The rock band Aerosmith may be part of Americana, but it’ll be helping the Irish this weekend.

A signed guitar by members of Aerosmith is one of the featured items at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrity and sports auction, which begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Hall.

Phil Bradley, spokesman for the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, holds a guitar autographed by members of Aerosmith. The guitar is one of many prizes that will be auctioned Saturday to raise money for the Douglas County Infant-Toddler Coordinating Council, the beneficiary of this year's parade committee efforts.

“There’s a little Irish in all of us, no matter our heritage,” said Phil Bradley, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee chairman. “We raise a little money, give it to children, and have a little fun along the way.”

The auction is one in a series of fund-raisers that begins tonight with an acoustic music concert and ends March 17 with a downtown parade.

The events have raised more than $170,000 during the last 13 years. This year’s charity, selected through an application process, is the Douglas County Infant-Toddler Coordinating Council.

The council which goes by the initials ICC provides support for Douglas County families with children from birth to 3 years old. It works with other agencies to provide such services as occupational therapy, nutrition counseling and speech and hearing training. It served 147 children in 2001, up 29 from 2000.

“Last year was a real tight budget year,” said Dena Bracciano, ICC coordinator. “We had to ask for additional money from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. With the state budget this year, we’re anticipating another tight year.”

Doors at Liberty Hall open for the auction at 6 p.m. Saturday. The live auction begins at 7 p.m. Tanna Guthrie, a radio personality from KYYS radio in Kansas City, will serve as auctioneer.

Donald Willis, an offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Brian McRae, the former Kansas City Royal who now is an ESPN broadcaster, will sign autographs at the event.

Items for auction include tickets to a Royals dugout suite, weekend getaways, signed Kansas University basketballs, a ride-along with Richard Petty at the Kansas Speedway and many restaurant gift certificates.

“We’ve got amazing stuff,” Bradley said.

And, he added, ICC is a worthy charity for the annual events.

“I was totally unaware of the group before,” he said. “Now I’m totally enthralled with them. It fills a gap that exists in our society.”