Montblanc Honors Mandela with Bangle for Charity

July 18th was a special day for Nelson Mandela. Not only did the human rights icon turn 90, but luxury brand Montblanc celebrated with the launch of a special birthday bangle they created in his honor to support his 46664 Foundation, which has an HIV/AIDS initiative.

The charitable and chic item initially debuted at his star-studded birthday concert in Hyde Park, London on June 27th where 46,664 attended. Will Smith hosted and featured performers included Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis and a host of other foreign and Third World acts.

The simple yet stylish bracelet is available in platinum, silver and gold, and bears the famous digits that were Mandela's prison cell number during his 27 year stint in jail in South Africa during apartheid there. It also features a 3-D imprint of his hand and was created by local craftsmen affected by HIV/AIDS. Another highlight: each owner of this special bracelet will be able to track online how the funds spent will be used in alleviating HIV/AIDS through a unique serial number imprinted on the bangle.
Beyonce, Bono, Brad Pitt, Corinne Bailey Rae, India Arie and Ludacris are just a handful of celebrity ambassadors on board for his foundation to support this worthy cause.

South Africa Violence

Somali nationals demonstrate outside Parliament in Cape Town against recent xenophobic attacks and call for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees to take over the running of relief centres June 2, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings (SOUTH AFRICA)

More than 60 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 foreigners forced from their homes in a wave of attacks by South Africans who accuse them of taking jobs and blame them for crime.

Foreigners from Somalia and other African country's protest outside the South African Parliament against xenophobic attack's in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, June 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

More then 60 people have been killed during violent xenophobic clashes throughout South Africa during the last month. The worst of the violence was concentrated in and around Johannesburg, the country's economic capital and where foreigners have become targets of complaints by locals about high unemployment and crime levels.

Foreigners from Somalia and other African country's protest outside the South African Parliament against xenophobic attacks in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, June 2, 2008. More than 60 people have been killed and nearly 100,000 foreigners forced from their homes in a wave of attacks by South Africans who accuse them of taking jobs and blame them for crime. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

While thousands of the immigrants have fled back to their homelands such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, many others have been taking shelter in police stations and community centres -- often having to sleep head to toe and with an acute lack of toilet facilities..

Somali nationals confront police during a demonstration outside the Parliament in Cape Town against recent xenophobic attacks, June 2, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

"Already, bangle sales have exceeded our expectations," says Robert

Coutts, CEO of Coutts Inc., and social justice entrepreneur behind the
project. "Ive had to take necessary steps to boost production to meet the
astounding demand from the international public. Scale is
critical to the success of this project as the goal is to raise sufficient
funds to sustain HIV/AIDS prevention projects for the next 16 years for the
Nelson Mandela Foundation." With a whopping 48 percent of the sales proceeds going directly to the foundation and sales projections of 250,000 bangles a year through 2010, you have to be impressed with this collaborative effort.

"Montblanc North America is very honored to be a part of this major
international initiative," said Montblanc North America President and CEO,
Jan-Patrick Schmitz. "Our brand is one that takes as much pride in
promoting worthwhile causes around the globe as we do in creating our
hand-crafted watch and jewelry collections. The 46664 initiative and the
impact that a leader such as Nelson Mandela has had in society is important
to helping create a stronger, healthier world."

Visit www.46664.org for purchase and more information.

Nelson Mandela at his 90th birthday concert in Hyde Park, London

Mandela with host Will Smith and performer Annie Lennox

Mandela with one of his ambassadors Beyonce

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