On December 13th, 2025, the historic Laurenskerk in Rotterdam lit up for the ninth edition of the Sophia Lichtjesdiner — an exclusive gala to raise funds for the Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital. In the presence of Mayor Carola Schouten, something extraordinary happened: a record-breaking €2.000.000 was raised in a single evening. Among the auction highlights? A collaborative painting made by Jeej and young patients of the hospital, sold for an incredible €44.000.
From the Streets of Rotterdam to the Heart of Sophia
As a proud Rotterdam native and creative ambassador, Jeej has always used art to tell stories that matter. So when the opportunity came to co-create a painting with the children of Sophia, the answer was a wholehearted yes. The result was a unique piece, full of emotion, energy and colour, a visual celebration of creativity, resilience, and shared strength.
Two Million for the Future
The €2M raised during the Lichtjesdiner is being invested in two groundbreaking projects at the Sophia Children’s Hospital: 3D Training Lungs: realistic, reusable lungs that allow surgeons to safely practice complex procedures before operating on real children.Ex-Situ Heart Perfusion: a breakthrough in heart transplant technology, keeping donor hearts warm and beating outside the body, improving transplant success rates and saving more young lives.
