As a proponent of humanitarianism, Shepard was pleased to contribute his artwork to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ spring auction. Shepard has donated a hand-painted multiple (HPM) version of the American flag image that he created for his upcoming Deitch Projects exhibition May Day. To bid on the piece, valued at $5,000, visit Charity Buzz before the auction closes on April 28.

More on the auction and the RFK Center:
Washington, D.C., April 12, 2010 – The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ annual spring auction launched last week and is already drawing international attention because of its one-of-a-kind items and its renowned human rights work.  An A-list of a diverse collection of athletes, politicians, celebrities and corporations has again joined together in nonpartisan fashion to support the important work of the RFK Center.   Visitors to the online site have been coming from every continent to view the auction items which range from an internship at the Huffington Post to lunch with Martin Sheen to VIP tickets to Elton John’s Oscar party.   

For the past 42 years, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights has actively assisted human rights advocates and supported investigative journalists and authors that bring injustice to light. The RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power series educates the public with a toolkit to create change in the classroom and the community – both at home and abroad.  Partnering with RFK Europe, the RFK Center provides human rights education advocacy programs to schools and communities around the world.  With RFK Children’s Action Corps, the organization urges legislative reform of juvenile justice systems. 

Among the Center’s projects are:
– the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake focusing on accountability and the Center’s concrete recommendations calling on donor states to take a rights-based approach to rebuilding Haiti.
– the Gulf Coast recovery program and the Center’s work on victims’ rights to return home and accountability.
– defending the farm workers’ rights bill to achieve real-world results that will improve the lives of farm workers.

“By bidding on these incredible experiences, people will be supporting cutting-edge human rights defenders from around the world, including those fighting for the right to water and reconstruction in Haiti, the victims who still suffer after Katrina, farmers’ rights in the U.S and much more,” said Kerry Kennedy, founder of the RFK Center’s Speak Truth To Power. 

The Center’s 2009 spring auction raised a record amount for vital human rights work.  The auction is open for bidding through April 28th, with new items added daily.

About The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights 
The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, www.rfkcenter.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides innovative support to courageous human rights defenders around the world. It assists advocates who have won the RFK Human Rights Award to boldly confront injustices such as modern day slavery in U.S. agricultural fields, torture in Darfur, and the devastation along the hurricane battered Gulf Coast.  Every year the Memorial honors investigative journalists and authors who bring light to injustice through the RFK Book and Journalism Awards. With the Speak Truth to Power program, the Memorial promotes the value of the human rights and the courage of its defenders through the arts.