Yesterday was a big fundraising day for two very well-known names. First off, Eric Clapton raised $7,438,624 at Christie’s auction house in NYC when he and a few famous friends put a number of their prized guitars up on the auction block. Three new world records were set as a result, including the most expensive guitar sold at auction. Clapton’s “Blackie,” his sole stage and studio guitar from 1970 to 1985, set that record at $959,500. All proceeds from the sale of the guitars will go to benefit Clapton’s drug/alcohol treatment facility called the Crossroads Center in Antigua.
Presidential hopeful John Kerry also threw his hat into the fundraising again yesterday, hosting a Hollywood concert that raised $5 million for his campaign. The star-studded event took place at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with tickets going for $2,000 for the concert and $25,000 (per couple) for a pre-show dinner, according to the Associated Press. Ben Stiller, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jamie Foxx, Willie Nelson and Angie Stone all took to the stage throughout the evening. Also featured was a duet between Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond and a stand up routine from Billy Crystal. A similar concert, scheduled for July 8 in NYC will feature the Dave Matthews Band, Mary J. Blige, John Mellencamp, Jon Bon Jovi, Wyclef, Whoopi Goldberg and others.
