The economy may be tight, but when a worthy cause like the nonprofit Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights has a charity auction, you do what you can. Like the Sidwell Friends School auction last month, where one happy donor making a contribution to the private school's scholarship fund was able to score autographed magazine covers of the President and First Lady for under $4000, this auction's items are laden with prestige and star power. Now through May 28, donors can "bid on over 125 one of a kind celebrity experiences to support human rights!"

Lot items offer high power access and connections. For example, although buying an internship has been criticized as elitist and unfair, bids on a 3 month unpaid job at Huffington Post ("Jumpstart Your Career in the Blogsphere") are already over $13,000. The 2009 RFK Center auction also offers bidders a singing lesson with Aretha Franklin, queen of soul (do I hear $5500?) or, for considerably more than a lesson with the queen, you can buy an audience with Oprah, (minimum next bid $32,500). Since the money will go to support human rights, I'm tempted to go for the lunch at the Polo Lounge with Warren Beatty myself. I know it's a bit stiff at over $1750, but I bet the tip is included.

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