LOS ANGELES, April 19 -- The Inner-City Games Foundation is hosting its first ever online initiative to raise money for their after-school programs in over 300 locations in 15 cities across the country. The ICGF has teamed up with promotional sponsors America Online (AOL) and Schwarzenegger.com for the effort that has put select Arnold Schwarzenegger movie collectibles up for bid on eBay all week with a brand new 2003 HUMMER H2 sports utility vehicle to headline the second half of the auction beginning April 22, 2002.
The Inner-City Games Foundation event kicked off last Monday remaining active for two weeks. Items are available for online bidding through AOL keyword: Arnold's Charity Auction or on eBay between April 15th and April 29th. The auction contains unique movie memorabilia including: an Audemars Piguet custom designed limited edition "The 6th Day" watch, leather-bound signed scripts from "Terminator 2 -- Judgment Day" and "Collateral Damage," signed comic book of "Conan The Barbarian," an autographed Cel from "Batman and Robin" as well as signed Inner-City Games and Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Classic jackets.
The second week of the auction, which begins on Monday, will feature a 2003 HUMMER H2. Bidders will have a chance to win one of the early H2' s off the production line, which are not available on the consumer market until July 2002, as well as a variety of other wonderful collectibles. The H2, with a projected retail price in the $50,000's, will also contain a special surprise gift from Arnold in the glove compartment. A full list of the items up for bid and additional information is available on the official Arnold Schwarzenegger website, http://www.Schwarzenegger.com.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will go to the Inner-City Games Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality year-round after-school computer, cultural, and athletic programs for inner-city youth in 15 cities around the country. Schwarzenegger, the founder, also serves as the Foundation's National Chairman.
"I am thrilled that the Inner-City Games Foundation has such great partners for this auction -- HUMMER for the incredibly superior vehicle and AOL and eBay for providing awareness through their services so we can reach people all over the world with this exciting event. The money raised from this effort is so important because every dollar will help us continue to offer inner-city kids empowering opportunities and tools for living a better, healthier lifestyle," explains Schwarzenegger.
For HUMMER, a national sponsor of the ICGF, this is the second H2 vehicle donated to the Foundation for auction. The first was auctioned off during the NBA all-star weekend in Philadelphia earlier this year for $125,000.00.
"HUMMER is committed to Arnold, ICG and their efforts to reach every single child possible with quality after-school programs in both athletics and academics. We see first-hand in our home city of Detroit how beneficial these programs can be and are proud to auction off an H2 with AOL to raise additional funds for the Inner-City Games Foundation," said Michael C. Digiovanni, HUMMER general manager.
Recently, the Inner-City Games Foundation launched a new project, Arnold's All-Stars, to expand its after-school programming efforts in Los Angeles. Arnold's All-Stars will serve a full-range of middle school students in different socio-economic districts in the greater Los Angeles area. A substantial portion of the money raised from this event will fund their efforts to create new, quality after-school programs, five days a week, to encourage middle school kids to succeed in school and in life.
In addition to Arnold's efforts with ICG, Mr. Schwarzenegger has put his muscle where his mouth is, launching a state wide after-school initiative --
The After School Education and Safety Act of 2002 -- that will make state grants available to every public elementary and middle school in California that wants to create an after-school program for its kids. Through the Act, California's children in grades K through 9 will be provided with a safe, fun, and educational place to go after school. It will be on the ballot in California in November 2002.
HUMMER, a division of General Motors Corp., is a national sponsor of the Inner-City Games Foundation and maker of the world's leading off-road vehicles including the HUMMER H1 and the all-new HUMMER H2, on sale July 2002.
For a link to the online event please visit AOL keyword: Arnold's Charity Auction or log onto eBay at
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/aoltw_charity_auctions.
For additional details on the auction, please visit
http://www.schwarzenegger.com. For more information on the Inner-City Games Foundation and affiliated programs please visit http://www.innercitygames.org.
