Montblanc Continues its Charitable Streak with Their "Signature For Good" Initiative, Benefiting UNICEF
LOS ANGELES (March 15, 2013) — Saturday, February 23, 2013 marked the official launch of Montblanc's Signature For Good Collection with UNICEF, whereby Montblanc will provide funding to enable UNICEF to provide children access to quality education. This collection reinforces Montblanc's long-term commitment to children's education and UNICEF.
To celebrate the launch of the collection, Montblanc hosted a pre-Oscar charity brunch with UNICEF at the Hotel Bel-Air. Academy award winner Hilary Swank made a special appearance to speak about the importance of the initiative and shed light on her recent visit to Ethiopia with Montblanc and UNICEF. For every piece in the Signature For Good Collection sold between February 23, 2013 and March 1, 2014 Montblanc will donate ten percent of the retail sales price to raise at least $1.5 million to support UNICEF education programs worldwide.
Additional celebrities who lent their support to the cause and attended the brunch were Emmy Rossum, Rosario Dawson (actress), UNICEF Ambassador Alyssa Milano, Louise Roe, Alan Arkin, Billy Zane, Jesse Metcalfe, Peter Fonda, Jesse Williams, Jane Seymour, Clemens Schick, Rachel Griffiths and many more.
Montblanc’s Signature For Good Collection includes a special edition of writing instruments, jewelry and leather accessories, all of which feature a unique brick design symbolizing the joint effort of building a better future for all children and their communities by improving access to quality education, including the construction of schools – brick by brick. Funds raised through the "Signature for Good" Collection will support UNICEF's education programs, focusing on the most vulnerable children, through the Schools for Africa and Asia initiatives, and programs in Latin America.
With a heritage deeply rooted in the culture of writing, Montblanc has always been committed to the support of education and literacy. For nearly a decade, Montblanc has taken an active role in supporting UNICEF's efforts to enable more children to learn how to read and write, with several global initiatives together raising over $5 million dollars to date. With the new "Signature For Good" Collection, Montblanc is building on the success of the first "Signature For Good" initiative launched in 2009 and pledging to raise in 2013 at least $1.5 million dollars.
For this special Montblanc "Signature For Good" Collection, the design of the Meisterstuck has been revisited with unique detailing. Available as a Classique Fountain Pen, Rollerball, and Ballpoint Pen and in the bolder LeGrand size, the black precious resin writing instrument features a cap top ring designed with the symbolic rectangular brick pattern. The blue sapphire set in this ring is inspired by UNICEF's blue color and the work it accomplishes to improve children's lives. Other pieces in the collection include handcrafted leather wallets, cardholders, a pen pouch and notebook with blue lining decorated with the symbolic brick design. The leather used by Montblanc for the Signature For Good Collection is Italian full-grain printed calfskin. The distinctive pattern on the leather is a series of diagonal lines. Cuff links with reversible surfaces of onyx and stainless steel, bracelets and key rings, all embellished with a sapphire, make up the jewelry selection.
Each writing instrument, leather item and jewelry piece features an individual serial number associated with a "brick," a reference to the building and running of schools: indicating that the owner of the product has a symbolic share in the program and is contributing to building better and brighter futures one brick at a time. By registering the number on the product at www.montblanc.com/signatureforgood, the owner of the piece can monitor the progress of the initiative and find out the many ways in which UNICEF is improving educational opportunities for children. Not just by building schools but also by transforming them into a safe and protective place where children can learn and play. Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc International explains, "With 61 million children in the world not yet enrolled in school, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to empower these children with an education so they have the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape a better future for themselves and their communities. Our aim was to create a collection that not only appeals through its design, style and fine craftsmanship, but that has a greater purpose by enabling real change."
For UNICEF, the ongoing relationship with Montblanc is a meaningful and important one. As Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF says, "Thanks to our partnership with Montblanc and the vital contribution to UNICEF's work, UNICEF has provided more children a quality education that will significantly better their chances in life. The impact of their investment is truly noticeable and we are grateful for the contribution they make in raising global awareness for UNICEF's work with vulnerable children around the world."
The Montblanc "Signature For Good" Collection is available from March 2013 in Montblanc boutiques worldwide. #Sign4Good
About Montblanc/UNICEF Partnership
Montblanc has supported UNICEF since 2004. Because cultural commitment is an integral part of Montblanc’s brand philosophy, Montblanc wishes to take an active role in the international promotion of education and cultural values. With a heritage deeply rooted in the culture of writing, Montblanc shares UNICEF’s commitment to ensure all children have access to a proper education to learn how to read and to write. Montblanc has raised over $5 million dollars for UNICEF’s education programs worldwide. The “Sign Up for the Right to Write” and the “Power to Write” global fundraising initiatives were launched in 2004 and 2007 respectively. In 2009, Montblanc renewed its commitment to UNICEF’s work to build a better future for children through access to quality education funded with proceeds from the “Signature for Good” initiative. This campaign will run again throughout 2013 – parts of the proceeds raised from the sale of the new ‘’Signature For Good’’ Collection will go towards vulnerable children supported by the Schools for Africa and School for Asia initiatives, as well as UNICEF education programs in Latin America.
About Montblanc
For over 100 years, Montblanc has embraced the traditions of lasting value and exquisite craftsmanship. The company’s uncompromising principles of design, style, quality and workmanship have allowed them to create heirloom collections that are passed from generation to generation. The iconic Montblanc emblem is a symbol of excellence – the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, jewellery, leather, fragrances and sunglasses – and the brand has made an enduring commitment to encourage excellence through cultural advancement. Montblanc has its roots in writing culture and therefore sees a particular obligation to its own cultural commitment. Through various international activities, the company makes a creative contribution to modern cultural life: Montblanc itself writes a small piece of cultural history.
About UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when ZERO children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
For additional information, please contact:
Andrea Sioris, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9136, asioris@unicefusa.org