Legendary Beverly Hills family, the Max Factors, will auction their private collection of jewelry, art and silver.

All proceeds from the property of Dorothy and Sidney Factor and son Max Factor III will be donated to several City organizations including a large endowment to benefit Beverly Hills High School’s music program. The auction begins March 31 and is organized through Heritage Auction Beverly Hills.

The auction will prominently feature important pieces from the couples’ extensive collection over their 65-year marriage and is held in memory of Sidney Factor and his commitment to philanthropy.

“We had a good life here and that’s why what we are      doing makes us feel good,” said Dorothy. “In this world, there isn’t any organization that doesn’t need help.”

Items such as a Victorian oversized silver tankard (valued at $12-18,000), multiple Edouard-Léon Cortés paintings (valued at $15-30,000) and fine jewelry such as a 13.75 carat pear-shaped diamond and platinum ring (valued at $125-175,000) will be up for bidding. Smaller, yet no less ornamental, items will also be up for auction.

All proceeds will benefit several City and local orgranizations including Beverly Hills fire, police and paramedics, Beverly Hills Rotary Club, USC’s Norris Cancer Research Foundation, the Julia Ann Singer Center, The Baron School for Exceptional Children, The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles and the Beverly Hills Education Foundation, who will oversee the endowment directed towards Beverly High’s music program. The endowment will be presented as an annual scholarship for vocal coaching for the Madrigal Singers and Minnesingers.

“We hope to help five students per year to pursue vocal studies with private teachers,” said Joel Pressman, Beverly High’s performing arts department chair. “We do some one-on-one work, but a singer who is a serious student needs individual lessons on a regular basis. Even though this is Beverly Hills, not everyone can afford private lessons. The Factor’s endowment is a huge opportunity for our students!”

The endowment will provide $2,500 in scholarships (adjusted periodically for inflation) annually over the next 30-40 years.

“It would be sensible to give to young people who are deserving,” said Max Factor III. “We talked to Joel Pressman and he said there are many young people who’d like to go to college for music but can not afford the training.” Max Factor III, along with his siblings, are graduates of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and committed residents, even serving on the school board and acting as a founding member of BHEF.

Rotary and public services will each receive a similar annual endowment as well.

The auction will be spread across several dates. Fine silver and vertu will go on auction March 31, modern and contemporary art will be auctioned April 22, fine jewelry will be auctioned May 3 and decorative arts and design will be auctioned May 26. A lot viewing will be held March 15-17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Auction Galleries or may be viewed online at www.HA.com/factor. Auctions will post online and lots will be available for bidding approximately 30 days prior to each auction date.

“We’re hoping that other people who learn about this (auction) may want to do something similar for charitable causes,” said Max Factor III.