The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) will receive $34,107 generated through the eBay auction of the NBC “TODAY’s” annual Green Room Book. The funds have been designated to support medical research on lupus.
For the first time, “TODAY” invited its viewers to help select the charity to benefit from the annual eBay auction. Hundreds of emails were received, and judges from “TODAY” ultimately chose one from Mr. David Lytle of Litchfield, Ohio. Lytle nominated the Lupus Foundation of America to honor the memory of Mary Katherine Biglow, a young mother who worked as his caretaker. She passed away from complications of lupus in October 2004, one day before her 31st birthday.
The book includes signatures, notes and doodles from celebrities, political figures, newsmakers and other prominent guests who appeared on “TODAY” during 2005, including Clint Eastwood, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Kelly Clarkson, Will Smith, Bob Dole, Bill Clinton, Maria Shriver, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Halle Berry, Will Ferrell, The Black Eyed Peas, Tom Cruise, Lindsay Lohan, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Jessica Alba, Vince Vaughn, Steve Carell, Serena Williams, Paul Simon, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Anne Rice, Mary J. Blige, Jim Carrey and Elmo.
The auction was managed by the online auction agency, Kompolt. Thanks to eBay, 100 percent of the proceeds from the auction will go to support the LFA’s national lupus research program.
Mrs. Biglow was a close friend and personal care attendant for Mr. Lytle, who suffered a spinal cord injury 13 years ago. In nominating the Lupus Foundation of America, Mr. Lytle wrote, “She never complained about her chronic illness. There are so many worthy charities that need our attention; however, lupus doesn't have an identity. Kassie, as we called her, wanted to create awareness of lupus, like the attention that Christopher Reeve gave to spinal cord injuries.”
“Kassie Biglow’s untimely death at a young age, leaving behind a husband and ten-month-old son, sadly demonstrates that lupus is a disease that strikes mostly young women of childbearing age, often with tragic consequences,” said Marjorie S. Susman, Chair of the Lupus Foundation of America National Board of Directors.
Inspired by Mr. Lytle’s kind gesture, LFA officials will use the auction proceeds to establish a research award in Kassie Biglow’s name. “The “TODAY” show Green Room Book auction not only generated funds for research, the auction helped to focus national attention on lupus and its impact on individuals and families, as Kassie had wanted,” said Susman.
Since the auction began seven years ago, the “TODAY” show has raised approximately $400,000 for various charities, including the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, Hospice of Palm Beach County, America's Second Harvest, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Project A.L.S., and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ system in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. At present there is no cure for lupus, which causes disabling joint pain and swelling, fevers, extreme exhaustion, skin rashes, and other life-threatening health complications, such as heart attacks, stokes, seizures, and kidney failure.
With a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters, branches and support groups, the Lupus Foundation of America is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to lupus, supporting programs of research, education, and services for individuals with lupus and their families.
NBC News pioneered the morning news program when it launched "TODAY" more than 53 years ago, with Dave Garroway as host. The three-hour live broadcast provides the latest in domestic and international news, weather reports and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports. After more than 48 years of the standard two-hour format, the third hour was launched in October of 2000, making "TODAY" the only three-hour national morning show on television. The program is unparalleled in its ratings dominance in the morning news arena, serving as America's overwhelming favorite for an unprecedented 10 consecutive years.
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