MICHAEL KORS HONORS WORLD
FOOD DAY WITH MONTH-LONG GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO FIGHT WORLD HUNGER
Michael Kors is dedicating the entire month of October to
the fight against hunger. On World Food Day, October 16, Michael Kors teams
will take to the streets outside six stores in five major cities to give away
Watch Hunger Stop T-shirts. In each of the cities—New York, Berlin, Rio de
Janeiro, Tokyo and Hong Kong—T-shirt recipients will be able to go into the
participating store, enter a photo both (actually, a Phhhoto Station) and have
their picture taken. The Photo images will be streamed live all day and
evening on billboards in New York City’s Times Square and on Kors’ dedicated
microsite, WatchHungerStop.com. The image (an animated GIF) will also be sent
to participants via text and can be shared over social media platforms such as
Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using #WatchHungerStop.
To further
support fundraising efforts that began last spring, when Michael Kors announced
a long-term partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in
support of its school meals program, customers in Michael Kors retail stores
around the world will be able to add a $5, $10 or $25 donation to WFP to their
purchases for the month of October. Stores will also prominently feature the
100 Series watch, specially designed by Michael Kors to support WFP. For each
watch sold, 100 children in a hunger-stricken area receive a nutritious meal.*
To date, Michael Kors has helped WFP deliver more than one and a half million
meals to hungry children through the sale of the 100 Series watch.
Also on October
16, designer Michael Kors and Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Condé Nast
Artistic Director Anna Wintour will present the first Michael Kors Award for
Outstanding Community Service to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton at the annual God’s Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards Dinner in New
York City. Kors has been a devoted supporter of God’s Love We Deliver (GLWD), a
NY-based charity that provides life-sustaining meals and nutrition counseling
for people living with severe illnesses, for more than 20 years. Last year, he
announced a $5 million donation to the organization that enabled it to begin a
major renovation of its SoHo headquarters. The company also hosts an annual
corporate volunteer month at GLWD, and this year extended the volunteer program
to Michael Kors offices around the world.
The activity is
all part of Watch Hunger Stop, Michael Kors’ philanthropic initiative focused
on helping to solve the problem of global hunger. “The response to Watch Hunger
Stop has been amazing,” says the designer. “We delivered one and a half million
meals to children in less than six months, and we’ve only just begun. Our hope
for World Food Day is to get people talking about hunger, and about the many
ways they can help address the problem. Donate, volunteer, talk, text,
tweet—really, everyone can be an ambassador.”
Details about
the Watch Hunger Stop campaign, which launched in April 2013, can be found on
WatchHungerStop.com, a specially designed microsite created to serve as the hub
for all of Michael Kors’ hunger-fighting philanthropic efforts. There, visitors
can find a wealth of content—much of it shareable—relating to the fight against
hunger, World Food Day, WFP, Halle Berry and Michael Kors. They can text to
donate directly to WFP. A chart indicates the number of meals distributed by
WFP and paid for by donations and other contributions made through Michael Kors
and Watch Hunger Stop. Images from the Phhhoto booths and Instagram (tagged
with #WatchHungerStop) will be streamed to the site beginning on World Food
Day.
The 100 Series watch is the brand’s first uniquely designed product to support
a global philanthropic initiative. Available exclusively in Michael Kors
stores worldwide and online at MichaelKors.com, it retails for $295. While
overwhelming demand led to limited availability when the watch—offered in two
styles—was first introduced, it is now back in stock around the world. One
watch features a gold-tone stainless steel case and bracelet with a turquoise
dial. The other shares the same design details but is cast in a silver-tone
stainless steel case and bracelet with a navy blue dial. Both watches have a
detailed map of the world etched on the colorful dial, along with the words
“100 Series.” Michael Kors’ signature is engraved on the back, as is the
campaign name, WATCH HUNGER STOP, and the message “1 WATCH = 100 MEALS.” The
unisex watches, available in mid-size and oversized styles, are sold in
specially designed packaging that highlights the aim to WATCH HUNGER STOP.
The 100 Series
watch was unveiled by Michael Kors, together with Academy Award-winning actress
Halle Berry, this past April. Berry and Kors are also planning a visit to the
field with WFP in the next year to experience firsthand the work done by the
organization and to highlight the ongoing need to end hunger that exists in countries around the globe. Renowned
for her talent, Berry has also been honored for her activism and philanthropy
over the years. “I’m proud to join Michael Kors in this global effort to end
hunger,” says Berry. “Statistics show that women play a crucial role in
defeating hunger. WFP is especially focused on providing assistance to women
because, as mothers, teachers, and entrepreneurs, they will improve the future
for their families and communities. It’s an effort I’m eager to be a part of
because I’m certain we can make a real and substantial difference in the lives
of people in need.”
To order the
watch, visit http://www.michaelkors.com/watchhungerstop
For more
information, visit:
Watch Hunger
Stop: http://www.watchhungerstop.com/
Destination
Kors:
http://www.destinationkors.com/
To learn more
about WFP, visit http://www.wfp.org
*For every 100
Series watch sold, Michael Kors will donate US$25 to WFP. Please note that WFP
does not endorse any products or services.
About
Michael Kors :
Michael Kors is
a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and
ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a
range of products through his Michael Kors and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels,
including accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, men’s and women’s
ready-to-wear, and a full line of fragrance products. Michael Kors stores are
operated, either directly or through licensing partners, in some of the most
prestigious cities in the world, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago,
London, Milan, Paris, Munich, Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
