NAAA 2019 Auto Auction of the Year for Excellence in Community Service
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(Left) Chad Bailey, NAAA President presents Bob McConkey, DAA Northwest President and Owner, with the Auto Auction of the Year Award at 2019 NAAA Annual Convention
our years ago DAA Northwest made a long-term commitment to Sunset Elementary when the auction “adopted” the school located just two miles from its Spokane, Washington, site as a way to help the underprivileged students and overstretched staff. More than 200 auction employees volunteered to participate in a payroll deduction plan to provide healthy weekend snacks for the students through the “Bite2Go” program, with a company match for all contributions. The auction purchased a van employees use every Friday to deliver an average of 150 Bite2Go packages that other staff volunteers made at Second Harvest Food Bank. In addition, staff members donate their time to Prime- Time Mentoring, an accredited mentoring program, where they spend lunch hours once a week with students and have purchased items like board games, yo-yos and craft projects to do with the children. They also regularly take lunch and home-baked treats to the school staff as a thank you for their dedication to education. “Once a week the DAA team is there, spending time one-on-one doing activities with these students, but most importantly, they’re listening to what the child has to say and providing them with the encouragement to do better,” notes Chuck Teegarden, executive director of Spokane County’s Communities in Schools program. DAA Northwest’s ongoing service to the school, along with its other fundraising and volunteer efforts to address domestic violence, abuse, homelessness, hunger, and other issues afflicting the children of a historically impoverished community earned it NAAA’s “2019 Auction of the Year Award for Excellence in Community Service.”
The auction was one of four finalists representing NAAA’s Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western chapters competing for the top honor. Before the winner was revealed at the annual convention last October, each of the contenders was presented with a crystal trophy and $5,000 payable to a charity of the auction’s choice. DAA Northwest received an additional $20,000 for its chosen charity.
‘Adopting’ an elementary school is just part of DAA Northwest’s long-term commitment to help the disadvantaged in its community
Sunset Elementary isn’t the auction’s only focus. Every November in conjunction with DAA’s annual Anniversary Sale it hosts a dinner and fundraiser auction that has contributed a total of more than $1.8 million to various local nonprofits, including the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and Union Gospel Mission. In addition to the items sold to the dealers and guests, DAA produces specially embroidered caps that are given away for a $50 donation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the featured charities.
During the past year, the auction has made contributions to the American Cancer Society, Adult & Teen Challenge, YMCA, Young Life, Spring of Hope International, Spokane River Forum, Northwest Harvest, Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Joya Child and Family Development, The Gee Foundation, Community Cancer Fund and school athletic programs. “It doesn’t take much to read in the New Testament what we’re called to do, for the widows, the orphans, and all those who can’t stand on their own we’re called to help them and that’s what drives us,” explains Bob McConkey, president and chief executive officer of the McConkey Auction Group, which includes DAA Northwest. “First there comes an awareness there’s a need and when we become less selfish it gives everyone throughout the ranks here a sense that they’re actually doing pretty good in their lives and are in a position to help their neighbors who are downtrodden and destitute.” DAA Northwest General Manager David Pendergraft believes that more than the charities benefit from the auction’s pubic service. “You get involved in these children’s lives and you really get to see the transformational impact. It’s rewarding to know you can make a difference.” ©NAAA On the Block. Used with permission.
the Front Row | wsiada.com | January/February 2020 |
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