Tom Petty raising money for Habitat

West Hollywood, Calif. -- The U.S. rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers has announced the creation of an online concert ticket auction to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

The band has offered front row and other premium seats in each tour city for the remainder of its summer tour, to be auctioned off for Habitat for Humanity, an organization dedicated to helping low-income families obtain simple, decent and affordable housing.

All proceeds from the auction, including face value of the tickets and any associated fees, will be donated to Habitat and help support affiliates in areas affected by the Midwest floods.

The opening bid for each pair of tickets is $1,000.

Fans can learn more at http://www.tompetty.com/ or place bids at http://www.ticketmaster.com/tompettyandtheheartbreakers.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers has been on tour since May throughout the United States and Canada, following its Super Bowl XLII halftime show performance.

The tour includes many stops in the Midwest, a region the band said it wants to give back to and do something to help.

"Ticketmaster is proud to be working with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Habitat for Humanity by donating its auction services toward this important effort," David Marcus, senior vice president of Music for Ticketmaster, said in a statement.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.