The World Gold Council’s “Leaves of Change” celebrity-designed jewelry collection raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity last month, with actresses Brooke Shields and Marcia Gay Harden showing their support by wearing their own necklace designs to the event.
Guests gathered at New York’s Chelsea Art Museum for a Sotheby’s-facilitated live auction of the gold creations, each featuring a leaf motif, from 12 different celebrity and designer collaborations. All the proceeds from last night’s event, which also included an online auction component, went to the pairs’ favorite causes.
Brooke Shields at the auction with John Calnon and Duvall O’Steen from World Gold Council
Brooke Shields wearing her Leaves of Change necklace on the auction night
The celebrity-designer partnerships and their respective charities include:
— Christina Applegate, with Alex Woo, for Right Action for Women
— Whoopi Goldberg, with Annie Fensterstock, for Ronald McDonald House
— Marcia Gay Harden, with Ariane Zurcher, for Waterkeeper Alliance
— Samantha Harris, with Erica Molinari, for Jewelers For Children
— Debra Messing, with Robert Lee Morris, for Youth AIDS
— Eric McCormack, with Mauri Pioppo, for Project Angel Food
— Chris Noth, with Robin Rotenier, for Make-A-Wish Foundation
— Lena Olin, with Mauri Pioppo, for Hope for Henry
— Rachael Ray, with K. Brunini Jewels, for Yum-o!
— Susan Sarandon, with Mattioli, for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
— Brooke Shields, with TreSpighe for Gold Expressions, for Jewelers For Children
— Pauletta and Denzel Washington, with Leslie Greene, for Jewelers For Children
The designers crafted three pieces of each design, with the celebrity receiving the first, and the highest bidder securing the second. The third piece will travel on tour and will be displayed from July to December 2009 in Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry stores in approximately sixteen U.S. cities. The purpose of the tour is to raise further awareness for the multiple charities.
“It’s truly exciting to capitalize on gold’s profound and enduring emotional significance by supporting so many worthy causes,” World Gold Council spokeswoman Duvall O’Steen said in a media release.
WORLD GOLD COUNCIL proudly brings you Leaves of Change™, a charitable benefit in which influential celebrities from television, film, and music design a piece of gold jewelry inspired by a leaf motif to raise funds and awareness for their favorite charities.
To view all the Leaves of Change designs and celebrities, visit LeavesOfChange.org.
