Celebrities are known for having their fair share of "baggage" (just ask the folks at TMZ). But JetBlue Airways is asking them to unload another kind of baggage -- carry-ons, party purses, briefcases, guitar cases and other bags -- for a celebrity auction.
Through June 6, fans can bid on personal items donated by more than 50 actors, musicians and athletes at www.jetblue.com/celebritybaggage. All proceeds benefit DoSomething.org, which is also promoting the auction on its Web site. Fans can also enter for a chance to win a bag on JetBlue's Facebook page, where the airline will donate an additional $1 per sweepstakes entry to help raise money for America's youth, up to $25,000. The New York-based airline is playing up its "first bags fly free" incentive in promoting the auction.
Three of the bags come from the family of actress Lindsay Lohan, who has had her share of "baggage" as of late. In addition to Lindsay's signed duffel bag (a modest LeSportsac with horses that would retail for less than $100), her younger brothers Michael C. and Cody, who are also actors, have items in the auction. The high bidder for Lindsay's bag (which at press time was up to $510) will also get an autographed copy of the Harper's Bazaar magazine featuring the actress on the cover, as well as a Lindsay Lohan "MyScene" doll and a signed movie poster from "Mean Girls."
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The item with the highest bid thus far is for one-time presidential candidate/real estate mogul/"Celebrity Apprentice" boss Donald Trump. Mr. "You're Fired" is offering up a signed attaché case from Zero Halliburton, two VIP tickets for the 2011 Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas on June 19 and two tickets to the 2011 Miss USA Pageant after-party. (The high bid on the Trump offerings was $1,025 as of press time.)
Other celebrities who have donated items include Amber Valetta, Blake Griffin, Brittany Snow, Busy Philipps, Chelsea Handler, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jessica Simpson, Jordin Sparks, Kellan Lutz, Kelly Osbourne, Matt Leinart, Molly Ringwald, Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio, Rosario Dawson, Ryan Seacrest, Samantha Harris, Sara Evans, Stacy Keibler, Taylor Swift and Ted Nugent.
The baggage is being auctioned on eBay during two seven-day auction periods: the first ending May 30 and the second running from May 31 to June 6. Each signed bag includes a custom JetBlue luggage tag and two round-trip JetBlue tickets. Some pieces are accompanied by personal items from the celebrity donor.
To get up close and personal with the baggage, fans can head to Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, Calif., where many of the items will be on display and visitors can bid on them directly from their smartphones.