LuPone, Peters, Rivers, Madonna, & Other Stars Of The Screen and Stage Donate Items For BID 2 BEAT AIDS

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for the 5th annual BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Rock legend Stevie Nicks drew a self-portrait on a tambourine especially for this auction, a rare opportunity to own her work. Fans can bid on VIP seats and backstage visits with Bernadette Peters, Joan Rivers, Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Cyndi Lauper, Henry Rollins, and Michael Feinstein, while art lovers can bid on works created by Mark Kostabi especially for this auction. Proceeds of this 10-day eBay auction benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry Fights AIDS to support its ongoing AIDS/HIV programs nationwide.

LIFEbeat has amassed over 600 items for BID 2 BEAT AIDS 2009. Items include: CDs autographed by Patti LuPone, Vanessa Williams, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, the cast of Glee, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Missy Elliott, Scissor Sisters, James Blunt, Carly Simon, John Waters, Sutton Foster, Orfeh, Mika, Joan Jett, the cast of 13, and Donny Osmond; Broadway Playbills autographed by the casts of Hair, Equus (with Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe), Guys and Dolls, Legally Blonde, South Pacific, Impressionism, 9 to 5, Shrek, and The Toxic Avenger; signed books from Madonna, Michael Phelps, Gloria Steinem, Tori Spelling, Clinton Kelly, and Ann Bannon;
posters signed by Jake Gyllenhaal, Matthew McConaughey, Robin Williams, John Waters, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst, and Erasure; DVDs autographed by Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Kevin Bacon, Ricky Martin, Roseanne, Steven Spielberg, Malcolm McDowell, and 3 Golden Girls (Bea Arthur, Betty White & Rue McLannahan), scores of photos signed by the likes of Liza Minnelli Debbie Harry, Melissa Gilbert, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Newhart, and Loretta Swit; and lots of other autographed memorabilia, signed by Brooke Shields, John Travolta, the cast of Hairspray, Beyonce, Lesley Gore, Cynthia Nixon, the cast of Rent and more.

The centerpiece of the auction is a one-of-a-kind celebrity autographed "Lend-A-Hand to LIFEbeat" card series. Stars traced their hands on special paper, adding an artistic touch and signature. Jude Law, Gerard Butler, Betty White, Lance Bass, Christine Baranski, B.D. Wong, Kristen Johnston, Gavin Creel, Bob Saget, Brendan Fraser, Phylicia Rashad, Faith Prince, John O'Hurley, Michael Urie, Christopher Seiber, Nanette Fabray, Louise Fletcher, June Havoc, Angie Dickinson, Sylvia Miles, Julie Harris, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Andre De Sheilds, Craig Bierko, Marcia Gay Harden, Alice Ripley, Marsha Mason, Megan Hilty, Allison Janney, Brian d'Arcy James, Colman Domingo, Estelle Parsons, Maurice Hines, Dick Van Patten, Lee Grant, Stockard Channing, and over 100 others have participated in this unique project.

LIFEbeat- The Music Industry Fights AIDS, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention. LIFEbeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community. In 2007, LIFEbeat observed fifteen years in the fight against AIDS. For more information visit: www.lifebeat.org

Every item in BID 2 BEAT AIDS comes with a certificate of authenticity, and was obtained directly from the performers, their agents, or other professionals in the industry. Bidders can be assured
that they're getting the real deal! For more information on BID 2 BEAT AIDS , including a complete list of participating artists and images of many of the items, visit www.Bid2BeatAIDS.com.

Photo credit: Walter McBride