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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

ATLANTA — The annual auction at this year’s Carter Center Weekend, which took place June 21-25 near Lake Tahoe, California, brought in more than $2,705,500 — and netted an additional $1,050,000 in restricted donations for its trachoma program.

All proceeds will benefit the Center’s work to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope in the world's poorest and most forgotten countries.

The 150-plus items in this year’s silent and live auction included fine art, dream vacations, and priceless memorabilia. The highest bid was for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s original oil painting, “Monarchs and Milkweed,” which sold for $525,000.

“Rosalynn and I are delighted by the results of this year’s Carter Center Weekend,” President Carter said. “It means so much to us to spend time with our supporters and to know that their generosity makes it possible for Carterto continue working to strengthen democracy, resolve conflicts, and fight disease.”

Other items that drew top bids in this year’s auction included:

• Silk screen titled “Imagine Peace” signed by the artist, Yoko Ono: $145,000
• Bronze casting of President Carter’s hands: $140,000
• Framed and autographed photo of five first ladies, including Mrs. Carter: $130,000
• Handmade model of the U.S.S. Pomfret, the submarine on which President Carter served: $120,000
• Jerome Lawrence original painting titled “Beethoven’s Fourth (of July):” $100,000
• Mahogany four-poster bed designed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and created by master furniture maker Andrew Reid: $80,000
• Guitar autographed by Paul Simon, $60,000
• Skywalker Ranch wine and memorabilia collection: $50,000

All winning bids are available online:

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, Carterhas helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. Carterwas founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.