SAN RAFAEL (KCBS) — Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael will soon be the beneficiary of tens of thousands of dollars from the late comedian Joan Rivers.

When Rivers died in 2014 she left what her daughter described as an excessive collection of items inside her New York apartment.

An auction of her personal collection in New York held by Christie’s Wednesday will provide the funds. Half of the proceeds from that auction will go directly to the San Rafael organization.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a national organization that trains and provides service dogs in the U.S. and Canada.

“Joan was a huge animal lover, huge dog lover, and she was really inspired by what guide dogs do for people,” CEO Christine Benninger told KCBS.

Rivers was one of the most famous comedians, male or female, in the last century, and well into this one.

“Just as an example, there was a Tiffany dog bowl that had Joan’s favorite dog’s name on it – Spike. And, it’s my understanding that that bowl just sold for $11,000,” Benninger said.