Powerful Women in Business, Entertainment, Sports and Journalism Give a Whole New Meaning to 'Ladies Who Lunch'

Powerful Women in Business, Entertainment, Sports and Journalism Give a Whole New Meaning to 'Ladies Who Lunch'

Alicia Keys, Jenna Elfman, Teresa Earnhardt, Patti Labelle and MSNBC's Chris Jansing Are Among the Women to Participate in the Communities In Schools Lunch With A Leader(TM) Online Celebrity Auction to Benefit Kids

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- These women are successful, hardworking leaders in their professions and they're ready to step out with you. Some of the country's most esteemed women leaders are lending their names and their time to help kids stay in school in the fourth annual Communities In Schools Lunch With A Leader(TM) online celebrity auction. The auction, which begins February 10 on eBay, will benefit Communities In Schools, the nation's largest dropout prevention organization.

"I have been very privileged to meet some of the most dynamic women of the day, and these ladies who have generously given of their time for Communities In Schools are as great as they come," says Bill Milliken, founder and vice chairman, Communities In Schools. "We are so lucky to have these high caliber leaders participating in our Lunch With A Leader(TM) online celebrity auction."

Through Lunch With A Leader, dozens of celebrities donate an hour of their time to be auctioned off to the highest bidder on eBay. The high bidder wins a memorable lunch or a great piece of memorabilia, and the proceeds benefit the work of Communities In Schools. Book lovers can bid on an autographed copy of The Modern Girl's Guide to Life and The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood by best-selling author Jane Buckingham. With information on entertaining, etiquette, housekeeping, basic home repair, decorating, and beauty, this indispensable book has everything today's woman should know -- but may not!

Now in its fourth year, Lunch With A Leader has attracted more than 300 celebrity leaders who, through their participation, directly impact the lives of young people at risk of dropping out of school. Communities In Schools' 1 percent expense ratio ensures that proceeds from the online auction will go directly towards helping kids stay in school and prepare for life.

In addition to Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle and Jenna Elfman, NASCAR legend Richard Petty, CBS news anchor Bob Schieffer and Starbucks president and CEO Jim Donald have joined such personalities as James Carville, Sam Donaldson, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, ABC political correspondent George Stephanopoulos, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart and dozens of others in support of Communities In Schools. The auction begins on February 10 and ends February 20.

Sponsors of this year's Lunch With A Leader include: ICAP(R), Cox Communications, Bloomberg, Capital One Financial Corporation, UBS, Comcast Corporation, CVS/pharmacy, PT Research, Inc., Fannie Mae Foundation and The Washington Times.

Founded in 1977, Communities In Schools is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. Today, nearly one million young people every year receive direct services through more than 200 Communities In Schools affiliates in 28 states. For two years in a row, Worth magazine named Communities In Schools one of the 100 top nonprofits in America.

Source: Communities In Schools

CONTACT: Deborah Veney Robinson of Communities In Schools,
+1-703-518-2545, +1-703-615-5476, robinsond@cisnet.org

Web site: http://www.cisnet.org/
http://www.lunchwithaleader.org/

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