FREDERICK, Md. (Aug. 18, 2016) — Kansas City Independent Auto Auction (KCI Auto Auction) in Kansas City, Mo., has earned the inaugural 2016 Western Auction of the Year Award from the National Auto Auction Association. The award honors excellence in community service.
KCI Auto Auction is one of four auctions – one selected from each of the NAAA’s membership regions – to win the award. Each regional chapter award winner receives $5,000, which will be donated to the charity or charities of its choice.
The NAAA's National Auction of the Year Award will go to one of these four regional award winners. The auction that earns the national honor will receive an additional $10,000 to be donated to the charity or charities of its choice. In addition, NAAA’s On the Block magazine will feature a January 2017 cover story about the auction and its charitable efforts.
NAAA Western Chapter President Russ Smith said KCI Auto Auction’s community involvement efforts are well-known throughout the region, and he called it an honor to announce the Western Chapter award winner during National Auto Auction Week.
“KCI Auto Auction is a business that serves as a testament to what it means to have a dedication to excellence,” said Smith, who is the general manager of Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho. “Their community service efforts are widely recognized as having far-reaching effects in the community and beyond.”
NAAA President Mike Browning said he is pleased to be president during the creation of this new award. “We want to congratulate Kansas City Independent Auto Auction and thank those involved at the auction who consistently give unselfishly of their time, effort, and money to so many wonderful community service organizations,” Browning said.
Three community organizations — Camp Quality USA, Court Appoint Special Advocates (CASA) for Children and Sheffield Place — nominated the auction.
“KCI Auto Auction’s involvement has included a remarkable level of support with a combined total giving of $441,136 to the three organizations over the past four years,” their joint nominating letter stated. “This funding has provided each organization with resources to expand and strengthen client services in ways that would not have been possible. The auction and its staff members have also volunteered, conducted drives for immediate needs and adopted client families for the holidays, among other roles."
Camp Quality is a summer camp experience and year-round support program for children with cancer and their families. CASA advocates for abused and neglected children. Sheffield Place is a treatment and supportive housing program for homeless women and their children.
NAAA Chief Executive Officer Frank Hackett said this award is designed to not only honor the efforts of NAAA members, but to boost awareness of the many worthy causes that auctions around the country support.
“I’m continually pleased to see the efforts our member auctions take to support their local community’s charities and service organizations,” Hackett said. “If we can play a small role in helping them help others, it’s a very good result.”