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Don't know how Jerry Lewis would handle this one

Chile's largest charity received an unexpected gesture during a televised fundraiser. A prostitute has become an overnight celebrity in the country after auctioning off 27 hours of sex to help raise money for a donation. Adult prostitution is legal in Chile. Maria Carolina says she's raised about $4,000 for the organization that provides money to poor, disabled children. Carolina says one client has already paid up. She says it seemed like a good deed to him

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World hunger as pressing as ever

The American consumer isn't the only one feeling the pinch in the food market. The World Food Program is kicking off an "emergency appeal" for donations. According to a report in The Financial Times, the U.N. agency is asking world governments to give an additional $500 million, due to the rising cost of everything from bread to beef. The agency says if fresh money does not arrive by May 1, it will have to reduce rations to those who depend on it for meals. The agency is blaming its shortfall on a 20 percent spike in food costs in the past three weeks.

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Don't just do lunch -- go for the Buffett

Looking for a lunch date with the Oracle? Warren Buffett is auctioning off his lunch time on eBay. Bidding starts at $25,000. The auction ends on Friday. The oracle of Omaha has offered his lunch for the past six years. Benefits of the auction go to fund the Glide Foundation, an organization that provides social services to the poor and homeless in San Francisco. Last year's bidding climbed above $650,000. Quite a tab.

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Times are never too bad to give

The economy may be struggling, but charitable giving is actually up. Last year, it hit a record $306 billion, according to the Giving USA Foundation. That was a 1 percent increase over the year before.

Americans still give about 2 percent of GDP, but philanthropies are expecting a less-promising showing this year, with high food and energy costs expected to cut into our generosity.

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