September is World Alzheimer's Month and scores of celebrities are showing their support by participating in The Elephant Project's charity auction. Created in 2006 by 18-year-old David Niederhoffer after his grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, the Elephant Project aims to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, and to get teenagers more active in community service.
With teen favorites One Direction and Justin Bieber joining this year's auction, it's sure to be a success!
"There is a phrase that says ‘Elephants never forget’," explains David. "Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia… As I live relatively close to New York City, I wait outside of Broadway theaters and other events to meet each celebrity. After explaining to them what I am doing, I ask each celebrity to sign a business card that was custom made for this project."
"I also ask the celebrities to pose with either Trumpet the Elephant beanie baby or Peanut the Elephant beanie baby," he continues. "All the pictures are printed out and auctioned off with the signed card. After I obtain a significant amount of signed cards/pictures, they are auctioned off on eBay. Each auction package also comes with an elephant beanie baby!"
Other stars taking part include Darren Criss, Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Zooey Deschanel, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Vanessa Hudgens, Tom Felton, Pauley Perrette, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Jimmy Fallon, Mark Ruffalo, Ian Somerhalder, Sofia Vergara, Jason Sudeikis, Shenae Grimes, AnnaLynne McCord, Zachary Quinto, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ann Curry and many more.
The Elephant Project Fall 2012 auctions began this past Monday and end on September 20th.
Source: Look to the Stars, Photos: The Elephant Project