NEW YORK.- Some of the most prominent members of the contemporary art community will participate in an art auction on Monday evening, September 15, 2008 at Phillips de Pury & Company, 450 W. 15 Street, New York, NY, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Auction proceeds will go to support the work of the Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation, which funds clinical care and cutting-edge research for children with cancer and serious blood diseases. There will also be an online auction in coordination with artnet® Online Auctions. There will be no buyer's commission on the auctioned artworks.

Foundation chairperson Les J. Lieberman said, “It is wonderful to have the support of such renowned artists who are generously donating some of their finest work to our cause. We hope to raise money this year to fund new fellowship positions for young scientists and doctors, and to help develop new treatments for these serious diseases. The money raised from this art auction will help us to ensure that every family receives care regardless of their ability to pay. We thank all of the artists who are helping our first art auction become a success.”

Proceeds from both events will ensure that the CCBF continues its exceptional mission to provide the very best and up-to-date treatments for young people, as well as engage in breakthrough research that will hopefully lead to improved care and cures.

The CCBF supports the pioneering and lifesaving work of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Each year, it treats thousands of children with an array of pediatric diseases from cancers to sickle cell and HIV/AIDS. CCBF has a truly incredible group of doctors, scientists and staff committed to finding cures, as well as new and better treatments for these children regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital has made great advances in many of these diseases in recent years due to CCBF’s support. In fact, through research and in conjunction with treatment, the CCBF doctors are close to a cure for sickle cell.

Tara Reddi, vice president of Marlborough Gallery, and Brenda Taylor, of Brenda Taylor Gallery, are leading the efforts to organize this year’s auction. Artists who will be donating their work include Vito Acconci, Rita Ackermann, John Alexander, Anthony Aziz & Sammy Cucher, John Baeder, Jennifer Bain, Sarah Baley, Michael Behle, Carlos Betancourt, Cecilia Biagini, Beth Block, Ilya Bolotowsky, Andrea Bonfils, Leslie Bostrom, Olaf Breuning, Romero Britto, Lawrie Brown, Ron Burkhardt, Dale Chihuly, Ron Church, Kris Cox, Ann Craven, Kasseem Dean, Jeff DeGolier, Coco Dolle, Michele Oka Doner, Diana Dopson, Peter Drake, Connie Fox, Peter Fox, JJ Garfinkel, Judy Gelles, Meghan Gerety, Anthony Goicolea, Clare Grill, Rainer Gross, Deborah Hamon, Ellen Harvey, Julie Hedrick, Brandon Herman, Sharon Horvath, Zhang Huan, Jon James, Malia Jensen, Tom Judd, Deborah Kass, William King, Keira Kotler, Jasper Krabbe, Kathleen Kucka, Jon Kuhn, Karine Laval, Tianbing Li, Lee Lisevitz, Jorg Madlener, Mark Mahaney, Chris Martin, Jane Maxwell, Christopher McLallen, Abelardo Morell, James Nares, Lori Nix, Shay Nowick, , Megan Olson, Suzanne Opton, Melissa Oresky, Tom Otterness, Aaron Parazette, Joel Perlman, Richard Pettibone, Matthew Pillsbury, Mel Prest, Len Prince, Luigi Rocca, Ugo Rondinone, Jason Frank Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Will Ryman, David Salle, Michael Schall, Sharon Schuster, Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, Jerry Siegel, Hunt Slonem, Frank Sofo, Mike and Doug Starn, Therman Statom, Lino Tagliapietra, Leah Tinari, Mickalene Thomas, Helen van Meene, Massimo Vitali, Richard Wathen, Albert Watson, Heather Wilcoxon, Robin Williams, Hiroshi Yamano, and Tatiana Zank.

The galleries that have agreed to assist include Marlborough Gallery, Brenda Taylor Gallery, L & M Arts, Leo Castelli Gallery, Bonni Benrubi Gallery and The Hogar Collection.

The art auction precedes the annual “Breakthrough Ball” fundraising gala, a black tie dinner dance that will be held on October 28, 2008, at the Plaza Hotel. Actor Charles Grodin will return as the emcee. Last year’s honoree, NFL great Tiki Barber, will present this year’s “Breakthrough Spirit” award to artist and music producer Swizz Beatz, actor/activist Steve Guttenberg, Major League Baseball star and Yankee broadcaster Al Leiter, and Laureen Kelley, founder of One Life, Inc. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings will provide entertainment. A live auction will be held that will include trips to Bali, a five hour Bombardier jet package, a Caribbean cruise, a personal photo shoot by Heisler Pictures, Inc., a golf package at the top Hampton’s golf courses, a chef’s dinner for 20 at the winner’s home with ‘Cesca chef Kevin Garcia, and a custom designed Di Modolo necklace, much more.