All-star auction raises US$4.5 mln for children

Jackie Chan attends the 2009 Bazaar Charity Gala held in Beijing on September 28, 2009. [sohu.com]

Chinese entertainers gathered in Beijing on Monday for the annual Bazaar Charity Gala, which raised a record 31 million yuan (US$4.5 million) for needy children.

The 7th Bazaar Charity Gala, consisting of a red carpet show and an auction, attracted such stars as Jackie Chan, Carina Lau, Zhou Xun and Vivian Hsu, as well as a number of socialites and influential entrepreneurs.

Among the 17 items auctioned was an oil painting created by contemporary artist Liu Ye that went to entrepreneur Shi Yuzhu for 7.8 million yuan ($1.1 million), the highest bid price of the night. A set of Beijing Olympic souvenirs autographed by opening ceremony director Zhang Yimou was successfully bid for by Jackie Chan for one million yuan ($146,488).

Jackie Chan himself donated a jade-carving work from his personal collection, which raised 3.99 million yuan ($584,487). He also made unexpected on-site donations by taking off his white jacket and a shirt and putting them up for auction. The clothes together raised 5.87 million yuan ($859,884).

All the funds raised will go to Jackie Chan's charity foundation and China Children and Teenagers' Fund.

The Bazaar Charity Gala, initiated in 2003 by the fashion magazine Bazaar, has become one of China's major fundraisers.

CHINA.ORG.CN