Celebs to donate objects on eBay charity auction site

THE online auction site eBay has learned from experience what kind of excitement a lock of Justin Bieber’s hair can cause.

Earlier this year, a bit of Bieber’s famous bangs raised $40,668 (€29,589) for an animal rescue organisation in an eBay auction.

Such bidding has become increasingly commonplace on eBay, where the stray objects of celebrities can fetch high prices.

Yesterday, eBay was set to launch eBay.com/Celebrity, as a gathering place for such auctions.

Beginning participants include Brad Pitt, Katy Perry, Sienna Miller, Cher, Jeff Bridges and Hayden Panettiere, all of whom will auction off items to raise money for their individually chosen charities.

A chance to meet Pitt will be auctioned for Make it Right, the Hurricane Katrina home-building organisation.

A private acting workshop with Robert Duvall will benefit the Robert Duvall Children’s Fund. A red sequined dress worn by Katy Perry will raise money for the American Red Cross.

Richelle Parham, chief marketing officer of eBay North America, says eBay’s charitable arm, eBay Giving Works, has raised more than $51 million (€37.1m) for charities this year and $278m altogether.

Meanwhile, a dress worn by Lady Gaga is also hitting the auction block. The sculptural black dress the pop star wore on the cover of Madame Figaro magazine in May of this year is expected to fetch more than $10,000 (€7,277) at Julien’s Auctions’ rock ‘n’ roll sale in December.

Other sale highlights include a sketch John Lennon drew of himself and Yoko Ono during their 1969 “bed-in,” which could collect more than $50,000 (€36,390) and costumes he and Paul McCartney wore in the film Help. Also available is a signed Gretch guitar from Bono’s personal collection and stage-worn costumes from Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain.