Putting a Point on Children’s Causes

Jan 19, 2010
Cindi Cook

Luxury companies have gotten good at getting on the charity bandwagon. Most understand that aligning themselves with a worthy cause improves their worth in the eyes of their audience—emotionally speaking, rather than monetarily, always a good thing. Supporting a charitable organization increases a company’s presence in the world, and the perception that that company is trying to make that world a better place.

Luxury pen maker Montblanc is the latest to show their support for a greater cause. Just this last holiday season, the company launched the “Signature for Good Collection”, a special collection of their Meisterstuck pens, where the proceeds were in part donated to UNICEF education programs around the world.

Actress Kelly Rutherford, of television’s “Gossip Girl”, kicked off the company’s charitable efforts with the “Children’s Wishes for Children” night at Montblanc’s Madison Avenue and 57th Street boutique in New York. The event, held December 15, gave Montblanc the chance to invite local New York schoolchildren and their families to celebrate and raise awareness for this very important cause. While visiting the boutique, children were asked to write a special wish for a child in need on an ornament, purchased for a $1 donation to UNICEF; that ornament will go on display in the boutique throughout the holiday season.

The Meisterstuck pens—the Le Grand and Classique—combine their customary fine tradition of craftsmanship with UNICEF’s signature color blue-in the form of a sparkling blue sapphire-and the UN’s emblematic olive wreath-in the form of a gold-plated wreath; both adorn the cap of each pen. The beautiful flower-like Montblanc emblem serves as the crowning touch adorning the top of each pen.

Rutherford co-hosted the night with Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, and Jan Patrick Schmitz, President and CEO of Montblanc North America. Their aim? To help spread words of peace and hope, and in turn to raise funds for UNICEF to benefit their worldwide education and literacy programs. In a further gesture of glad tidings, Montblanc will then match the total funds that come of this activity and donate 10 percent of the proceeds of each product sold from the “Signature for Good” collection to UNICEF. A $1.5 million goal is what they hope to reach, a modest sum when it comes to supporting those in need. Now that’s a luxury worth having.