IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN AMBASSADOR ADRIANA LIMA BOXES WITH LAUREUS KIDS IN BRAZIL

Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima took part in sparring sessions with children and adolescents  in a local boxing gym during a visit to Rio de Janeiro this month. The IWC brand ambassador’s sparring partners participate  in the “Fight for Peace” (“Luta pela Paz”) project of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer has actively  supported  since  2005. The project  combines  sport  with  education  to  help  inspire young people.

While on location in Rio de Janeiro shooting the boxing- inspired Brazilian Vogue August cover story, IWC brand ambassador Adriana Lima took time to meet with local children from the Laureus-supported “Fight for Peace” project in a local boxing gym. Featuring a braided hairstyle, black sweatpants and boxing gloves in red for one session, silver for the other, the Brazilian supermodel sparred with adolescents and their trainer as the younger children watched in awe. “I feel very honoured to have the chance to be in the ring and share my passion for boxing with these children. This project improves their self-esteem and shows them how much they’re worth and how much they’re capable of. It’s a beautiful thing”, said Lima, who has been boxing as part of her personal fitness regime for over 10 years.

GLOVES AGAINST CRIME

“Fight for Peace” combines boxing and martial arts with education and personal development to help disadvantaged young people realize their potential. The children and teenagers participating in the sparring session come from extremely poor backgrounds. Many of them live in favelas which are affected by a decade of territorial drug wars and where armed adolescents patrol the streets. Roberto Custodio, a “Fight for Peace” participant, has benefited from the work of the project in helping provide direction in his life. “Sport transforms, teaches us many things that only sport can teach to make our life more complete, like de- termination, resilience, companionship, care and humility,” said the Laureus “Real Hero”. “For me, ‘Fight for Peace’ is a family.” The success has already become palpable: recent results show that children who participate in the project are 68% less likely to commit a crime or carry a weapon. Andrea Schellmoser, Marketing & Communications Director for IWC Latin America, who attended the visit and sparring session, added: “I am honoured to see that our Brand Ambassador Adriana Lima is spending her valuable time visiting this remarkable Laureus project in her home country. She wholeheartedly embraces and lives IWC’s brand values such as commitment to social responsibility.”

IWC ANNUALLY DEDICATES TIMEPIECE TO LAUREUS

IWC Schaffhausen has been a dedicated Global Partner of Laureus Sport for Good since 2005. Supporting disadvantaged children and teenagers is a cornerstone of the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer’s corporate social responsibility. Earlier this year, IWC Schaffhausen introduced the Portofino Automatic Moon Phase 37 Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” (Ref. IW459006).  The timepiece is limited to 1,500 pieces worldwide and is the tenth special- edition IWC created to support Laureus. The engraving on the case back features a drawing by Eleni Partakki from Cyprus showing girls and boys playing with a ball. The 16-year-old is a participant of a Laureus project that actively encourages Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot boys and girls to play basketball together.

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.