Park Record: Park City, Utah Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Swag funneled to a worthy cause

Gift bags to be auctioned on eBay

Two of the celebrity gift bags being handed out to famous attendees at the Sundance Film festival this year are being used to raise funds for charity.

Traditionally, the movie stars are showered with freebees during the festival in hopes of boosting the products' visibility

This year some of that excess is being channeled toward two charities. Stuffed with goodies totaling as much as $50,000, two Ultimate Comfort bags will be auctioned off on eBay with proceeds to be donated to tsunami relief and to a non-profit youth center for at-risk kids in south central Los Angeles, A Place Called Home.

Dana Valenzuela looks on as actor Kevin Costner signs a bag that will be auctioned off on eBay to aid survivors of the tsunami. Photo credit: Jason Hunter Color picture

Among the treats being offered to celebs, several of which will also be in the bags being auctioned include "Experience the Indy 500" private race-car and track access, plus first class airfare/hotel, Sea Dream Yacht Club week long vacation to Caribbean or Mexico, Marquis Los Cabos, Mexico Resort vacation, Emily Armenta diamond jewelry La Calvion Custom Jeweled Denim in diamonds, platinum, gold, or silver,Trs Jolie Custom Jewelry , Jimmyjane "Midnight Special, temptation in a tote,"Maria Lyons Suede and Leather custom garment bag,Kookoon pure silk comforters, BathQol hand made t-shirts,Pangaya Eco-Friendly Clothing and personal care items, Clarks Wallabees "His and Hers Gift Certificates," Privo Shoes "His and Hers Gift Certificates", Ike Behar custom dress shirts, Sleepyheads personalized chenille robes,Shari's Berries chocolate covered strawberries, GAP Perfume Oils, Red Envelope gift certificates, The Mustard Sprout "Marshall" Daddy Backpack, French Rags initialed cashmere scarfs and aBritto Central~Arte de Romero Pop-Up coffee table book.

The charity bag effort was organized by regular film festival publicist Jim Dobson, the owner of Indie PR, designer Maria Lyons of Maria Lyons, Inc. of LosAngeles and the company jewels and Pinstripes that specializes in product placement in VIP thank-you gifts.

Go to www.ebay.com/ultimatecomfortbag to place a bid from January 31, 2005-February 10, 2005 on this amazing gift bag.