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Jan. 29: Parisian-Based Luxury Handbag Retailer Lamarthe Featured In The 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild(R) Retreat Gift Collections

Lamarthe has been selected by Backstage Creations, specialists in award show gifts and custom backstage talent retreats, to be included in the Retreat Gift Collection for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards(R), which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT.

Celebrities will have the opportunity to choose elegant European designed and crafted leather handbags from LamartheÂ's new Spring 2006 Collection.

Hilary Swank, Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, Marg Helgenberger and Felicity Huffman are just a few of the actors expected to receive a collection of custom designed gifts that are given as a thank you to the nominees and presenters at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Gift collections like the one received by the nominees and presenters as well as other SAG Awards(TM) one-of-a-kind items will be auctioned online Thursday, Jan. 5 to Thursday, Feb. 2 at www.sagawards.org/auction to raise money for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation provides a meaningful way for SAG members to contribute to the literacy of children in their communities through BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) and its online component, Storyline. SAG Foundation programs provide emergency relief to members in economic distress, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of SAG members, scholarships for performers and their children and emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses. (For details, visit sagfoundation.org and bookpals.net.)

Lamarthe is a 75-year-old Parisian-based luxury handbag and accessories company carried in Lamarthe mono-boutiques in Europe and China and at some of the world's finest department stores including Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, Isetan, David Jones and Ogilvy. 2006 marks LamartheÂ's expansion into the North American market with the launch of its new website, www.LamartheUSA.com and increased distribution to high-end boutiques throughout the United States and Canada.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards, the only industry accolades for acting selected exclusively by actors' peers, honor outstanding performances in five film categories and eight television categories, including the distinctive ensemble awards.

Backstage Creations was created in 2000 by Karen Wood, formerly a talent coordinator on over 50 award shows, to give major corporations as well as up-and-coming designers the exclusive opportunity to personally introduce their products and services to celebrities. Backstage Creations has created celebrity retreats at various industry honors including the Sundance Film Festival, Screen Actors Guild Awards, PeopleÂ's Choice Awards, Essence Awards and Billboard Music Awards. WoodÂ's Backstage Creations Retreats and Gift Baskets are regularly featured on Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Extra, E!, TV Guide and in People, Entertainment Weekly, WomenÂ's Wear Daily, US Weekly, Variety and many other publications.