Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind limited edition watch set in a bespoke black walnut trunk (above) that's expected to fetch up to $1.5 million. Known as the Unique No. 8 Collection and based on the Chinese concept of "lucky number 8", the rare and unique item is being offered at Sotheby's in Hong Kong today, with proceeds going to The Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation (CAEF).
The set is comprised of the eighth numbered piece of each of the 32 Limited Edition wristwatches in the Omega Beijing Olympic Collection, plus three Olympic Split Seconds Chronograph 1932 pocket watches, also numbered 008 in their limited editions of 100 pieces. The watches, including a set of split seconds open-faced chronographs in 18k yellow, white and red gold, are presented in a striking black walnut pagoda-style eight-drawer tower with intricate carving and a lacquered finish, paying homage to traditional Chinese architecture. Truly the ultimate Olympic collector's item.
October is breast cancer awareness month and White+ Warren has some pink cashmere pieces that are so cute you'd want to buy them even if they weren't benefiting Columbia Presbyterian's Women at Risk charity. And they aren't just doting the often obligatory 10 or 15%, White + Warren is donation 50% to women at risk. The little wristlet gloves in pink and black color combinations sell for $65. The cashmere slippers in a pouch are $145, the pink city scarf is $165 and the luxurious travel wrap is $275.
Following recent hurricanes Ike and Gustav, U.S. charities have finally reached the $50 million mark in fundraising, though this number doesn't come close to covering the needs of those suffering throughout affected areas, needs estimated in the hundreds of millions (not including job losses and insurance claims).
The comparisons between relief efforts for Gustav pale in comparison to those surrounding Katrina: Catholic Charities, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, raised $179,000 for current hurricane relief. For Katrina, the organization received $150 million, a whopping 839 times as much. Organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army cite the current economic climate as well as the way governmental agencies now impact private organizations. The Red Cross has consequently turned to Congress, asking for $150 million to support hurricane victims.
The Guggenheim Foundation has announced its appointment of its fifth director since its inception in 1937, former Director of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Richard Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong also spent 11 years at New York's Whitney Museum. He will have vast reach over the art world in his new position, as he controls both the Guggenheim Museum and its foundation, as well as Guggenheim institutions in the leading art capitals of Venice, Bilbao, Berlin and soon enough, Abu Dhabi (the Guggenheim Museum will open there in 2013).
The 89th and 5th fixture has recently undergone a $29 million restoration, just in time for Armstrong's arrival. He starts in November.
A recent survey concluded that, among millionaires, GenX'ers aged 28 to 42 gave twice as much to charity as their parents last year. The survey found that, on average, members of Generation X donated $20,000 each to charity, while Baby Boomers donated closer to $10,000 per person. The younger generation was also more likely to make donations during their lifetimes, donate globally and choose foundations that would focus on family-related goals. Not surprisingly, they were also found to be more likely to make financial contributions online.
Despite donating millions each year, very few of the respondents chose to identify themselves as "philanthropists," preferring more modest terms like "community supporter."
The study found that wealthy donors are most likely to determine a gift based on personal experience or recommendations from within their social networks. Due to the difficulties of tracking major gifts, many recipients cited greater willingness to give something tangible -- a new library or a specific scholarship. Donors also stated that it was often difficult to obtain information on an organization's progress without seeming "high-maintenance."
You can read more about the study's findings at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, a resource center founded by Wharton alums that helps high net worth individuals maximize their charitable giving impact.
The brothers will make a 1,000-mile journey through South Africa and Lesotho similar to the trip by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman, in their television series Long Way Down. The off-road adventure will take one week and will raise money for orphans and victims of AIDS. The route and travel dates are being kept secret to protect the young princes.
Perhaps a true sign of luxury living is buying land that will be protected instead of developed. You'll soon have your chance to bid on such a parcel as The Adirondack Chapter of the The Nature Conservancy has announced the listing of 90,500 acres of pristine forestland for sale in upstate New York. The timberland previously belonged to paper company Finch, Pruyn and Co. and, according to listing broker LandVest, "represents the first time in more than a century that these lands have become available on the open market."
