Ebay auction of Michael Jackson Stick Puppets from Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" TV show nets over $15,000 for the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA)!

The fund raising power of internet auctions was again realized this month, as the national Celiac Sprue Association received a donation of $15,096.99 from the auction sale of Michael Jackson Stick Puppets from the television show "Keith Olbermann's Countdown" aired on MSNBC. The puppets, autographed by Olbermann, were originally used as props as the television show daily updated their viewers on the Michael Jackson court case. They were placed on Ebay to be auctioned with 100% of the proceeds going to the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA), a member-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis worldwide through education, information and research.

A year previously, Keith Olbermann had interviewed Liz Pelly-Waldman and her daughter, Haley, who has been diagnosed with celiac disease. The televised interview centered on the issue of using gluten-free communion wafers and the aspect of a child dealing with the gluten free lifestyle. Keith Olbermann, in an effort to help all individuals with celiac disease, volunteered to promote their cause with the Ebay internet auction of his Michael Jackson stick puppets and raise funds for CSA at the same time.

The puppets involved in the auction each appeared in at least one episode of Michael Jackson's Puppet Theater on the Olbermann television show. The puppets were hand-fashioned with Popsicle sticks by the Countdown staff and included puppets of Michael, Tom Sneddon, Tom Mesereau, Judge Melville, the Chimp, Michael's Crutches and PJ's, and a courtroom background image for the puppet theater. The auction had 80 bids and began at $5.00. The top bid of $15,096.99 was made by Golden Palace.com.

We appreciate the generous donation from Keith Olbermann and the Countdown staff. The publicity for our organization and people with celiac disease, such as Haley Waldman, is priceless. "It is estimated that one in 130 people in the United States has celiac disease," states Mary A. Schluckebier, executive director of CSA, headquartered in Omaha , NE. CSA plans to use the donation to fund educational print material, website enhancement and communication upgrades. "This donation enhances the purposes of CSA - Celiacs Helping Celiacs," states Ms. Schluckebier.

For more information on celiac disease or CSA contact: Celiac Sprue Association, PO Box 31700, Omaha , NE 68131=0700 Phone Toll Free 1-877-CSA-4CSA or 1-877-272-272. E-mail celiacs@csaceliacs.org or Web site www.csaceliacs.org

These high quality puppets were hand-fashioned with popsicle sticks by unskilled laborers on the Countdown Staff. Each puppet has actually appeared in an episode of Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre, and has been autographed by Keith Olbermann.