The Platinum Guild International USA announces the second year of its Women With Heart™ celebrity pendant design program. Six of today’s leading actresses, musicians, and supermodels-Christina Applegate, Brandy, Gisele Bündchen, Penélope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, and Barbra Streisand-have personally designed platinum heart pendant necklaces which will be brought to life by a top platinum jewelry designers and auctioned off in February to benefit each star’s chosen charity. Online bidding will take place on www.sotheby’s.com Feb. 1-10, 2003, in time for Valentine’s Day gift giving.

Platinum’s Women With Heart™ program combines platinum with the heart icon, a universal symbol of love and compassion. Each fashion-forward design conveys the celebrity’s individual sense of style and character. Susan Sarandon describes her platinum heart pendant design as, “Something that is strong, but reminds us of our frailty and therefore encourages us to love and live.” Brandy’s explosion of soft platinum hearts come together to form a unique flower, while Christina Applegate’s and Barbara Streisand’s delicate and intricate designs embody a sense of romance and old world charm. Penélope Cruz and Gisele Bündchen’s designs are modern and sleek.

“Platinum’s Women With Heart™ program celebrates creative expression and the giving nature of these incredible women,” says Frank Proctor, PGI-USA vice president. “It is wonderful to see them giving back and having fun in the process.”

The celebrities’ charity beneficiaries are: Christina Applegate, Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence; Brandy, United Negro College Fund; Gisele Bündchen, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Penélope Cruz, Caring for Children & Families with AIDS; Susan Sarandon, Heifer Project; and Barbra Streisand, The Alzheimer’s Association.

Scott Kay, CEO and head designer of Scott Kay Platinum, who is collaborating with celebrity participant Susan Sarandon, says, “A gift of a platinum heart is the ultimate way to express your deep commitment to a loved one. Rare, precious and pure, there is no other gift that can convey the depth of your emotions better than a gift of platinum.”

Those who wish to view Platinum’s Women With Heart™ celebrity designs in person can do so during the PGI-USA and Sotheby’s-hosted public preview days at Sotheby’s in New York City (Feb. 3-5) and Los Angeles (Feb. 7). Online bidding terminals will be available at each site.

While only six winning bidders will ultimately own the celebrity-designed platinum hearts, gift-givers everywhere can find an array of designs from participating Women With Heart™ platinum jewelry designers, including Alex Soldier, Gumuchian Fils, Michael Beaudry, Neil Lane, Scott Kay, and VERRAGIO, at fine jewelry retailers nationwide.

For additional details on the celebrities, their pendants and charities, the platinum designers, public preview days, and online bidding, log onto PGI’s Web site at www.preciousplatinum.com.

JCK