Make Your Support Heard: ARA's ARIEF Silent Auction

Pledge an item to the 2010 ARIEF Silent Auction! Click here to access a pledge form.

Pledged items (as of February 12, 2010)

You can also make a difference by volunteering to help run the tables at the show. Volunteers will be needed 8 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, February 24 and Thursday, February 25. If you would like to participate, please e-mail Charlie Cummings at ccummings@connect2amc.com.

Make Your Support Heard: Contribute to ARA's ARIEF Silent Auction

One of the highlights of the 2010 ARA International Awards Market is the Awards and Recognition Industry Education Foundation (ARIEF) Silent Auction which takes place Wednesday, February 24 and Thursday, February 25, near the registration area. The proceeds from the silent auction go directly to ARIEF; whose main purpose is to provide financial assistance to students, affiliated with ARA member companies, who wish to pursue an education in any field of their choice.

Each year, during the show, ARIEF committee members and volunteers host the two-day event to raise money for the foundation. Companies are encouraged to donate products and equipment and attendees are invited to bid on these exciting items with all proceeds going to the foundation. Products are displayed in the registration area where attendees can view and bid throughout the show. There is also a 50/50 raffle where the winner gets half of the money generated from ticket sales.

"The ARIEF Silent Auction is now branded in ARA," says ARA Past President Cathy Garcia, Plastic Dress Up. "The time investing in educating the membership has been well spent. Every year the proceeds have grown and allowed ARA to increase the value of the scholarships awarded. The more we grow the silent auction concept, the more we will be able to put back into the scholarships."

ARIEF scholarship recipients are selected by a scholarship committee. The committee conducts blinded reviews of candidate applications, letters of recommendation and essays. Five winners are selected and the one time merit award is applied directly toward tuition expenses.

"I think it's important to encourage young people to pursue secondary education," says Lisa Higginbotham. "The ARIEF auction is the perfect way for members of our industry to pull together and support this effort." With the economy uncertain, and college costs mounting, the scholarships help students pay for college. In some cases, it enables them to attend college sooner than they'd be able to without the help.

"I am amazed by young talent," says Higginbotham. "I have two high school interns currently working for me and they are making quite an impact on my business -- using technology that wasn't available to me when I was their age. I love that I can offer them an opportunity to apply for this scholarship."

Another positive aspect of ARIEF and the Silent Auction is it's a win-win for those who get involved. By contributing to the auction, volunteering with the process or sponsoring a student, ARIEF allows us to pay it forward. "I am giving back to ARA in the purest way I can," says Garcia. "Knowing that educating our children is paramount to their success as well as to the success of the industry. With regards to the auction, there's no better way to build relationships in the association and to have a really friendly way to give. Just writing a check is cool, but actually selecting a product that is interesting to you makes this process fun."

Silent Auction items donated in the past include art work, engravers and other industry items and certificates, sports memorabilia, travel certificates, electronics, luggage, jewelry, food/gift baskets, gift cards, and more.

Higginbotham agrees the Silent Auction is fun. As a donor, being able to watch the bids increase knowing what the money is going toward is exciting," she exclaims. "From a bidding standpoint, not only do I have a chance to get a product that I would have paid much more for if I were to buy it outright, knowing the money is going towards the scholarship fund makes it much more satisfying."