Designer Luminaire Auction Benefits EnLIGHTen in Kathmandu
On May 17 at Ramscale in New York City, the non-profit organization Kids of Kathmandu will host their 2nd annual gala and auction in celebration of their fund-raising initiative called The enLIGHTen Project. An online auction of lighting from top designers has begun and will conclude on the day of the gala.
Kids of Kathmandu founders, husband-and-wife team Jami Saunders and Andrew Raible, invited 17 lighting designers from across the world to design and donate a piece for The enLIGHTen Project. Designers include David Weeks, Lindsey Adelman, Jason Miller, Paul Loebach, and Rich Brilliant Willing. Proceeds will support orphans at the New Youth Children’s Development Society (NYCDS), who live in the town of Bhaktapur, outside of Kathmandu, Nepal.
Kids of Kathmandu is a non-profit organization that utilizes photography, art, and design to raise awareness about the needs of orphans in Kathmandu. Their goal is to provide a stable financial foundation for children and fund education, food, shelter, and immunizations.
The proceeds from the auction and gala will go towards the purchase, installation, and upkeep of solar panels, batteries, solar lanterns, and a water filtration system at the orphanage. Currently Nepal is without electricity for up to 16 hours a day and most people use candles as their primary source of light. The electricity will allow the kids to have lighting, clean water, refrigeration, computers as well as other basic, fundamental sanitary conveniences. Funds will also go towards education, a cause that is a top priority for Kids of Kathmandu.
To donate, purchase tickets to the gala, and bid on items, head to kidsofkathmandu.org.