Oscar-nominated Hollywood actress, Penelope Cruz is the latest high-profile movie star to pledge her support to the MasterCard Priceless Moments eBay charity auction. One lucky bidder will have the opportunity to accompany the breathtakingly beautiful star actress to the opening of her next movie.
The charity auction, now entering its second phase, has to date secured nearly $100,000 in bids. According to the charity organisers, the highest bids received were for the priceless moments of afternoon tea with Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, an opportunity to spend time with Sir Richard Branson at one of his Virgin Unite projects, a round of golf with Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson, and lunch with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The charity auction, which opened for worldwide bidding on the 14th May at www.ebay.com/pricelessmoments, offered people worldwide the opportunity to fulfil their dreams by bidding online for over 50 ‘money-can’t–usually-buy’ priceless moments with South African and International celebrities, business people, movie and sports stars.
“The first phase of the charity auction has been a huge success,” says Dawie Crous, director of the auction organisers, the South African Children’s Charity Trust (SACCT). “We received nearly 200,000 hits on www.ebay.com/pricelessmoments, which is nearly double what comparable international charity auctions on eBay have received in the past.”
Joining Penelope Cruz in the second phase of the charity auction are over 20 additional South African celebrity priceless moments that were held over until the second phase of the charity auction.
The music and entertainment world is represented by the Grammy awarding winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Miriam Makeba, Karen Zoid, Pieter-Dirk Uys and Steve Hofmeyer, while priceless moments with Lucas Radebe, Baby Jake Matlala, and Natalie du Toit are available for sports fans to bid on. The South African corporate world has also come to the party and is represented by high profile CEOs, Koos Bekker, Maria Ramos and Wendy Lucas Bull.
For those with a slightly more ‘conservative’ budget, a number of ‘priceless items’ are also up for auction including: a Fernando Alonso-autographed mini helmet; Lance Armstrong-autographed Yellow jersey; and a Tiger Woods-autographed photo.
The charities that are benefiting from the initiative are: the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa (WSPCCA), CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Reach For A Dream Foundation, Cotlands, the South African Red Cross Society, the Ithemba Trust and the St. Mary’s Aids Hospital in KwaZulu Natal.
The initiative was borne out of a visit to the WSPCCA in Johannesburg in 2006, by two former state presidents – Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. Moved by what he saw at the Centre, President Clinton donated $30 000 to help two children receive life-saving heart surgery. Not to be outdone, Mandela joined Mrs. Albertina Sisulu, widow of Mandela’s late friend and mentor Walter Sisulu, in offering up their time to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Centre.
“Who would have thought, that what started out as the opportunity to bid on a cup of tea with Nelson Mandela, could make such a huge impact on so many children’s lives?” says Eddie Grobler, General Manager Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. “What was a small seed of an idea to help a handful of children is now helping charities that collectively provide for approximately half a million children.”
The auction is hosted on eBay - the world’s largest online auction website with over 200 million registered buyers and sellers - at www.ebay.com/pricelessmoments, giving everyone around the world the ability to bid. The second phase of the auction will conclude on the 8th June 2007.
MasterCard® Priceless Moments™________________________________________
1. Accompany the breathtaking beauty and star actress Penélope Cruz to the opening of her next movie
2. Meet Beverly Bryer and listen to a performance by Grammy-Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir
3. Helicopter ride and picnic with “sparring legend” Baby Jake Matlala and U-fly, then revitalise yourself at a Virgin Spa.
4. Meeting and show with writer and entertainer Pieter-Dirk Uys
5. Huey helicopter combat mission with Michael Mol
6. Premier football match and dinner with Lucas Radebe
7. Hot air balloon safari with Natalie du Toit
8. Private evening and dinner with Miriam Makeba
9. Sunset-cruise with Tumisho Masha
MasterCard® Priceless Moments™ in association with FinWeek/Fin24
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10. Power lunch with Naspers CEO Koos Bekker
11. Power lunch with Transnet CEO Maria Ramos
12. Power lunch with Peotona Group Holdings Co-Founder Wendy Lucas-Bull
MasterCard® Priceless Moments™ in association with Jacaranda 94.2
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13. Microlight flying and breakfast with Chris Chameleon
14. Indulgence day at Simonsig with Karen Zoid
15. Awesome4some with Kieno Kammies
16. 4 x 4 off road course with Lee-Ann Liebenberg
17. Advanced driving experience with Leon Schuster
18. Wine tasting with Nataniël
19. Meet-and-Greet experience at Huisgenoot Kaapse Jol with Steve Hofmeyer
MasterCard® Priceless Items
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20. Fernando Alonso originally autographed mini helmet
21. Lance Armstrong originally autographed Yellow jersey
22. Tiger Woods originally autographed photo
