This November, Pope Francis’ watch will be sold at a charity auction and the entire proceeds will be donated to the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.
A few days ago, Charlie Dunne, a guy with a passion for watches that I admire a lot, joined me and told me about this initiative. Reading about Brian, the Foundation and the auction, I immediately thought it was important to share this news with all of you who read IWS.
The story of Brian and his passion for watches
The story is that of little Brian, who tragically disappeared at the age of 15 in an accident in Green Bay while swimming. Despite his young age, he was developing a great passion for watches. his last watch was a Swatch from the 90s, which his father frequently wears today in memory of him.
After his passing, the family devoted themselves to numerous charitable works and through the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation they helped donate over 1,000 scholarships to deserving college students in the United States.
“Every time I wear one of his watches it brings such joy into my life. As I see it ticking on my wrist, it’s like a part of Brian is still alive and spending the day with me, it’s such an amazing feeling.”
Doug LaViolette, Padre di Brian
“Once Upon a Time Watch Project”: a beautiful initiative by Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation
The Foundation’s Executive Director and Brian’s sister Kim LaViolette explains how this project came about: “The concept of” Once Upon a Time: Watch Project “revolved around Brian’s passion for watches and the opportunity to raise funds for the Scholarship Foundation that bears his name, in favor of future generations.
When we came up with the idea of the Watch Project, we thought about who could be the “Holy Grail” of watch donors. We felt that it must be someone who was admired for his kindness of heart and for his good deeds towards others.“
From here, the organization took steps to reach the figure of the Pope. By chance, Brian’s childhood best friend, Austin Rios, became an Episcopal priest and lived in the Holy See in the last ten years.
This relationship of Brian’s friend and his closeness to the Pope made it possible to achieve the goal of bringing a very meaningful figure as a benefactor of the cause.
Pope Francis’ watch up for auction: a Swatch Twice Again
Pope Francis’ watch is simple and essential. Holiness of him has worn it for many years, in fact we see it on his wrist on every occasion in which he is seen publicly, from 2013 until the moment of the donation which took place some time ago.
After accepting the Foundation’s mission, the Vatican recommended that the Bishop of Green Bay apply to Pope Francis. A few months later, a package arrives in Green Bay that moved the family. Inside was kept the long-awaited Swatch, once the property of His Holiness, with a letter.
Inside, His Holiness’s Personal Secretary writes:
“Your Excellency,
Fr. Fabio Salerno, Personal Secretary of His Holiness
On behalf of the Holy Father, I am pleased to send you, here enclosed, a watch belonging to him for the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.
Pope Francis ensures a remembrance for the soul of Brian in his prayers and imparts you, the La Violette family and the members of the Foundation his Apostolic Blessing, as a pledge of peace in the Lord.”
Where the auction will be held and when
The auction is set to be between the end of November and the beginning of December and will be held with the help of the Rago / Wright auction house. As we said, in the lots there will be Pope Francis’ watch and numerous other timepieces by important people.
Special thanks for giving us the opportunity to tell this story goes to Doug LaViolette and the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, to Charlie Dunne and to Eric Wind.
For more information on the history of the project you can read this section of the Foundation.
We will keep you updated in real time on IWS’s Instagram profile and on our web magazine.
