Rare Presidential and Sports Memorabilia To Be Auctioned to Benefit Carter Center

CONTACT: Paige Rohe, prohe@emory.edu, 404-420-5129
Deanna Congileo, Deanna.Congileo@emory.edu, 404-420-5117

ATLANTA, GA…Original artwork by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, a baseball signed by five presidents, a behind-the-scenes tour of Delta Air Lines, and historic memorabilia from the Carter presidential campaign are among nearly 180 items up for public auction in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on Feb. 27, 2010, during the Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend celebration. The auction, held for the past 17 years, is a critical source of support for the not-for-profit Center's international work advancing peace and health. Last year the highest bid item at the annual fundraiser was an original painting by President Carter, which sold for $100,000.

New this year, www.cartercenter.org will sponsor an online contest offering a free package for one to next year's Winter Weekend event for the person who comes closest to guessing the entire proceeds from the combined live and silent auctions on Feb. 27, 2010. It is not necessary to post an online bid to enter the contest. One entry per person and the submission deadline is 4 p.m. (EST) Saturday, Feb. 27. President and Mrs. Carter participate each year in the four-day recreational retreat with friends and supporters held at Club Med in Port St. Lucie, culminating in an auction to benefit The Carter Center.

The auction has both live and silent components with bidding accepted via online form or fax (see bidding information below).

Special auction items include:

• Original artwork and rare prints by President Carter;
• A baseball hand-signed by four U.S. presidents (George W. Bush, Bill Clinton,
  George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter);
• A behind the scenes look at operations at Delta Air Lines, including two first
  class round-trip tickets to Atlanta;
• A fly fishing trip with President and Mrs. Carter at Brigadoon Lodge, one of
  the premier fly fishing resorts in North America;
• Two vintage recordings and sheet music from the 1976 presidential campaign including "Hello Jimmy" recorded by Wayne Phillips and the Hootchy Kootchy Dream Band and "The President Jimmy Carter March" performed by the Patriots;
• Luxurious vacations to Florence and Rome, Italy, U.S. Virgin Islands, Club Med resorts, and many other locations;
• A bottle of President Carter's homemade, private-label wine;
• A Heisman Trophy football signed by 24 Heisman Trophy winners, including 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram;
• Fender guitar signed by Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, and Taylor Swift;
• A handmade flamenco guitar by the Rodriguez family, signed by President Carter;
• A backstage experience with legendary blues guitar player, B.B. King; and
• Fine jewelry, rugs, tapestries, and collectables.

Since its inception, the live auction has raised more than $15 million to support the Center's
work to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope in the world's poorest and most forgotten communities.

Click for more information on items in the live and silent auctions at Winter Weekend:

Live Auction Catalog


Silent Auction Catalog

How to bid:

Bids are accepted via fax or online form until 4:00 PM EST on February 27, 2009.

Individuals wishing to attend the auction and bid live may call Jay Beck 404-420-
3809.

Donation proceeds will be used to support the activities of The Carter Center, a
501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Please visit www.cartercenter.org to learn more about The Carter Center.

View Live Auction Catalog

View Silent Auction Catalog