Winter Weekend Auction Raises $817,590 to Support
Carter Center Peace and Health Work Worldwide

Feb. 8, 2009

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Paige Rohe
404-420-5129, prohe@emory.edu

ATLANTA, GA…. The Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend auction, held Feb. 7 at Port St. Lucie, Fla., raised $817,590 to help support the work of the not-for-profit Center, advancing peace and health worldwide. 

The highest bid item at the fundraiser was an original painting by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, which sold for $100,000.  More than 100 auction items, including a baseball signed by President Barack Obama, historic memorabilia from the White House, presidential elections, the space race, and American sports, were offered for public auction.

Some of the highest fundraisers included:

• The only baseball in the world hand-signed by five U.S. presidents (Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush), which sold for $82,500;
  
• Fly fishing trip with President and Mrs. Carter at the fabulous Brigadoon Lodge, which sold for $80,000;
  
• A handmade Manuel Rodriguez classical guitar, which sold for $65,000;
  
• Three giclee prints of artwork by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, which sold for $26,000 each;
  
• A baseball signed by U.S. President Barack Obama, which sold for $8,000.

To view all winning bids, click for silent auction or live auction catalogs.


The Winter Weekend silent auction netted $32,240, while the live auction raised $785,350. 

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, the Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 65 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers to increase crop production. Visit www.cartercenter.org to learn more about The Carter Center.