Kids of Kathmandu, a New York-based non-profit supporting the orphaned and marginalized children of Nepal, will host its third annual design fundraiser and online auction, which culminates with a gala on March 13 in New York City to raise funds for food and nutrition programs in Nepal.

This year’s theme, the Dining Project, invites top designers to donate components of a dining room for auction. In the first year of the program, designers created or donated desks for the Desk Project, and the second year, custom lights for the enLIGHTen project.

Items up for auction

Designers and companies who have donated items to the cause include BDDW, David Byrne, Bec Brittain, Lindsey Adelman, Ted Muehling, David Weeks, Amy Helfand, Eric Manigian, Chen Williams, Chris Lehrecke and Palo Samko.

“We are incredibly humbled by the level of designers who have donated their work to us,” said Andrew Raible, co-founder of Kids of Kathmandu. “The fact that the designers and our donors put their trust in us to help the kids in Nepal motivates us to continue to explore innovative ways in which to help these kids become healthy and independent adults.”

Items up for auction

Nearly half of all children in Nepal under 5 years of age are developmentally stunted and one-third are underweight. As education is a top priority for Kids of Kathmandu, supporting children’s development with proper nutrition is crucial.

“We fell in love with Nepal, and its’ children four years ago,” said Raible. “Since then, our commitment to them has continued to grow as we have learned the many obstacles that these kids face and will continue to deal with as they grow and struggle to find their footing in an already difficult scenario.”

The online auction is now live and items up for bid include a chandelier, chairs, tables and tabletop accessories. All proceeds from the auction as well as tickets to the gala on March 13 will aim to provide 4,500 meals per month and new kitchens in the orphanages of Nepal.