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BVLGARI Announces Initiative to Support 'Rewrite the Future'
BVLGARI Launches Major Fundraising Project to Defend Children's Rights, Coincides with 125th anniversary
ROME (Nov. 4, 2008) — 2009 marks the 125th anniversary of Italian luxury goods company Bulgari. In honor of the year, Bulgari has chosen to support Save the Children's Rewrite the Future campaign. Save the Children is one of the largest independent international organizations for the defense and championing of children's rights; they are present in over 100 countries around the world.
The Rewrite the Future campaign is committed to providing quality education to 8 million children living in conflict-affected areas by the end of 2010.
Considerable progress has already been made by rebuilding schools, supplying much needed school supplies, and protecting children from abuse and exploitation — thus paving the way for a durable change in almost 6 million children's lives.
Bulgari's ultimate goal is to raise €10 million for Save the Children by the end of 2009, of which €1 million will be donated in advance to kick off the initiative.
Next they will introduce a new, limited edition ring in Bulgari stores worldwide. The ring is made of silver, in tribute to Sotirio Bulgari, the company's founder who started as a silversmith in the 19th century. It also features Save the Children's logo engraved on the inside. Each ring will sell for $290.00, of which $60.00 will be donated to the Rewrite the Future campaign. The ring will be available for purchase from Feb. 1, to Dec. 30, 2009, in Bulgari stores worldwide. It will also be available in select department stores, and on Bulgari's e-commerce website, active exclusively in the USA.
Finally, Bulgari will auction a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces that have a total value of €3 million. The collection consists of 15 pieces of High Jewelry and 8 luxury, limited edition timepieces. Bulgari will officially present the collection on June 4, 2009, in Rome at a star-studded gala to open their very first retrospective museum exhibition. The exhibition, titled Between Eternity and History, will celebrate 125 years of the Bulgari brand, and will take place at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, one of Rome's largest and most prestigious exhibition halls. Following the exhibition, the collection will be presented at high-profile Bulgari events around the world and will ultimately be auctioned in New York in December. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Save the Children.
The Bulgari Group will not profit from the initiatives connected with this project.
Numerous celebrities from the worlds of film, culture, and music have already agreed to support the initiative. These include: Willem Dafoe, Benicio Del Toro, Sally Field, Fiorello, Andy Garcia, Valeria Golino, Jason Lewis, Julianne Moore, Gabriele Muccino, Kimberly Peirce, Ben Stiller and Sting.
Francesco Trapani, Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgari Group, said this about the initiative: "I am delighted that Bulgari is actively working to make the Rewrite the Future campaign a success. We want to be a part of the history, and at the same time help change it by giving less fortunate people the possibility of a new future. This is the best possible way to celebrate our 125 year anniversary. Bulgari has made it our initiative to, along with Save the Children, promote and develop quality education for children throughout the world. I am convinced that, thanks to the help of both our customers and Save the Children supporters, we will succeed in achieving — and hopefully in exceeding — the ambitious target we have set for ourselves."
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Secretary General of the International Save the Children Alliance commented, "We are very pleased to announce this global partnership with Bulgari. Their commitment and support for education is one of the most valuable ways to make a difference to children's lives in war afflicted countries."
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading, independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 28 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries.
