Hollywood Stars Come Out for Montblanc’s Pre-Oscar Charity Brunch

Hilary Swank signs a brick, which is the symbol for Montblanc's 2013 pre-Oscars charity brunch. She is wearing Montblanc's Pétales Entrelacés motif bracelet.

Montblanc held its annual “Charity Brunch” Saturday at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles. Every year the luxury brand hosts this event the day before the Academy Awards presentation and selects a charity initiative. This year the charity is UNICEF’s “Signature for Good” program. 

UNICEF Ambassador Alyssa Milano.

Academy Award winning actress, Hilary Swank, led the event. She recently joined Montblanc and UNICEF on a field trip to Ethiopia and she shared her experience with those in attendance.

Christopher Lambert wearing Montblanc Star 4810 Chronograph.

Montblanc pledged to raise at least $1.5 million for the initiative, primarily through its recently unveiled “Signature For Good” collection, which includes special edition writing instruments, jewelry pieces and leather accessories. The feature design element is a brick that symbolizes the joint effort of building a better future for all children and their communities, through the creation of proper education programs and the construction of schools—brick by brick. Parts of the proceeds raised from the sale of the collection will be donated to UNICEF to build and maintain schools for underprivileged children for its schools in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Actress Emmy Rossum wearing Montblanc Star Classique Lady Automatic watch and Montblanc Seven Stars Collection.

In addition to Swank, celebratory guests included Emmy Rossum, Rosario Dawson, UNICEF Ambassador Alyssa Milano, Louise Roe, Alan Arkin, Billy Zane, Jesse Metcalfe, Peter Fonda, Jesse Williams, Madalina Ghenea, Alexander Ludwig, Danny Huston, Stacey Keach, Martin Landau, Alfrie Woodard, Mimi Rogers, Maria Bravo, Jane Seymour, Clemens Schick, Navid Negahban, Michael Nouri, Lana Parilla, Samantha Barks, Rachel Griffiths, Bailey Chase, Pal Sverre Hagen, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Natasha Henstridge and Michael York joined Lutz Bethge, Montblanc CEO, and Caryl M. Stern, U.S. Fund for UNICEF CEO and president. 

Montblanc CEO Lutz Bethge and U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl M. Stern wearing Montblanc Star 4810 necklace.

Guests supported the program by signing bricks of a school specially recreated inside the hotel. 

Montblanc brand ambassador, opera star, Shenyang, performed.

 
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D.E.F. Presents Its GOOD Awards

Members of the DEF board pose with five students who graduated from two of three DEF-beneficiary schools (the Botwsana Top Achievers Program or African Leadership Academy) and who now are enrolled in various universities in the United States.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund, a non-profit organization that raises money to fund education initiatives in African diamond-producing nations, presented its GOOD Awards to Tiffany & Co. and Leo Schachter Diamonds, and international model and humanitarian, Noella Coursaris Musunka, during a recent event at LAVO nightclub.

 Five students who directly benefited from scholarships funded by DEF at two of its three beneficiary schools in Africa were presented with checks at the event.

Russell Simmons, entertainer/entrepreneur and DEF co-founder, emphasized the importance of the diamond industry to give back and empower the communities where their precious resources are found. “A strong Africa is an educated Africa. For the diamond industry to be sustainable in the future, empowerment of youth through education is essential.”  

Celebrities at the event included Estelle, Jeffrey Wright, and Selita Ebanks. Jewelry global industry leaders in attendance included Varda Shine and Stephen Lussier of De Beers, Mike Kowalski of Tiffany & Co., Mark Light and Mike Barnes of Signet Jewelers, and African ambassadors from the diamond producing countries of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. 

The event began with an African ceremonial dance by native Batswana dancers. After the Awards presentation, Grammy Award-winning artist, Estelle, performed. 

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