by over three hundred guest donors.
Over five editions, the cumulative amount contributed by the HEROES for Imagine initiative has reached more than €32 million (€3 million in 2015; €4,5 million in 2016; €7,2 million in 2018; €8,2 million in 2022, €10 million in 2024) which have been invested in strategic projects (development of artificial intelligence and data mining) and technology platforms, such as a DNA sequencer for the diagnosis of new genetic diseases.

2024 - 5th Edition
Le lundi 23 septembre 2024 à 19 h à l’Institut Imagine, 24 boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 15
Commissaires-priseurs : Cécile Verdier, présidente de Christie’s France,
François de Ricqlès & Julien-Vincent Brunie
Maître de cérémonie : Gad Elmaleh
Exposition HEROES for Imagine
10 - 21 septembre 2024
Mennour, 28 avenue Matignon, Paris
Guillaume Bardet · Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec · Daniel Buren · Pier Paolo Calzolari · Sidival Fila · Claire Fontaine · Ryan Gander · Dhewadi Hadjab · Petrit Halilaj · Camille Henrot · Pierre Jeanneret · Anish Kapoor · Tadashi Kawamata · Idris Khan · Alicja Kwade · Bertrand Lavier · Lee Ufan · Alexandre Noll · Philippe Parreno · Ugo Rondinone · Andy Warhol
La vente réalise le montant de 10 millions €, le plus élevé depuis sa création en 2015, pour un total cumulé de 32 millions € en cinq éditions
« Cette vente est une démonstration extraordinaire de la générosité et de la solidarité de nos donateurs. Les 10 millions d’euros récoltés cette année vont permettre à l’Institut Imagine de franchir de nouvelles étapes cruciales dans la recherche et l’innovation pour les maladies génétiques. »
— Kamel Mennour










































