Five Longines evidenza limited edition Harry Connick, Jr. timepieces raised US$220,000 during the five night sold-out benefit performances of the recent Roundabout Theatre Company’s Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game, held June 13-17 at the American Airlines Theatre in New York. All proceeds from the watches will benefit Habitat’s New Orleans Musicians’ Village, a programme under Habitat for Humanity. Musicians Village was started by Connick and fellow musician Branford Marsalis shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, to help rebuild homes for displaced musicians and keep the jazz culture intact. In addition, proceeds from the ticket sales will go to support The New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village, The Actor’s Fund of America and Roundabout Theatre Company’s Education Programs & Musical Theatre Fund.

Several highlights of the five-night auction included actor Alec Baldwin generously matching a donation of the top bidding couple one evening, whilst still enabling them to keep the watch. Another night one couple quietly doubled the top bid, wanting to help out with Harry Connick, Jr.’s charity. On the final evening, in addition to the auction itself, various members of the audience gave additional funds to boost the total amount donated to Musicians’ Village. The money raised from the five timepieces will help to build almost four homes in New Orleans.

“We are thrilled to be a part of raising close to a quarter of one million dollars which will enable Musicians’ Village to build four new homes. Harry Connick, Jr. and Roundabout Theatre Company both played integral roles in making this past week a success,” stated Linda Passaro, General Manager for Longines U.S.
“It was beautiful to witness the generosity of the audience members and we were proud to be a part of this great initiative which will make a real difference in the lives of real people in New Orleans.”

The Longines evidenza limited edition is an automatic chronograph timepiece with a tonneau-shaped rose gold case with case-back engraved with Harry’s signature. Each watch is individually numbered. Other features include: chocolate brown 39.4mm/40mm dial with white sub-dials and Roman numerals, automatic movement caliber L650 and chocolate brown genuine alligator strap. The watches were created for this auction and are exclusive timepieces that go beyond the retail price of US$8,500 each, given the uniqueness worldwide and Harry Connick engraved signature. Only 11 of these distinctive timepieces have been manufactured worldwide, with #11 being presented to Harry Connick, Jr. as a gift from Longines. The remaining five timepieces are reserved for another charity event later this year in the U.S.

Source: Longines

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