Star-studded Lunchbox Auction set to benefit South African children

One-hundred-plus iconic celebrities from the entertainment, fashion, art, music, literary and culinary worlds, remind us that food matters, by creating personalized lunchbox art to be offered for online auction to benefit two hunger relief organizations — Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa. The Lunchbox Auction will go live on Friday, December 7, 2007, at (12 a.m. EST) during a star-studded, invitation-only, fundraiser preview party and mini-auction, hosted by Michael Stipe, at Saatchi & Saatchi, beginning at 8 p.m., 375 Hudson Street. Manhattan. The auction at www.thelunchboxauction.org will run through Friday, December 21, 2007.
Among the 100+ ‘power lunch’…box designers are: Alek Wek, Amy Lee of Evanescence, Anna Sui, April Bloomfield (Spotted Pig), Beastie Boys, Ben Kingsley, Billy Crudup, Bob Gruen, Bright Eyes, Built By Wendy, Cameron Diaz, Casey Affleck, Cat Power, Chris Martin, Christie Bush, Christopher Makos, Citizen Band, Cobra Starship, Courtney Love, Cynthia Rowley, Daisy de Villeneuve, Danny Clinch, David Bowie, Drew Fuller, Elton John, Eric Dane, Eva Mendes, Flea, Gordon Cheung, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heatherette, Helena Christensen, Hilton Brothers, Iman, Interpol, James Franco, Jessica Biel, Jimmy Fallon, Joaquin Phoenix, John Mayer, Josh Hartnett, Julia Stiles, Kanye West, Kevin Mazur, Kevin Smith, Kirsten Dunst, Kobe Bryant, Lamberton Truex, Lily Allen, Marchesa, Marianne Pearl & Adam Pearl, Maggie
Gyllenhaal, Marilyn Minter, Mark Selinger, Mario Batali, Michael Stipe, Mick Rock, Mike Myers, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Patti Smith, Paul Solberg, Pete Yorn, Peter Sarsgaard, Piper Perabo, Rachael Ray, Reese Witherspoon, Richard Branson, Rockstar Games, Rodney Dickson, Rosanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Rui Matsunaga, Sam Rockwell, Scissor Sisters, Sienna Miller, Simon Keenleyside, Some Odd Rubies, Swarovski, Temperley of London, Terry George, The Bravery, TV on the Radio, Yoko Ono, You Tube Founder (Chad Hurley), and Zac Posen.
Each lunchbox is reflective of the artists’ personal expression and no two lunchboxes are alike. Each lunchbox is signed and numbered.
Hunger is a global problem. Whether it is New York City or Soweto, South Africa, the children of the world are the ones most severely affected. In New York City, 1.3 million people turn to food assistance programs, like soup kitchens and food pantries, for assistance and one in five is a child. South Africa, a country that is rich and prosperous, is also a country in which an estimated eighteen million people live without adequate food, water or sanitation. Children are often forced to make a decision to learn or to eat.
"I'm honored to once again be a part of The Lunchbox Auction," said comedian Mike Myers. "The Lunchbox Fund and Food Bank For New York City have created a wonderful way to raise money and awareness about hunger and poverty in South Africa and New York."

Food Bank For New York City is the major supplier of food for 1.3 million New Yorkers though our network of more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs — including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, low-income daycare centers, Kids Cafes and senior, youth and rehabilitation centers. Those in need include women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor.
For every $1 donation, 97 cents goes toward food acquisition, distribution and programs. In addition to food, the Food Bank offers education and technical support to our network of programs and serves as a research and public policy resource center for legislators, the media and the public. In July 2007, FoodChange, Inc. became a subsidiary of the Food Bank. For more information, go to www.foodbanknyc.org

The Lunchbox Fund is a non-profit organization that provides lunch to school children in South Africa. Often, it is their only meal of the day. Many of these children are AIDS orphans running child-headed households, who have to make a choice to either eat or go to school -- the $15 a year education fee is barely attainable. Through The Lunchbox Fund, these children are provided with the food they need to sustain themselves. You cannot teach a hungry child. It takes just twenty-five cents to fill a child's lunchbox for a day. For more information, visit the website at www.thelunchboxfund.org.