Blossom International Bookmark Art Benefit Auction on eBay Giving Works

Children's authors and illustrators donate handcrafted bookmarks to benefit the non profit Blossom International's Cultural Education 4 Kids program. These works are set to be auctioned of from May 15th till June 1st on the online auction site Ebay.

Manasquan, NJ (PRWEB) May 8, 2007 -- If you're interested in supporting cultural education for kids and would like to receive a one of a kind piece of artwork at the same time, Blossom International's Bookmark Art benefit auctions are for you. Seventeen bookmarks created by children's illustrators and authors have been crafted especially for the upcoming Ebay Giving Works benefit event scheduled to take place from May 15th to June 1st.

Children's illustrators like R.W. Alley, illustrator of the new Paddington Bear books, and Toni DiTerlizzi, illustrator of G is for One Gzonk, created one of kind pieces just for this upcoming auction event. Each bookmark comes in a plastic, protective case and has a signed certificate of authenticity. The bookmarks are priceless but bidding will begin at the low price of $25.00.

Blossom International, a non-profit whose mission is to promote empathy and compassion through action, will use all proceeds from the online event to fund their Cultural Education 4 Kids program. They have teamed up with Ebay Giving Works, the charity section of the online auction giant Ebay, and Mission Fish, a service of the Points of Light Foundation, in order to offer worry and hassle free bidding to those interested in supporting the cause. All bidders will have to register with the online Ebay auction site prior to bidding.

Over 260 children have received Blossom International's Cultural Education 4 Kids program to date with next year's goal being to bring the program to over 500 children. The program targets school aged children in the kindergarten to third grade level. The students each get a copy of a book they will be reading and enjoy an art project and follow up discussion that further addresses the theme of the book.

The Cultural Education 4 Kids program offered the book Mud Soup by Judith Head this year. This allowed for many giggles in the classroom when the main character, Josh, thought that the soup he was being asked to try from his best friend Rosa was actually Mud. Next years book will be, the Caldecott Honor Book and recipient of the Parent's Choice Gold Award, Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold and will address racism and the important power of a child's imagination.

Bidding starts Tuesday, May 15th at Noon EST on Ebay and ends on June 1st. Each bookmark will be up for auction for five days with new sets being placed up for auction in five day increments. On Friday May, 11th the schedule for the auctions will be available on Blossom International's website at www.blossominternational.org with previews and a listing of all participating illustrators and authors available now. For more information about Blossom International or this event please contact Michele Rodriguez at 732-722-7240.

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