Sales of a New Iconic Ring to Benefit Teacher Training, and Art Education and Therapy Programs in Haiti, the U.S. and other Countries

Save the Children has announced that Bulgari is pledging a $7.4 million commitment to support the agency's quality education programs around the globe through 2011.

"Education has the power to transform lives, and yet access to a quality education is very limited for the 72 million children of primary school age who are not in school," said Francesco Trapani, Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgari Group.

Bulgari's 2010-2011 commitment will help support Save the Children education programs such as teacher training and Healing and Education through Art (HEART), a program that teaches children to cope by channeling their emotional distress through their unique artistic voices.

"By training teachers, Save the Children can provide communities with a sustainable resource for educating children year after year," said Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children International's CEO.

Added Whitbread, "Many children living in challenging environments, especially the youngest, cannot find the words to explain what they have experienced or to express how they are feeling. The HEART program helps children heal by giving them the tools to express themselves creatively, and puts them on a path to reach their full potential in life."

Part of Bulgari's new commitment will come from sales of a new silver and ceramic ring which emulates the unique design of the zero1 jewelry collection, and is the second design Bulgari has created to benefit Save the Children. The first was an all-silver ring in 2009.

The new ring will feature the Save the Children logo engraved on the inside, and will be sold in international Bulgari stores, select department stores, and on Bulgari's e-commerce website for $370 each, of which $75 will be donated to Save the Children.

"I had the opportunity to see the effects of the earthquake when I visited Haiti in April, where an estimated 90 percent of the affected area's already too few schools were destroyed or heavily damaged," said Trapani.

"With Bulgari's continuing commitment to Save the Children we are able to focus more resources in Haiti, while also supporting programs in the United States and at least eight other countries, and really show the impact these dollars have on providing children a chance for a better future," added Trapani.

Bulgari's commitment builds on the success of their 2009 partnership with Save the Children which raised more than $9 million toward the agency affecting and educating over 10 million children worldwide.

"Bulgari is very excited to see the difference our 2009 donation is already making in the lives of the world's neediest children and look forward to continuing our support in the coming year," said Trapani.

See more photos: //senat.us/mVobjR