98 Degrees News

(6/6/01, 6 p.m. ET) -- 98 Degrees was just one of the acts that performed at the Candie's Foundation's Event To Prevent at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Tuesday evening (June 5). Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, Stephen Baldwin, Thora Birch (American Beauty), and New York designer Betsey Johnson joined musicians 'N Sync, Destiny's Child, Macy Gray, and Willa Ford, among others, at the fundraising event, which featured both a concert and an auction. The evening's proceeds are going towards helping Candie's Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about the problem of teen pregnancy in the United States through a public-awareness campaign.

98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey explained to LAUNCH at the why his band decided to get involved with the campaign. "This is just something that we feel pretty strongly about," he said. "The opportunity to educate people about teen pregnancy and the kind of responsibility that it brings. You know, if you enter into something that's that serious at a young age, I think everyone should be fully educated and aware about what they're getting into. We're just here to open up and offer our services, and help out if we can."

LAUNCH asked Lachey's bandmate Jeff Timmons if he believes that musicians and celebrities can really make a difference in the lives of young people. "I don't think they necessarily can tell kids what to do, but I definitely think kids look upon celebrities for influence and as role models, you know? And whether you want to or not, you influence the children that buy your music and look at you, and they want to be like you in a lot of respects, so yeah, definitely," he said.

In conjunction with the launch of the Candie's Foundation, the organization is currently holding an auction on Ebay (ebay.com). Among the items up for bid is a "Tour With 'N Sync," wherein the person who places the winning bid gets four tickets to an 'N Sync concert at a still-to-be determined location. In addition, the winner gets to hang with 'N Sync at a private soundcheck party, where they will get a two-song private performance from the group. as well as a question-and-answer session with them. The package also includes an 'N Sync autographed DVD and poster, round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and a limousine to and from the concert. Bidding on the "Tour With 'N Sync" ends Thursday afternoon (June 7).

-- Jason Gelman, New York

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