The parcels will be available by sealed bidding in 5 sale blocks in acreage ranging from 1,691 acres to almost 60,000 acres. All are subject to a strict conservation easement, though eventually some of the land will be open for hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor adventures. See more images that will make you want to flee your desk upon viewing at LandVest's listing page.
Robert Wells, heir to the Fiesta Dinnerware collection (so embedded in the American consciousness it even became the topic of a recently produced off-Broadway play), has bequeathed $9 million to The Nature Conservancy. His attorney cited Wells's respect for the Conservancy's "wide footprint" after traveling to places like the Chilean coasts, New Zealand and Alaska.
Twenty percent of the gift is earmarked for local conservation efforts in Wells's home state of West Virgina, specifically in the Central Appalachian Mountains. The bulk of the bequest will go towards global programs on behalf of the nature-loving recreational fisherman. The first date he took his wife on in the early 1950s? A 4:30 am catfishing expedition. Carolyn Wells also left a significant gift to the Conservancy following her death in 2005.
Google.org recently announced its investment of over $10 million in "breakthrough geothermal energy" to further its goal to develop clean energy alternatives to coal. Functioning as the philanthropic arm of Google (effectively the 1% co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin initially pledged toward global concerns), Google.org has already donated or invested over $85 million across five focus areas which include renewable energy and the improvement of public services.
If you're into videos about geothermal energy, check out this one. It's all about drilling for energy in the Australian outback. You'll learn words and phrases such as "exajoules" and "distributed indigenous nature" -- just in time for your Labor Day cocktail parties!
Julia Roberts has created a new T-shirt for (Product) Red that is pricier than the Gap versions. Roberts has teamed up with Giorgio Armani to produce a new T-shirt for men and women. The tree of life design mimics the design of the bracelet Roberts created for the December launch of the Emporio Armani (Product) Red leather bracelet. The T-shirts are made in Africa and 40 percent of the gross profit margin goes to The Global Fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programs in Africa. The Emporio Armani online-store sells the T-shirt in red, black and gray for $125 each. The bracelet is $175 for the women's version and $195 for the men's version.
Luxe British outerwear company Belstaff, founded in 1924 and known for their distinctive motorcycle jackets, is teaming up with Audi to produce a one-off SUV to benefit the charity founded by Ocean's Eleven co-stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The stars' charity, Not On Our Watch (NOOW), which my colleague Laura Malesich reported on earlier this year, raises awareness about humanitarian crises around the world. Belstaff and Audi are co-designing a special edition Q7 luxury SUV which will be sold to benefit NOOW's efforts in Darfur, Vogue UK reports. Earlier this week, Clooney and Pitt hosted a fundraiser for NOOW at the Venice Film Festival.
In a highly-anticipated overhaul, the IRS has successfully revised its rules for charities filing taxes. Form 990 will now require charities to disclose employee salaries greater than $150,000 and will also ask organizations to report "key employees" who control a 10% or greater portion of the charity's activities. The changes will arguably make many charities more transparent and therefore easier to research on behalf of potential donors.
Guidestar.org, the non-profit data kings, will use this new information to provide more comprehensive analysis of the non-profits in its database, all in the attempt to encourage charitable giving by providing individual donors (and their estate planners) with the facts they need.
TaylorMade has revealed the design of their limited-edition Patriot Golf Day driver, which is a customized version of their popular r7 line featuring Movable Weight Technology. The special limited-edition design features the Patriot Golf Day logo on the toe of the club, an F-16 on the sole, a red, white and blue headcover, and a commemorative Patriot Golf Day box for display.
The clubs will be sold via silent auction at participating golf courses around the country (locations found here) running from Aug 29th to Sept 5th, with proceeds going to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.
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The Guggenheim Foundation
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