Bidding For 12 Items Runs Through May 15

The Lindbergh Foundation announced Wednesday that, in connection with its 31st annual Lindbergh Award Celebration in May, several one-of-a-kind items will be available for on-line bidding. Kelley Welf, Director of Communications for the Foundation, confirmed that online bidding for 12 unique items opened April 30 at the Foundation's website, and will close on May 15 at 1600 CDT.

"The Foundation wants the global audience of aviation enthusiasts to have its chance to participate in an auction that would otherwise have been limited to attendees of our Celebration in Atlanta," said John King, Co-Chairman of King Schools and Chairman of the Lindbergh Foundation Board of Directors. "This auction—like our work at the Lindbergh Foundation—is just too special to keep to ourselves."

Miles O’Brien, CNN Correspondent and Lindbergh Foundation Director, referred to the offering he’ll be hosting and added, "I’m looking forward to meeting the lucky bidder who’ll spend some time with us here at CNN studios in our 'behind the scenes tour and lunch.' It’s a great chance to support the Lindbergh Foundation’s work and have some fun doing it!"

The Annual Silent Auction is a popular and eagerly anticipated event among Lindbergh Foundation supporters, because it offers rare aviation collectibles, Lindbergh memorabilia, unique aviation events and other interesting opportunities. Among the featured items are:

• A first edition, mint condition, copy of The Spirit of St. Louis signed by Charles Lindbergh
• The only numbered Calle lithograph of Astronaut Neil Armstrong in existence signed by both the first and last man on the moon;
• One of only 100 prints of a special edition oil painting celebrating Lindbergh’s arrival in Paris, signed by James Lovell, Alan Shepard, Neil Armstrong, and Jimmy Doolittle; and
• A dream-day with John and Martha King, founders of King Schools, Inc. for six, including a flight in their Falcon and dinner with the Kings.

"This online auction of such unique items is unprecedented in the history of the Lindbergh Foundation," said Knox Bridges, Foundation President and CEO. "It’s our intent to offer these rare collectibles as a way of letting the world know how special our Foundation is, and to raise awareness for the kind of support we enjoy among aviation’s elite and famous who care about our mission."

The Lindbergh Foundation Annual Awards Celebration silent auction will be held in Atlanta, GA on May 17. The highest online bids will be the starting bids for auction attendees; as online bidders will not have the chance to rebid after the online auction closes, the Foundation encourages those bidders to attend the actual event, as well.

FMI: www.lindberghfoundation.org