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NEW ORLEANS - The Harley-Davidson motorcycle covered in celebrity autographs that helped raise thousands of dollars for tsunami victims may attract more than a million for hurricane survivors.
The motorcycle, signed by some of the nation's most famous people, drew in $800,000 for victims of the southeast Asia tsunami when "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" auctioned it on eBay in February. It sold to the highest bidder, the Houston-based Waste Management, Inc., for more than $800,000.
The company says it has since used the bike to raise money for such causes as breast cancer awareness and Crimestoppers. It was also used to boost morale for workers in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29.
On Saturday, Waste Management is putting it up for auction with proceeds going to the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund for hurricane survivor relief, company spokesperson Lynn Brown said.
"We're trying to keep the bike paying forward to help charities," she said. "It's really exciting."
Brown said a Houston attorney has volunteered to open the bidding at $1 million this Saturday in Houston.
The Harley-Davidson has been signed by Donald Trump, Nicole Kidman, Bill Cosby, Jamie Foxx, Demi Moore, Tim Robbins, Ashlee Simpson, Jimmy Buffet and Denzel Washington among others.
Since it was obtained by Waste Management Inc., the autographs of presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton and Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros have been added, Brown said.
