New York, NY (Top40 Charts) As part of the Global 16 Days of Activism, musician, activist and Founder of The Circle,
Annie Lennox, has brought together some of the world's most iconic female artists to contribute to a special international auction to support the charity's work to economically empower and end violence against women and girls.
Items up for auction include signed and handwritten lyrics from Alicia Keys, Angelique Kidjo,
Annie Lennox,
Billie Eilish and Brandi Carlile. Lots will be available to highest bidders and via sweepstake draws - costing just $10 to enter (or equivalent local currency).
The Circle's
Music Icons auction and prize draw will be live from 09:00 GMT today (Tuesday 22nd November). The auction ends on Monday 5th December at 23:59 GMT and the deadline for sweepstake entries is 23:59 GMT on
Thursday 15th December. Full details of the items up for auction, and how to bid or enter the sweepstake can be found on www.charitystars.com/TheCircle
Annie Lennox, musician, activist and founder of The Circle, spoke on the eve of the auction saying: "I have long believed that music can build bridges and bring people together and it is wonderful to see these phenomenal female artists stand side by side with women and girls around the world facing and fighting gender-based violence.
"Join The Circle and global feminists everywhere as we continue to push forward, protest and take action to end violence against our sisters. Please get involved, bid and help us to support women and girls around the world."
Angelique Kidjo, multi award winning musician and activist, explained her support for the fundraiser adding:
"I wanted to donate my lyrics to support the work of The Circle, because when we use our words, when we raise our voices, when we sing our songs of defiance and empowerment, we are refusing to be silent, and we are making change possible."
The proceeds from the auction will help to support The Circle's work around the world, from providing urgently needed help to women and girls who have suffered abuse and violence - such as counselling, access to safe accommodation, legal advice, education and coaching - to supporting the long-term changes needed to enable women and girls to break free and move on from violence and fear.
Raakhi Shah, CEO of The Circle, said: "This is an incredible chance to bid for items of music history in the making. We are so grateful to Alicia, Angelique, Annie, Billie and Brandi for their outstanding generosity and supporting women facing violence and abuse around the world. I would just encourage any music fan to go to the website and get bidding!
"This is a limited chance to get your hands on some very special, one-of-a-kind covetable items whilst raising much needed funds to continue our efforts to eradicate gender-based violence."
This special global fundraising event launches as supporters of The Circle get ready for the '16 Days Challenge', a series of creative fundraising activities themed around the numbers 1 and 6 to mark the global '16 Days of Activism' campaign against gender-based violence.
The 16 Days Challenge will run from 25th November to 10th December, with The Circle's supporters finding hundreds of different creative ways to raise funds, from dancing non-stop for 16 hours or inviting 16 friends to a life-changing lunch, to walking 1.6 miles for 16 days or forfeiting a daily coffee and donating the money saved for 16 Days.
Friends, family, and colleagues can support these amazing efforts by texting 16DAYS to 70460 to donate £16 in the UK or by visiting www.thecircle.ngo to donate from anywhere in the world. All funds raised will go to support The Circle's advocacy, campaigning and grassroots partners overseas, and help to achieve the world free of gender inequality and gender-based violence that we all want to see.
