Generous attendees, through donations and buying items at the fourth annual live auction Monday, Feb. 8, helped the ARA Foundation raise $50,000 at The Rental Show 2010 in Orlando, Fla.

From fountains to floor sanders, the ARA Foundation auction had something for everyone to bid on at the ARA Foundation auction, which was sponsored and conducted by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. More than 20 pieces of equipment were donated this year for the auction, which kicked off following the social hour on the trade show floor.

The 23 lots donated by exhibitors were sold during a fast-paced auction, raising a total of $48,625. Many generous donations also were made during the auction reception helping to bring the total to the $50,000 mark.

“It was a great turnout for our fourth annual auction, and on behalf of the foundation trustees, I wish to express my thanks for the generosity of our members, and their support of the Foundation and its programs,” said Charlie Neffle, CERP, ARA Foundation chairman and owner of All Occasions Event Rental, Cincinnati.

“We would like to thank Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, our sponsor, for their additional generous donations, including a Sony HD TV, which helped bring us to our final total,” said Jennifer Venema, ARA Foundation director of development. 

The inaugural ARA Foundation auction at The Rental Show 2007 in Atlanta raised $91,000 to help fund the ARA Foundation’s programs. In 2008, live and silent auctions in Las Vegas raised $123,000, with $91,300 alone coming from the live auction. Last year in Atlanta, a live auction raised $43,000 and the Foundation raised an additional $11,000 during the trade show. Throughout 2009, the Foundation received continued support with funds from all sources totaling $115,000, including the auction.

Proceeds from the auction and donations help support the ARA Foundation and its programs, including the scholarship program, the international rental exchange program, the disaster relief program and the Rental Executive Advisory Program (REAP). This year, the Foundation will award 23 scholarships worth a total of $37,000, in addition to affiliate scholarships. For more information, go to www.ARAfoundation.com.

For more information on the ARA Foundation and its programs, call Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development and association programs manager, at 800-334-2177, ext. 236, or e-mail at jennifer.venema@ararental.org.