World Leaders Donate Items for Charity Auction
Charity News Online
An online auction has been launched this week on www.ebay.com.sg/worldleadersauction, with proceeds going to charity. Among the items put up for sale are the pen donated by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a bottle of red wine from Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Each item will go for a minimum of 99 US dollars with bidding closing July 24, organizers said. A total of 11 items from world leaders past and present would be offered at the auction launched in Singapore Friday by charity group Youth Challenge, AFP reported.
They include a signed photograph of Israel's former prime minister Ariel Sharon and an autographed copy of "Ethics for the New Millennium" by the Dalai Lama, as well as a framed portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a silver-pewter vase donated by Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk and a religious artefact from Mexican President Vicente Fox.
Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien sent in a signed photograph, while Blair gave up a silver and black Parker pen with his signature on it. A set of three gold-plated medallions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, the 80th anniversary of the Balkan Wars and the 50th anniversary of World War II were also on offer, donated by former Greek president Konstantinos Stephanopoulos.
This was the first time world leaders had parted with personal belongings to be auctioned for charity, said Vincent Lam, founder and executive president of Youth Challenge Singapore. Proceeds from the auction would go to the newly launched World Humanitarian Fund to support development projects in Mongolia, China and Zimbabwe, he said. "We realised that there have been so many auctions of celebrity items but none of the world leaders," Lam said. Next year, Youth Challenge planned to hold an auction of Asian leaders' personal items.
charity auction, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin, Youth Challenge Singapore
Charity News Online
An online auction has been launched this week on www.ebay.com.sg/worldleadersauction, with proceeds going to charity. Among the items put up for sale are the pen donated by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a bottle of red wine from Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Each item will go for a minimum of 99 US dollars with bidding closing July 24, organizers said. A total of 11 items from world leaders past and present would be offered at the auction launched in Singapore Friday by charity group Youth Challenge, AFP reported.
They include a signed photograph of Israel's former prime minister Ariel Sharon and an autographed copy of "Ethics for the New Millennium" by the Dalai Lama, as well as a framed portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a silver-pewter vase donated by Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk and a religious artefact from Mexican President Vicente Fox.
Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien sent in a signed photograph, while Blair gave up a silver and black Parker pen with his signature on it. A set of three gold-plated medallions commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, the 80th anniversary of the Balkan Wars and the 50th anniversary of World War II were also on offer, donated by former Greek president Konstantinos Stephanopoulos.
This was the first time world leaders had parted with personal belongings to be auctioned for charity, said Vincent Lam, founder and executive president of Youth Challenge Singapore. Proceeds from the auction would go to the newly launched World Humanitarian Fund to support development projects in Mongolia, China and Zimbabwe, he said. "We realised that there have been so many auctions of celebrity items but none of the world leaders," Lam said. Next year, Youth Challenge planned to hold an auction of Asian leaders' personal items.
charity auction, Tony Blair, Vladimir Putin, Youth Challenge Singapore
posted by Lisa Vronskaya at 1:01 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home