A student group at Penn State is raising money to build a shelter for homeless children in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by auctioning off sports memorabilia on eBay.

Rescue Childhood, an organization that works for the rights and well-being of children, has placed a basketball signed by the Penn State Lady Lions and a basketball signed by the University of North Carolina Lady Tar Heels up for bids on the popular online marketplace.

All proceeds raised from the auctions will benefit the Maximo Project, an "initiative in the Dominican Republic helping to fund the construction of a rehabilitation center and group home for street kids," Rescue Childhood President Ashley Waddell said.

Lady Lions' junior guard Jennifer Brenden said the team was happy to contribute to the fundraiser.

"We love to help out with charities and auctions, especially anything having to do with kids," she said.

The Lady Lions basketball had raised $125.00 and the Lady Tar Heels basketball $10.50 by yesterday afternoon. The auctions are open until late Friday night, and a link to the items can be found on Rescue Childhood's Web site, www.clubs.psu.edu/up/rescuechildhood.

Brian P. Wyland, 31, a self-proclaimed "die-hard Lady Lions basketball fan" from Altoona, placed a bid of $100 on the Lady Lions basketball late last week.

He said he was more inclined to bid on the item because it was part of a fund-raiser.

"Penn State is not only a great place for students to learn or play sports," he said in an e-mail message,"it is also a great place for students to develop into a total and complete person, with knowledge, caring, understanding, community spirit, and problem-solving [skills] to face the problems of the world today."

The Maximo Project is being completed through Niños Del Camino, a grassroots organization attempting to aid the growing population of "street kids" in Santo Domingo, Waddell said.

The project is named after a 14 year old who will live in the group home when it is finished, she added.

The builders broke ground in January on the first of five buildings, she said.

"Right now they are working on building the first house, which will have a kitchen, bathroom and enough beds for 24 kids," she said.

The house is scheduled to be completed and ready for the children to move in by June, she said.

"They will keep building as they get more resources," she said.

Rescue Childhood has already donated $7,005 to the effort, and 18 of the group's members traveled to Santo Domingo for eight days over winter break to spend time with the children, she said.

Waddell said the idea of auctioning sports memorabilia came in part from the group's faculty adviser, professor of philosophy Emily Grosholz, and a colleague of hers, Jan Boxill, a professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Lady Tar Heels academic adviser.

In addition to the two basketballs, two signed copies of Boxill's book, Sports Ethics: An Anthology, are up for bids.

Boxill said Grosholz contacted her about the fund-raiser and asked if she could help by signing a copy of the book. Boxill did that and more -- she offered to donate two signed copies of the book, as well as an autographed Lady Tar Heels basketball.

"I have participated in other fund-raising events at UNC, but this one is student-organized and the purpose has such merit," she said. "I am pleased to have the opportunity to help."