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| Mercedes-Benz Presents A Special Autographed C350 At Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday "46664" Benefit Concert |
| Posted June 30, 2008 At 9:00 AM CST by T. Philips |
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Welcome back ladies and gentlemen; I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. As you may have heard, last Friday stars from across the globe united in London's Hyde Park to take part in a benefit concert celebrating Nelson Mandela's upcoming 90th birthday. The event was designed to raise funds for Mandela's "46664" campaign - an initiative aimed at increasing awareness about the impact of AIDS, especially in Africa, as well as promoting effective HIV-prevention measures throughout the world.
To lend their support to the cause, Mercedes was on hand as a sponsor for the event, as was a donated Mercedes-Benz C350 that will be put up for auction by the "46664" foundation. Before the concert, tennis legend Boris Becker took the C-Class to socially-disadvantaged children in London, who then were able to place their handprints on the sedan before attending the music event in person. During the concert, a number of performing artist and celebrities signed the C350 as well, including Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, the Sugababes, Razorlight, Jamelia, Zuccero, Geri Halliwell, Quincy Jones and Lewis Hamilton.
According to Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars: "It is a great honour for us to be able to support a public figure like Nelson Mandela who has influenced entire generations and has inspired people. In recognition of Mandela as a symbolic figure for the next generation, and in appreciation of his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, children have decorated a new Mercedes-Benz C 350 with their handprints."
For those of you unfamiliar with the "46664" campaign, it's an initiative that was launched by former South African President Nelson Mandela back in 2003, aimed at combating HIV/AIDS in both Africa and abroad. The number "46664" was derived from Mandela's detainment on Robben Island, where the former President spent 18 of his 27 years of confinement. "466" was Mandela's prisoner number, while "64" designated the year of his imprisonment: 1964.
To learn more about the "46664" benefit concert as well as Mercedes' participation in the event, you can find photos and the complete details in the official press release below.
Enjoy.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Benefit concert for “46664” in London’s Hyde Park to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday: Mercedes-Benz presents a C 350 - autographed by international stars and socially disadvantaged children
London/Stuttgart – To mark Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, the international music scene gathered on Friday for a benefit concert in London’s Hyde Park. Mercedes-Benz has supported this unique music event to raise funds for Mandela’s “46664” campaign against HIV/AIDS with an extraordinary gift for auction – a brand-new Mercedes-Benz C 350, autographed by top acts, prominent guests and socially disadvantaged children from London.
“It is a great honour for us to be able to support a public figure like Nelson Mandela who has influenced entire generations and has inspired people,” said Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “In recognition of Mandela as a symbolic figure for the next generation, and in appreciation of his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, children have decorated a new Mercedes-Benz C 350 with their handprints.” For a number of years, Mercedes-Benz has also supported a number of projects through the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation aimed at raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and helping those who are directly affected.
Before the concert, Tennis legend Boris Becker, who serves as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz and a representative of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, visited socially disadvantaged children in London. The children were delighted to place their different coloured handprints on the sedan, and afterwards they came along to attend the concert. During the music event, a large number of performing artists such as Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, the Sugababes, Razorlight, Jamelia, Zuccero, Geri Halliwell, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, and Qunicy Jones added their autographs to the children’s prints on the car. A number of prominent concert visitors like Vodafone McLaren Mercedes-Benz driver Lewis Hamilton, and actor Heiner Lauterbach also signed the sedan to endorse the campaign by Nelson Mandela. The autographed Mercedes-Benz C 350 was presented for auction to the “46664” foundation on Friday.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela will celebrate his 90th birthday on 18 July. He launched the “46664” campaign against HIV/AIDS in 2003. “46664” was his prisoner number during his detainment on Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years of confinement. He was a nameless prisoner there with the number “466”, imprisoned since 1964 – and thus “46664”.
Copyright © 2008, Daimler AG
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