More than 25 pieces of equipment have been donated this year for the ARA Foundation charity auction, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, during The Rental Show at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The auction is the entertainment portion of the “Reception With a Purpose,” sponsored by Volvo Construction Equipment with appetizers and beverages to be served.

“The ARA Foundation invites each of you to learn more about their charitable acts for our industry at the Reception With a Purpose,” says Christine Wehrman, executive director of the Foundation who also is executive vice president and CEO of the American Rental Association (ARA).

“This event is all about meeting others who share your philanthropic philosophy to give back to the industry to build a better future,” she says.

“The ‘Reception With a Purpose’ at The Rental Show is more than just a fundraiser for the ARA Foundation,” says Dave Garton, marketing manager at John Deere Construction & Forestry, Moline, Ill., and a member of the ARA Foundation board. “The ‘purpose’ part is to connect with friends and make new connections in the rental business. This is the philosophy of the ARA Foundation — to support and grow the industry. I encourage everyone — from the rental store owners to employees to guests and all exhibitors — to support the causes and missions of the ARA Foundation at the ‘Reception With a Purpose,’” he says.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, sponsor of the auction, will conduct the live bidding of the donated equipment and several packages including six Gehl Club tickets to a Milwaukee Brewers game from Gehl Co., West Bend, Wis.; a 2011 John Deere Classic PGA tour package from John Deere, Moline, Ill.; and a Walt Disney World® package including four four-day park hopper passes and three nights hotel accommodations for four from The Toro Co., Bloomington, Minn.

Equipment up for auction includes products such as the TG10 gas turbo grinder with a set of diamond dots and PCD accessories as well as one hour of training from EDCO – Equipment Development Co., Frederick, Md.; a LightSource Compact light tower from Doosan Portable Power, formerly Ingersoll Rand, Statesville, N.C.; and a 4045-SS Empris 5-gal. all stainless-steel multi-beverage fountain with silver bow-tie trim and complete waterfall from Apex Fountain Sales, Philadelphia. (For a complete list of items up for bid, see page 38.)

“The ARA Foundation charity auction is great way for everyone to support the work of the ARA Foundation,” Wehrman says. “Many thanks to the exhibitor associate members who contributed great items to bid upon; we look forward to vigorous bidding and floor action among attendees.”

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. In 2009, a live auction in Atlanta raised $43,000 and the Foundation raised an additional $11,000 during the trade show. In 2010, the auction raised $50,000 for the ARA Foundation in Orlando, Fla.

Proceeds from the auction and donations help support the ARA Foundation and its programs, including the scholarship programs, the international rental business leadership program, the disaster relief and recovery program and the Rental Executive Advisory Program (REAP). This year, the Foundation will offer 44 scholarships worth a total of $55,000, including affiliate scholarships. For more information and to download a scholarship application form, go to www.ARAfoundation.com.

To register for an auction number prior to the event in Las Vegas, go to the ARA Foundation Booth No. 4634 on the show floor or the Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Booth No. 4747.

All items will be unreserved, meaning everything will sell to the highest bidder and there are no minimum bids or reserve prices, and no sales tax will be collected. All auction items are brand new equipment and packages, and will be shown at the auction via a PowerPoint® presentation.

Equipment and packages can be seen at the booths of the donating exhibitors as well as online at www.ARAfoundation.com. All sales are final and purchases must be paid in full on auction day. Allied Financial Solutions, Booth No. 5120, is offering financing for the auction, six months same as cash,
and will be at the event to answer any questions. Payments will be made to the ARA Foundation.

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