Many elements inspire success. Goal, energy and ambition play their part. But the fundamental element in building a successful charity is Passion. Passion for your mission, Passion to do good, Passion to give back.
Twenty five years ago, we started a company that was unlikely to succeed. We founded a new fine Swiss watch brand. The market for hand-made, high-value mechanical watches was dying. We were very young. And not even Swiss, but Dutch. Two decades later, Frederique Constant is one of the main success stories within the Swiss watch industry. The company grows 25-35% annually. In 2014, with a team of over 170 people, Frederique Constant expects to produce and sell over 130,000 watches in over 100 countries.
The overriding factor for this success has been Passion. Passion that made us evolve from lovers of fine watches into global producers. This is why the company slogan has always been ‘Live your Passion’. And why we created the Frederique Constant Passion Awards. Through these awards, we personally aim to reward charitable organizations that are driven by Passion, and celebrate and support their entrepreneurial success. The Passion Awards have evolved in to an institution through which Frederique Constant gives back to society, and namely to people that are less fortunate.
Winners of the previous editions of the Frederique Constant Passion Awards are Dr. William Novick of the International Children’s Heart Foundation and Mrs. Laura Cotton of the Paint a Smile Foundation.
After two memorable editions in Geneva, we choose another city for this very special event: New York. The prize in 2010 included a generous donation of USD 50’000,- towards the American Heart Association, as well as Frederique Constant timepieces.
The check handover was part of the exclusive, celebratory Passion Awards for Charity dinner, hosted by the company and taking place in New York City on June 29th at Cipriani Wall Street.