Swiss Watch Brand Longines And Harry Connick, Jr. Raise Funds Fo

Swiss Watch Brand Longines and Harry Connick, Jr. Raise Funds for Habitat for Humanity

Longines and Harry Connick, Jr. Raise $300,000 for Habitat programs in New Orleans and Houston
HOUSTON, TX - November 07, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss watch brand Longines joined brand Ambassador of Elegance Harry Connick, Jr. for a benefit event that raised more than $300,000 dollars in total, which will benefit the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village and Operation Love Thy Neighbor, two Habitat for Humanity programs. The highlight of the night included an auction of the remaining five Longines evidenza Harry Connick, Jr. limited edition timepieces that contributed to almost half of the overall money raised. The exclusive event took place in Houston at the residence of Landry's Restaurant, Inc. President, Chairman and CEO, Tilman Fertitta and wife Paige.

Recognizing the impact of last year's devastating storms on the Gulf Coast, and Connick's heartfelt commitment to the rebuilding efforts, Longines decided to host an event in Houston, the city that embraced the more than 150,000 displaced evacuees.

Connick, a native of New Orleans, is one of the most active celebrities supporting the rebuilding of the Crescent City. Together, Longines and Connick auctioned off the five remaining exclusive Longines evidenza limited edition watches in a series of 11, featuring a timeless tonneau-shaped rose gold case with case-back signed by Harry Connick, Jr. Auction winners of the five Longines timepieces include Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Petrello, Mr. Tracy Krohn, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Peterson, Mr. Vinod Ramani and Mr. and Mrs. Tillman Fertitta. All proceeds from the ticket sales and timepieces directly benefited New Orleans-based Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village and Houston-based Operation Love Thy Neighbor.

Earlier this summer, Longines raised $220,000 with the first five Longines evidenza limited edition Harry Connick, Jr. timepieces (in a set of 11 exclusive watches worldwide) during the five sold-out benefit performances of the recent Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game, held June 13-17 at the American Airlines Theatre in New York. All proceeds from the five auctioned watches benefited Habitat's New Orleans Musicians' Village. Musicians' Village was conceived by Connick and fellow musician Branford Marsalis shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, to rebuild homes for displaced musicians and other deserving families.

For more information on Longines and to find a local retailer, visit: www.longines.com.