Starting the New Year in a good way: National Auctioneers Association's St. Jude numbers continue to increase

Overland Park, Kan. — A new century, a new millennium and a new total.

The National Auctioneers Association (NAA) has good news to report in the early days of the year 2000 — that its members continue their impressive support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A new update is in, and it shows that NAA-member auctioneers and affiliates have raised $1,292,137 to date for the kids of St. Jude.

"I cannot tell you how touched I am to see that auctioneers have embraced the children of St. Jude," said John Roebuck, CAI, AARE, NAA's president. "NAA's members are definitely making a difference in the lives of sick children, and it's heartwarming to know that our members' efforts are producing such good results."

Through a program called, "Get SOLD on St. Jude Kids," NAA members are endeavoring to raise $2 million for the Memphis, Tenn., hospital that treats children from across the United States and the world. NAA initially pledged $1 million to the hospital, and surpassed that goal in the summer of 1999. Continuing its commitment, NAA pledged an additional $1 million, and its members are well on their way to fulfilling that pledge.

"The needs are so great and St. Jude needs us to help," Roebuck said. In a message to NAA members published in the January issue of the association's publication, The Auctioneer, he encouraged auctioneers to "keep the drive alive" and praised them for their support.

NAA members raise money for St. Jude in a variety of ways. Some sell colorful St. Jude ties and scarves, available to members through the association's national office. Others donate portions of a commission, while some sell special seating or auction catalogs with the dollars raised earmarked for St. Jude. There are a myriad of additional ways NAA members raise money for the program.    

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. The hospital is an internationally recognized biomedical research center dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic diseases of childhood. The hospital's work is supported through funds raised by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). All St. Jude patients are treated regardless of their ability to pay. ALSAC covers all costs of treatment beyond those reimbursed by third-party insurers, and total costs for families who have no insurance.

The National Auctioneers Association recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The association was founded in 1949 by a group of auctioneers who believed in the potential of the auction method of marketing. The purpose of the organization is to advance the auction professions, uniting those engaged in it to promote their mutual interests. Today, NAA is the largest provider of continuing education classes for auctioneers and has nearly 6,000 members throughout the United States, Canada and foreign countries.
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