[St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church press release] On November 16 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, contents of the Rancho Mirage home of President Gerald R. Ford and Betty Ford will be auctioned to benefit the Betty Ford Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley, and St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

“Our parents wanted this auction to be a gift to the people of the Coachella Valley,” said Jack Ford, a son of the Fords. “We hope that people from across the community enjoy the opportunity to share our parents’ legacy and to benefit these three organizations that have been so important to our entire family.”

The auction, which is open to the public for $5 cash payment at the door, will include a Faberge-style egg in a box from President Bill Clinton, a kaleidoscope, Tiffany White House china, and a large collection of Asian decorative pieces. The Fords’ collection of decorative sculptured elephants — the symbol of the Republican Party — in china, crystal, bronze and other materials, will also be auctioned. The elephants were housed in the “elephant room” of the Fords’ home.

The auction will also include accessories personalized for the Fords, books signed for the couple by their authors, artwork and a large selection of designer clothes, furs, personalized Stetson hats, and crystal and porcelain by Lalique, Waterford and Lladro. Golf clubs owned by President Ford will be on offer, as will Mrs. Ford’s personalized Lark luggage. Altogether, the live and silent auctions will include about 1000 items broken into about 500 lots.

“Thanks to President and Mrs. Ford’s thoughtful generosity, this auction makes it possible for many people to own a piece of history,” said Jim Ducatte, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley. “The items on offer range from one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces to everyday household gadgets and personal items that can provide all of us with a memory to treasure.”

“The Fords have been generous to us in this legacy, just as they were during their lifetimes,” said the Rev. Lane Hensley, rector of St. Margaret’s. “We are delighted to share this opportunity with our partners at the Betty Ford Center and Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley Foundation.”

The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa is located at 44-400 Indian Wells Lane in Indian Wells. Complimentary parking will be available for the auction, which will be handled by the Gavel Group of Lake Forest, California. Cash, American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards will be accepted as payment for items purchased.

The non-profit Betty Ford Center is an addiction recovery hospital that offers help and hope to individuals and their family members affected by the disease of addiction. Learn more at www.bettyfordcenter.org.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley provides meaningful afterschool and summer programs for 7,000 youth between the ages of 7 and 18 in five Coachella Valley communities in Southern California. Learn more at www.bgcofcv.org.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California, is a leading progressive parish in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. St. Margaret’s offers Holy Eucharist on Sundays at 8 and 10 am, community-wide outreach, adult education and wellness programs, an early childhood center, compassionate pastoral care and a celebrated music program. Learn more at www.stmargarets.org.