12 May 2017 A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Do you need advice on finding the perfect gift for your grandmother? You could buy her flowers, a book, perfume… or you can do what one bidder did and surprise your granny with a lunch with Silvio Berlusconi, the renowned former Italian prime minister.  It’s not the cheapest gift. The winner bid €70,000 to win the lunch, auctioned by CharityStars. The amount, however, was completely worth it. The proceeds directly supported the central Italy earthquake victims.  To make the gift even more special, the lunch is going to take place at Berlusconi’s personal residence in Arcore.  “Dear friends, I decided to auction this experience to support the victims of the Italian earthquake. I think everyone should do everything in his/her means to help our fellow citizens, and sometimes we can be helpful even with smaller gestures. I’ll be really glad to meet and have lunch with the generous winner of the auction, that I hope is going to be sold to a high price, since the proceeds will support the Italian Red Cross!” - Silvio Berlusconi

In 1918, Pablo Picasso picked up a pencil and started sketching. He could have never imagined that almost 100 years later, that drawing would be auctioned for 120,000 pounds, nor that it could help hundreds of women and children in need.    The artwork was sold at the Global Gift Gala held in London in 2015 along with other unique art pieces, increasing exponentially the amount raised for the charity. Art, indeed, is one of the most involved industries when we talk about charity. Thousands of artists and galleries partner every year with the charities they care about, donating their works for a good cause.  And it’s not only about art pieces. There were many successful cases of art-related experiences, like having  a portrait made by a famous contemporary artist, a photo shoot from a renowned photographer, and a private visit to an art exhibition with the museum curator.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to art lovers making their dreams come true while supporting a great cause.   

Introducing new features! We've been working to expand your options at CharityStars and to make our platform even more convenient and seamless. From new ways to win unique items and unforgettable experiences, to more features to keep track of and manage your bids, our new look was designed to make it easier than ever before to win while creating change in the world.

Winning a new limited edition Yamaha YZF-R1 is a dream, especially if it’s been signed by the 9-times world champion Valentino Rossi. But what if Valentino Rossi personally delivers it, too?  Marco got to live this dream after winning a CharityStars auction. A huge fan of Valentino Rossi, Marco met his idol and received a beautiful motorcycle directly from Rossi.  Thanks to his generous donation, Marco has supported La Gotita Onlus, a charity  that provides education and health assistance to children in need in com munities throughout Bolivia. Furthermore, Marco decided to donate his new Yamaha YZF-R1 to a music school.  “As a long time Motorsports lover, this thrilling experience has been a dream come true. Receiving a Yamaha motorbike, handed to me by no other than the legendary Valentino Rossi, was the ultimate experience. I’d like to thank Valentino, Yamaha, and CharityStars for this once-in-a-lifetime chance. I couldn't be more happy to have supported La Gotita Onlus, and for having the chance to donate the bike to a music school I have been collaborating with for a long time.” - Marco