GENEROUS DONATIONS FOR LAUREUS AT ANNUAL CHARITY EVENT
Schaffhausen/Zurich, 24th November 2019 – The 13th Laureus Charity Night was celebrated in Dübendorf near Zurich on Saturday night. Around 620 guests came together to support the Laureus Foundation Switzerland. The evening raised an impressive amount of donations, totalling CHF 1,000,000, which will enable the Foundation to continue funding a wide range of charitable sports projects for children and young people in Switzerland. The auction of the Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Edition "Laureus Sport for Good" contributed significantly to the amazing total donated.
Even in Switzerland, not everyone has an equally successful start in life. The Laureus Foundation Switzerland supports those in need with a wide range of charitable sports projects. For example, the "DanceQweenz" initiative focuses on promoting dance for girls in a relaxed environment, whilst the intercultural "Laureus Street Soccer by infoklick.ch" league, makes it easy for Swiss children and young people to access football in an atmosphere where fair play is the most important aspect of the game.
AN EVENING DEDICATED TO SPORTS
The theme for the 13th Charity Night was "The Power of Sport". With this motto in mind, the Laureus Foundation Switzerland once again emphasised the importance of sports and movement to the long-term positive physical and mental development of the young. The 620 guests, including many prominent names from sports, economics, politics and show business, came together at Hangar Dübendorf. The charity gala was hosted by the well-known TV sports presenter Rainer Maria Salzgeber, together with Swiss comedian Charles Nguela, who ensured everyone's spirits were kept high throughout the evening. In addition to spectacular drumming entertainment provided by Stickstoff, a performance by Swiss cult band Gotthard was one of the stand-out highlights of a varied evening programme. The gala ended with a cheque for CHF 1,000,000 being handed over to the Laureus Foundation Switzerland.
The auction of the Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Edition "Laureus Sport for Good" (Ref. IW392203), which was created especially for the 2019 Charity Night, contributed considerably to the substantial amount raised. The Pilot's Watch, with a case made of gleaming, white-toned platinum and a blue dial, found a new home with the highest bidder for CHF 120,000. The unique timepiece is driven by an 89630 IWCmanufactured calibre and combines a perpetual calendar with a chronograph function. The perpetual calendar, one of IWC's most well-known complications, automatically recognises the different month lengths and adds a leap day at the end of February every four years. The mechanical programme will require no corrections until 2100.
"It was a fantastic evening with great guests and an amazing result. I continue to be impressed by the audience's dedication and generosity, and would like to thank everyone who contributed,"
SPORT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE NEXT GENERATION
The aim of the Laureus Foundation Switzerland is to enable children and young people to live a positive life full of self-determination through sports. Beyond sports and its associated values, Laureus also systematically promotes the integration and personal development of the young, as well as their physical and mental well-being. The main focus is not on achievement, but rather on enjoying sports and shared experiences.
The foundation helps young people who need support – regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, social class or health issues. Laureus supports more than 10,000 children in Switzerland by way of charitable sports projects each year. The dedication of more than 20 ambassadors, like Fabian Cancellara, Nino Schurter and Nicola Spirig, is a fantastic inspiration for all those involved. The Laureus Foundation Switzerland was established by IWC Schaffhausen in 2006 as part of the international Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The Laureus Charity Night is the foundation's most important fundraising event and has been held every autumn since 2007.
In 1868, the American watchmaker and entrepreneur Florentine Ariosto Jones travelled from Boston to Switzerland and founded the 'International Watch Company' in Schaffhausen. His visionary dream was to combine advanced American manufacturing methods with the craftsmanship of Swiss watchmakers to make the best pocket watches of his time. In doing so, he not only laid the foundation for IWC's unique engineering approach but also established the centralised production of mechanical watches in Switzerland.
Over its 150 year history, IWC Schaffhausen has developed a reputation for creating functional complications, especially chronographs and calendars, which are ingenious, robust, and easy for customers to use. A pioneer in the use of titanium and ceramics, IWC today specialises in highly engineered technical watch cases manufactured from advanced materials, such as titaniumaluminide and Ceratanium™. Preferring the principle of "form follows function" over decoration, the Swiss watch manufacturer's timeless creations embody their owners' dreams and ambitions as they journey through life.
IWC sources materials responsibly and takes action to minimise its impact on the environment, creating intrinsically sustainable timepieces that are built to last for generations. The company prides itself in training its own future watchmakers and engineers, as well as offering an excellent working environment for all employees. IWC also partners with organisations that work globally to support children and young people.