PRESS RELEASES
Celebrity Ceramics to be Auctioned at ROTA's Gala Dinner
24 October 2006
An entirely exclusive range of collectible hand designed plates, mugs and saucers created by celebrity names will be auctioned at Reach Out To Asia's Gala Dinner to be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, on 4 November.
The plates, donated by Charlotte di Vita MBE, Goodwill Ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Childrens' Fund, are produced by 21st Century Leaders - a unique charity artwork project with a simple concept. They gather artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel peace laureates, sports, literature, etc. Each 'ambassador' donates a symbol of hope, a self portrait and a message of hope for the future.
These artworks are used to create products such as charity wristbands, clothing, tableware, ethical cosmetics and stationery, all released under the Whatever It Takes charity campaign label. This "merchandise with a meaning" is manufactured under fair working conditions and is sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader, with 100% of the net profits donated to charity.
The organization adopts a "no holds barred" attitude in respect of the artwork, preferring to fly in the face of controversy even when presented with a somewhat less than "politically correct" item is donated to them. Hence their project name - Whatever It Takes.
Each celebrity chooses the message they would like to convey and prepares the artwork themselves. The collection which will be up for auction at ROTA's red-carpet event on 4th November, has pieces from a wide range of leaders including South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu; James Bond actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Sir Roger Moore; Oscar winning actor, producer and director, George Clooney; British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; Oscar winning actress Nicole Kidman and one of the world's most popular rock bands, Coldplay. Along with each individual piece, the bidder will also acquire the artist's original artwork.
The Gala Dinner event at which the ceramics will be auctioned is the second high-profile fundraiser that Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) has hosted. Last year's highly publicized red-carpet affair raised a staggering $US 10 million plus, and it is hoped that this year's figure will be even higher.
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"Peace By Any Means" plate by George Clooney.