Online Casino Assists Aids & HIV Charity
Published: Friday, July 08, 2005 Online-Casinos.com
ONLINE CASINO ASSISTS AIDS/HIV CHARITY
Unique Versace MINI bought on eBay by Crystal Palace
Counter measures for the AIDS/HIV pandemic will receive a boost to finances
of Euros 120 150 soon following a charity auction in which a Versace-inspired
MINI Cabriolet was put up for auction on eBay.
Crystal Palace Casino.com paid a record 120,150 Euros (US$145,000) this week
for the vehicle, breaking all previous bidding records at online auction site
Ebay.
Fierce bidding for the MINI, which started at 1 Euro, reached the winning bid
within 40 hours of Ebay opening the auction. The unique Versace design and the
fact that all proceeds are destined HIV/AIDS charities, combined to generate
huge worldwide interest in the event.
Life Ball, one of Europe’s leading HIV/AIDS fundraisers, organised the
online auction in conjunction with MINI, which has been supporting the charity
for the past five years.
Leading Italian fashion house Versace, under the guidance of its chief-designer
Donatella Versace, designed the convertible in its signature black and yellow
“baroque” print. Other unique features of the car include a Swarovski
crystal Medusa gearshift and leather seats embossed with the Versace logo.
Life Ball hosts one of Europe’s largest annual charity events. The venue
for this year’s ball, held in May, was Vienna, Austria. All funds raised
by Life Ball go to AIDS Life and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
According to the general manager of the online casino, Tony Cruise, Crystal
Palace is dedicated to assisting various charitable organisations as part of
an ongoing commitment to give something back to the community wherever possible.
“Over the years we have donated substantial amounts to many charities,
particularly those demonstrating a commitment to either medical research or
those assisting people suffering from serious medical conditions. This year
we felt that contributing to the fight against AIDS was especially important
given the huge numbers of people across the world who suffer from this debilitating
disease” Cruise said.
Cruise revealed that his company is considering making a donation of the unique
Versace vehicle to another charitable organisation in order to raise even further
funds for much-needed medical research purposes.
