BUDDY BEAR AUCTION IN STUTTGART

On Wednesday, 12^th November 2008, several Buddy Bears were sold at an auction in the Breuninger-Passage (Stuttgart) for the benefit of children in need.

At the end of the evening, the auction proceeds had reached the total of €79.970 with UNICEF, the Buddy Bear Help e.V. and the local charitable foundation Agapedia gGmbH (Stuttgart) as the beneficiaries. Before the start of the auction, Breuninger had presented a cheque in the amount of €2.000 to UNICEF.

One of the 2m tall bears was a particular auction highlight: Entirely made of stainless steel by Shanghai Krupp Stainless, it is a very massive bear with a smooth, shiny surface and a very precious look. It attracted the highest bid of the evening and was bought for €34.000.00.

Around 150 guests from the world of business, sports and culture as well as Breuninger clients and friends of the United Buddy Bears had been invited to the auction. Together with the initiators from the Buddy Bär Berlin GmbH, Dr Klaus Herlitz and Eva Herlitz, the managing partner of Breuninger, Willem G. van Agtmael and Willy Oergel, member of the Breuninger management board, Monica Lierhaus, presenter of the ARD-Sportschau and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador as well as Regine Stachelhaus - UNICEF’s new German managing director from 1^st January 2009 - attended the event.

The Buddy Bears – between 35cm and 2m tall – were all designed by international artists. They had already attracted a lot of public attention in the capital of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg once before. During four weeks in the summer, the Stuttgart Schlossplatz had been the site of an exhibition  showing a selection of the 2m tall Buddy Bears.

We would like to thank each successful bidder, who helps children in need whit it!

Many thanks to all our partners and supporters: Many thanks to Breuninger, many thanks to the managing partner, Mr. Willem G. van Agtmael, as well as Mr. Willy Oergel, member of the management. Many thanks to the auctioneer Ms. Julia Theurkauf, to the moderator and UNICEF-Ambassador Monica Lierhaus, to the Ms. Dr. Claudia Hübner, representiv of the Land Government Baden-Württemberg, to the law office Severin and of course many thanks to all of the involved artists.