Bobbi Bear Auction

RICKY MARTIN

Seems like this dandy-bear comes straight from the 1920s! Its smart outfit combining a black & white striped waistcoat and super chic black jeans. The Red Ribbon on his chest is not only a special colored highlight but is also the universal symbol of awareness and support for those affected and living with HIV and AIDS all over the world. “Ricky Martin”

Bid NOW online on Ricky's Bobbi Bear or get your ticket for the live auction.

The live auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

LINDSAY LOHAN

Pretty in pink! Lindsay’s bear is a lovely trendsetter girl wearing a pink dress and sneakers with leopard pattern showing everybody lots of “love”. Also accessories like the fancy Chanel bag, the pearl necklace and the pearl bracelets make this cutie a real fashionista. Signed “XXX Lindsay Lohan”.

Bid NOW online on Lindsay's Bobbi Bear or get your ticket for the live auction.

The live auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

Welcome to New York!

First things first - Our little Anna Netrebko bear just touched down in NYC! He went straight to the legendary Plaza Hotel to get his picture taken in front of this sparkly glitter christmas tree. After all, the decor really does match his outfit! You can meet him at Sotheby's New York on December 8 or bid on him now in our online auction.

Zugunsten der Operation Bobbi Bear machten sich zahlreiche Superstars ans verzieren von Stofftieren.

Neben vielen anderen, international bekannten Persönlichkeiten, hat auch  Conchita Wurst einen einzigartigen Teddybären zugunsten "Operation Bobbi Bear" gestaltet. Der Bär, den die Sängerin in einem persönlichen Video vorstellt, wird am 8. Dezember 2014 bei Sotheby's in New York versteigert.

Musicians, fashion designers, politicians...

...became creative for the Bobbi Bear charity for children's sake. The auction will open today on 24 November 2014 at 12:00pm EST on gavelandgrand.com where money for the support of initiatives of the organization Bobbi Bear (protect children from sexual abuse and HIV) will be collected until 8 December.

The chic outfits of the bears reach from folk art over casual and couture fashion to political statements.

Opera singer Anna Netrebko for example dressed her bear into Austrian tracht (folk costume) and bejeweled it with (by referencing the colors of the Austrian flag) white-silver and red-purple shimmering Swarovski crystals.

Musician Bruno Mars styled the bear in the singer's typical Bruno Mars casual style, Costume National's creative director Ennio Capasa presents Bobbi Bear in the label's current Fall collection, Vivienne Westwood's 'Climate Revolution' bear rebels for all of us, and the mayor of Vienna Dr. Michael Häupl equipped the bear with the armour of the knight of the cityhall (the 'Rathausmann') and applied the pin 'I ♥ Vienna'.

At the daily work of the Bobbi Bear initiatives, bears play an important role for solving the crimes because children can use the toy to tell what happened. "The children were able to communicate by drawing on the bear and using plasters to tell the story of what had happened to them," is the role of Bobbi Bear explained.

The Life Ball, in association with Arms Around The Child, will host a charity auction at Sotheby’s in New York on Monday, 8 December to benefit Amanzimtoti-based Operation Bobbi Bear. “I’m incredibly excited about the auction,” said Operation Bobbi Bear founder, Jackie Branfield, who has attended three Life Balls in Vienna and was the recipient of the Life Ball Crystal of Hope award, sponsored by the crystal jewellery company Swarovski, in 2012 for her outstanding work as an HIV/Aids activist and protector of sexually abused children. The auction is the brainchild of Gery Keszler, the founder of the Life Ball, which is the biggest charity event in Europe that supports people with HIV or Aids. Gery decided to hold the auction after hosting a similar event in a Vienna restaurant where Build-A-Bear Germany donated teddy bears and sponsors could buy a bear and dress it.

Bobbi Bear uses a stuffed bear in counselling sexually abused children. A bear is given to children to help them communicate what they have been through. The child is given a marker and stickers to write and draw where the offender touched him or her. This helps the children communicate what has happened without the traumatising experience of re-telling the rape to an officer and this technique has been approved by the judicial system the use of these testimonies in the courtroom. Lee Blake of Arms Around The Child, another world-renowned HIV/Aids activist, soon pledged her support for the event.

