In an effort to help victims of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal April 24 and the subsequent one on Tuesday, Fashion Girls For Humanity has launched an online auction via Charitybuzz and with support from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
A number of designers have pitched in with one-of-a-kind experiences such as a one-month internship at Thakoon; two tickets to the Oscar de la Renta fashion show in February and the opportunity to meet with Peter Copping; a private lunch with Nicole Miller and a $500 gift certificate to her SoHo store, and a backstage pass for two to Monique Lhuillier’s spring fashion show and a pair of shoes from the designer. Other experiences open to bidders include an America’s Cup yacht race for 20 people captained by a former America’s Cup crew; a VIP Glastonbury Festival experience; a 10-day hike in the Himalayas with explorer Johan Ernst Nilson, and the chance to meet the boy band 5 Seconds of Summer, as well as attend one of their soundcheck parties and a U.S. concert.
Sales from the auction, which will run at least through the end of May, will be donated to Waves for Water, a nonprofit providing ground support and relief work, and to the Shikshaya Foundation Nepal, the charity started by Prabal Gurung.
Founded by Julie Gilhart, Kikka Hanazawa, Miki Higasa and Tomoko Ogura in the wake of the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, Fashion Girls for Humanity Disaster has intermittently recruited friends and contacts to help bring awareness and has raise about $1 million to date in the aftermath of global disasters. Last year fashion Girls for Humanity received the Game Changers Award from the Asia Society.