We've joined with Janis Ian...

Originally posted by parrismcb at We've joined with Janis Ian...

and many others to create a unique fundraiser for the Pearl Foundation. Janis created the Pearl foundation to honor her mother, who went back to college as an adult to obtain the degree she had always wanted to earn.

I can't say it better than the press release Janis wrote herself:

Starting November 21st, Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Janis Ian and eBay auctioneer Amy Leslie will host PROSE FOR PEARL, a 10-day auction of unique items and memorabilia by famous authors, to raise money for returning students. The auction will take place on the Pearl Foundation’s eBay site: http://stores.ebay.com/thepearlfoundation/
You can see the items right now at http://www.janisian.com
and you can read the whole story here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543110765775646.1073741829.357191544367570&type=3

We have items signed and donated by George R. R. Martin, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Wally Lamb, Pat Conroy, Len Wein, Joe Haldeman, Jane Yolen, Harry Turtledove, Kevin J. Anderson & Rebecca Moesta, Michael Swanwick, Mercedes Lackey, Mike Resnick, and the family of Anne McCaffrey, plus a gold, diamond, ruby watch Janis’ family gave Pearl when she graduated.

What’s unusual about this auction?
-- It was suggested by author George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and his wife, Parris McBride, who are donating a pilot script from the hugely successful television series, signed by all the “Starks”, as well as signed books and personal notes from Martin to the high bidders.
-- The authors are Janis’ friends, and chose the items themselves. Many posed with their items, and sent photos of themselves with Janis for the sale.
-- The items are offered with no reserve. Each item has a description from the author as well as a short vignette by Ian detailing their relationship.
-- The authors will sign and personalize their items whenever possible.

The Pearl Foundation – history and FAQ
-- In 1998, Ian held the very first Internet auction through her own website, raising over $60,000 in college scholarship funds for Goddard College. What begun as a one-time tribute to her mother’s life-long dream of attending college became the Pearl Foundation, an IRS-approved charitable organization dedicated to raising funds for returning students.
-- To date, the Pearl Foundation has given away more than $700,000 in college scholarship funding. The Pearl Foundation’s annual overhead is less than 2%.
Come to http://stores.ebay.com/thepearlfoundation/ November 21st and
Be a part of something bigger than yourself!

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There's some incredible items in the auction, not just from George and myself but from Neil Gaiman, Harlan Ellison, the family of Anne McCaffery and a host of others.

One item that we hope will be of interest to many is a GoT script, signed by all the Stark family, from Sean Bean (Eddard) to Art Parkison (Rickon).

As I write this, it's less than an hour TWO hours (times zones can be so confusing) until the auction goes live on eBay. SO follow the links Janis gives to read more about the auction on her website, and then go to the eBay page link to start the bidding.

We would greatly appreciate you all spreading the word far and near about this auction, so that fans and collectors everywhere will have a chance to bid and obtain a unique item for their collections, a perfect present for someone they love, knowing that you're helping give a returning education student help to fulfill their dreams.

thank you,

Parris