St. Jude's Toy Auction gives auctioneers
opportunity to help children

Memphis, Tennessee - Four NAA auctioneers enjoyed performing a toy auction and talking with medical researchers at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis during a visit there in November to conduct NAA's Sixth Annual Toy Auction for St. Jude's.

Each of the young patients who gathered in a large room for the one-hour auction was given $30 in play money to buy something at the auction. The NAA officials took turns auctioning the items and watching the excited children raise paddles with numbers on them as their way to enter bids.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Wiles. “The whole room was filled with laughter. And the kids locked on to the items they wanted. One little boy told me he wanted a certain truck, so I took him by the hand and showed him how to bid on it. Some of the children had their IV poles next to them, but they all had a great time, and some were yelling 'Look at me!' to get the attention of the auctioneer when they were bidding.”

Wiles said the auctioneers also were glad they talked to researchers in the hospital. “We looked in their microscopes and they explained how they were making progress in cancer research,” she said. “It was good to see how passionate they were and that our $2 million donation is helping.”

A representative of the hospital's fundraising arms also thanked NAA members. “We are grateful for the many years of support the NAA has given to St. Jude,” said Marilyn Elledge, vice president of ALSAC/St. Jude, the hospital's fund-raising arm. “With all the members' help, we've taken some big strides in treating the children. Plus, their toy auction here always lifts quite a few spirits.”

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 also supported through funds raised by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). ALSAC covers all costs not covered by insurance for medical treatment rendered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Families without insurance are never asked to pay.

Auctioneer Sammy L. Ford, CAI, of Mount Vernon, Ky., also arrived unexpectedly with his family, to personally hand over a $32,000 check from their fundraising efforts.

“As best as I can determine, the Ford's event is the single largest Get Sold event in the country for St. Jude,” said Elledge, referring to the NAA's promotional program, Get Sold, for St. Jude support. Wilson also raised additional money for St. Jude's during the Toy Auction when he sold a St. Jude's men's necktie. Wilson knew several men watching in the audience would bid on the tie with real money, and he was able to sell it for $12,000.

NAA's support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is entering its seventh year. Based on the spirit and compassion so apparent at this year's Toy Auction, helping these tiny ailing children is truly a labor of love for auctioneers who know no limits to their kindness and generosity. For more information on St. Jude's, visit its Web site at http://www.stjude.org.