WATERFORD, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This year, Waterford and Times Square New Year’s Eve invite revelers to share in the “Gift of Imagination,” the first gift in the new, 10-year “Greatest Gifts” series that will decorate the Waterford Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball for the next decade. Each annual edition of the series will depict a theme of global aspiration whose value is universally treasured. In the spirit of this year’s gift, Waterford has teamed up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to have a patient help design one special imagination crystal that will be installed on this year’s Waterford Ball.
“Imagination is a celebration of curiosity and whimsy and has resulted in some of history’s most significant innovations in science, literature and the arts. It can be found in its most pure and authentic form in the minds of children, which makes them the perfect designers for a unique Waterford Crystal triangle,” said Waterford Vice President of Global Marketing, Regan Iglesia.
“We are truly grateful to Waterford for their partnership in allowing us to participate in this exciting undertaking,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “By giving 12-year-old St. Jude patient Coraliz the opportunity to help design this year’s imagination crystal, Waterford not only is giving a precious child a chance to live out a dream, they are brightening the spirits of children around the world who are fighting cancer.”
The 2,688 crystal panels that decorate the Waterford Ball were designed and crafted by the world-renowned artisans at the Waterford factory in Ireland and feature a series of intricate wedge cuts that appear to be endless mirror reflections of each other, a signature of the brand. The “Greatest Gifts” concept was the last New Year’s Eve series created under the leadership of the late Waterford Global Design Director and 50-year Waterford veteran Jim O’Leary, who passed earlier this year.
For nearly 15 years, dazzling Waterford crystal triangles have adorned the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. Each year, Waterford designers introduce a new signature cut crystal pattern to become part of the current series of crystal sentiments. Premiering in 2014 and continuing through 2023, the “Greatest Gifts” collection marks the longest series to-date. The previous series, “World of Celebration,” spanned from “Let There Be Light” in 2008 to “Let There Be Peace” in 2012.
The new Waterford Ball design is accompanied by the 2014 Waterford Times Square Holiday Collection, which mimics the new “kaleidoscope” cutting pattern in a crystal ball ornament, disk ornament, flute pairs (clear and red cased) coupe pair, vase (clear and red cased) and bowl, blown glass masterpiece and replica balls, and snow globe.
For more information, visit http://timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/about-the-new-years-eve-ball/index.aspx.
About WWRD
WWRD, the leading provider of luxury home and lifestyle products worldwide, manufactures, distributes and sells well-recognized brands, including Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Minton, Johnson Brothers and Franciscan. WWRD maintains unique licensing arrangements with some of the most high-profile innovators in the home and lifestyle market, including Vera Wang, Jasper Conran, Monique Lhuillier, John Rocha and Gordon Ramsay. WWRD products are distributed through premium department stores and independent retailers and wholesalers around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia and Ireland. The company employs more than 3,000 people worldwide.
About Times Square New Year's Eve
The Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment are the organizers of Times Square New Year's Eve. The Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square so that it retains the energy, edge and distinctiveness that have made it an icon of entertainment, culture and urban life. Countdown Entertainment represents the owners of One Times Square and the New Year’s Eve Ball.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
