Bette Midler's 'You Gotta Have Friends' Charity Auction Now Open Through Friday, 11/13

Bette Midler, and her tree hugging troop at New York Restoration Project (NYRP), have been cleaning and greening New York City for nearly 15 years. In an effort to put the "fun" back in fundraising, the organization has announced one of its biggest fundraising initiatives to date, with an online auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime celebrity experiences donated by Bette and her famed friends.

Hosted by leading online auction venue, CharityFolks.com, the auction is brimming with donations from some of most renowned names in entertainment, sports and business. John Mayer, Daniel Craig, Richard Branson, Steve Carrell, Jann Wenner and John McEnroe, among others, have offered their time and access to help raise awareness and proceeds for the organization, which is dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City parks and community gardens.

The auction is live until Friday the 13th (November 13, 2009) at www.charityfolks.com, highlights from the fabulous 100 lot auction include:

· Sit front row at Bette Midler's Las Vegas show and meet her backstage

· Lunch with Richard Branson during your week-long getaway at Necker Island

· Lunch with Jann Wenner - Founder & Publisher of Rolling Stone Magazine

· Private tennis lesson with John McEnroe

· Walk on Role with Steve Carell and Paul Rudd in "Dinner for Schmucks"

· Meet Daniel Craig with house seats to "A Steady Rain" on Broadway

· Meet John Stamos backstage at Bye Bye Birdie

· Spend a Day in the Studio with Legendary Musician Jackson Browne

· Meet Robin Williams with VIP tickets to his NYC stand-up show

· Meet Cher with VIP tickets & backstage passes to her Las Vegas show

· Meet John Mayer at one of his concerts along with VIP tickets

· Intern at Rolling Stone Magazine - the ultimate source for music & pop-culture

· Walk-on Role & Lunch on Set of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

While not cleaning the parks, Bette Midler is starring in her Las Vegas spectacular The Showgirl Must Go On, which will run through January 31, 2010. The Showgirl Must Go On performs November 7 -15 and December 30 - January 31, 2010. Tickets for these final performances are on-sale now at Ticketmaster.com, keyword "Bette Midler", and by calling 1-877-7BETTEM (723-8836), or in person at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Box Office, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bette Midler made her Broadway debut playing Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Thereafter, she began singing in clubs around town including at the famed Continental Baths where she developed the trademark act that would make her one of the most renowned talents of a generation--bawdy humor, revealing costumes and a distinctive voice made for an act that was poignant, tacky and altogether fabulous. Her performances of songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Delta Dawn, and Superstar were unforgettable and caused audiences to fall in love with the self-anointed "Divine Miss M." Bette's first album, The Divine Miss M, hit #9 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart and went platinum. In 1973, she won her first Grammy for Best New Artist. After successfully touring the world, she returned to Broadway in the Tony winning, Clams On The Halfshell.

Midler's first starring role in the feature film, The Rose, garnered two Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy for the film's title song and a best actress Oscar nomination. Additional films include Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune, Big Business and her most popular movie, Beaches. Forty years, four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys, a Tony Award and tons of record-breaking performances since she hit the scene, the "Divine Miss M" is still going strong, opening a brand new show in Las Vegas at Caesar's Palace in 2008.