For the auction, one-of-a-kind bears will be styled, dressed and signed by celebrities and auctioned off to raise funds for the child rights organisation. Celebrities include Heidi Klum, Janet Jackson, former USA president, Bill Clinton, Sean Penn, Sir Elton John, Bruno Mars and Nelly Furtado, among others. “I’m gob-smacked by the calibre of celebrities who have already come on board,” said Jackie. “I’m finding it very hard to believe a little organisation like Bobbi Bear in Amanzimtoti, although well-supported by the community, has people like this dressing bears for the auction. It is mind-boggling. What a privilege to be recognised by two such incredible Aids activists like Gery and Lee and for them to recognise my organisation is a badge of honour. I’m overwhelmed and it is an honour to have my name in an article with theirs.” Jackie leaves for London on 16 November where she will give talks at various universities.  “I’m looking forward to these talks. They are not fundraisers; people just want to hear about Bobbi Bear. Hopefully I will get to spend some time with my family, before leaving for New York a few days before the auction, as the organisers hope to set up some interviews.”

A charity project for a gift that touches the imagination: Operation Bobbi Bear is the charity auction organized by Gery Keszler, founder and CEO of the Vienna Life Ball, an event involving celebrities and fashion brands with the aim of supporting a non-profit South African organization.

The goal is to raise as much money as possible through the sale of customized teddy bears, in order to help children who are victims of sexual abuse and reduce the risk of HIV infection. Missoni is taking part in the initiative with an embroidered teddy bear decorated with vintage buttons, a unique object that represents the essence of the maison.

See how Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, and other designers personalized their own Build-A-Bears.

Thanks to Vanity Fair and Alex Beggs for the great article about the Operation Bobbi Bear Auction. 

Bid on your favourite bear here.

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

Bid online on Conchita's Bear now: https://gavelandgrand.com/lot/46996-bear-by-conchita-wurst

See all the other Bears: http://gavelandgrand.com/auctions/bobbibear

The auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

A message from Gery Keszler:

Dear friend,

The moment I have waited for has finally arrived. The much anticipated online bidding for Bobbi Bear Auction has officially started, concluding live at Sotheby’s New York on December 8th.

Wherever you are in the world you have the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful event – all bears are now available at our online auction partner Gavel and Grand.

Life Ball is holding the auction in cooperation with Arms Around the Child to raise funds and awareness for Operation Bobbi Bear’s crucial work with abused children in South Africa, after giving the organization and its founder, Jackie Branfield, the Crystal of Hope award in 2012. Continued support is vital for the existence of Bobbi Bear – and here’s why:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2AT--XHMGk

Life Ball has been very lucky in the past to count among its continued friends, wonderful individuals including President Bill Clinton, Sir Elton John, Karl Lagerfeld, Heidi Klum, Sean Penn, Sharon Stone, Alicia Keys and many more – all of whom have contributed bears to the auction.

You can find all bears and further information on our website: www.bobbibearauction.com

Please take a moment to view the auction items and if you are unable to join us on the night at Sotheby’s, you can still support us with your online bid.

Which one of these sparkling bears is your favourite?

Our big bear family is getting ready for their trip to NYC ... soon we'll be singing Welcome to New York by taylorswift <3

Life Ball Charity Auction to benefit Operation Bobbi Bear in partnership with “ARMS AROUND THE CHILD”

The auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

Vivienne Westwood’s unique piece for the auction is staged “revolution(be)arily” in an outfit and make-up of her “Climate Revolution” campaign. To a jersey shirt and striped cotton trousers, it wears two pins reading “Climate Revolution” and “SAVE the ARCTIC” as well as a military helmet covered with sequined fabric.

Signed “Vivienne Westwood”.

The auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

Follow the Facebook page on www.facebook.com/bobbibear

TONY WARD

Fantasy and much love of detail are Tony Ward‘s ingredients for literally giving his bear wings and newly inventing it in the form of a butterfly. In order to do so, plush wings were lavishly made and colored by hand – four glass pearls make you see a peacock butterfly in the mind’s eye. The look is completed by a matching make-up and a black feather boa.

Signed “Tony Ward”.

The auction will take place on December 8, 2014, at the renowned New York auction house Sotheby’s. People all over the globe are invited to participate in the auction by placing their bids online or over the phone. Arms Around the Child is a not-for-profit public charity recognized by the IRS under 501(c)(3).

Live auction tickets here.

More information on www.bobbibearauction.com

Follow the Facebook page on www.facebook.com/bobbibear