CELEBRITY CLOTHING AUCTION RAISES $87,200 FOR CHARITY

FOR RELEASE – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002

CELEBRITY CLOTHING AUCTION RAISES $87,200 FOR CHARITY

UNICEF, Cure Autism Now, Heifer International and Union of Concerned Scientists Benefit from Online Auction at uBid.com

Los Angeles, Calif., October 9, 2002 – The first ever “Clothes Off Our Back” celebrity clothing auction officially ended on Monday earning an impressive $87,200 for charity.   Led by Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm In The Middle”) and Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”), who also matched the proceeds netted from their formal wear, twenty celebrities donated their award show designer outfits to be put up for auction on uBid.com.  The four charities that benefited from the event were Cure Autism Now, Heifer International, UNICEF and Union of Concerned Scientists.

"We are so proud of the TV community's generosity and all the celebrities who literally donated the clothes off their backs for this cause," said Jane Kaczmarek, co-creator of the "Clothes Off Our Back" benefit and star of television's "Malcolm In The Middle.”  “We are looking forward to next year's Emmy Awards and to the beginning of a new Hollywood tradition.”

Cure Autism Now worked to gather all of the charities together and coordinate the event.  Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of the foundation, worked closely with Kaczmarek and Whitford to make the auction a success.  “Based on the outpouring of interest and support that we received for the Emmy auction, we plan to create a similar auction to coincide with the Academy Awards,” stated Shestack.

Jennifer Aniston’s vintage Christian Dior gown was the record breaking item according to uBid.com’s President and CEO Christian Feurer, earning $50,000 for UNICEF.  Other prime items were Courtney Cox Arquette’s vintage Christian Dior gown that earned $5,100 for Cure Autism Now, Martin Sheen’s Brioni tuxedo that brought in $2,100 for Union of Concerned Scientists and Jennifer Garner’s outfit that earned $2,100 for UNICEF and Heifer International.

Celebrities who donated clothing for the auction include: Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox Arquette, Michael Chicklis, Patricia Clarkson, Bryan Cranston, Jennifer Garner, Brad Garrett, Sean Hayes, Patricia Heaton, Allison Janney, Jane Kaczmarek, Wendie Malick, Eric McCormack, Janel Moloney, Megan Mullally, Brad Pitt, Ray Romano, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford.

The first ever “Clothes Off Our Back” charity auction showcased today’s hottest television stars and Emmy nominees’ designer award show formal wear.  The items were put up for auction to the public – all in the name of charity.  Proceeds from the auction benefited Cure Autism Now, Heifer International, UNICEF and Union of Concerned Scientists.

For more information about the auction, results and charities involved, please contact:

Michel Schneider

Edelman

(323) 202-1054

michel.schneider@edelman.com       

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About Clothes Off Our Back®
The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation is a 501c3 organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing today's hottest celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's charities. Clothes Off Our Back was founded by actors and philanthropists Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm In The Middle," "Raising the Bar") and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") whose efforts, along with their celebrity and designer friends have helped improve the lives of children across the globe. For more information and to bid, log onto www.clothesoffourback.org.

For more information please contact: