ATLANTA — The annual auction at this year’s Carter Center Weekend, which took place June 22-26 in Annapolis, Maryland, brought in a record-setting $3,724,000 — more than twice the amount raised at any previous auction.]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 items in this year’s silent and live auction included fine art, dream vacations, presidential memorabilia, and autographed guitars and sports souvenirs. The highest bid was for an original oil painting by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, which sold for $750,000.
“Rosalynn and I are grateful to all the supporters who helped make this year’s auction the most successful one yet,” Carter said. “Their generosity ensures that The Carter Center can continue its efforts to strengthen democracy, resolve conflicts, and fight disease.”
Other items that drew top bids in this year’s auction included:
• Farm table with six chairs handcrafted by President Carter and other artists, $600,000
• Signed photograph of five U.S. presidents, $285,000
• Camp David peace negotiations collection, $110,000
• John F. Mello handmade guitar, $70,000
• Hawaiian paradise vacation, $55,500
• Two Jerome Lawrence original paintings, $52,500 each
• Film screening with former Hollywood executive Sherry Lansing,