Record Funds Raised To Help Wounded Vets

Charitable Auction Raises $128,000 for Canine Companions To Help Wounded Vets

‘Giving back’ was the theme during the ADESA auction at the annual NADA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas this year, where a record $128,000 was raised for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) to train service dogs to assist wounded veterans. This was the 5^th year ADESA has auctioned a motorcycle at the NADA convention for the group’s charitable foundation.

Since 2013, Joe Verde, who served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, has donated $142,000 as the highest bidder or by matching bids.

“At this year’s auction, it was great to see how our industry came out strong to raise money for CCI, an organization that has helped so many by providing these highly trained assistance dogs to wounded vets to improve the quality of their daily lives,” said Verde, who donated $45,000 by matching bids at this year’s auction. “I’m a veteran, my dad was a veteran, along with my son and grandsons. This is a cause I care deeply about, and I appreciate everything that the men and women in the armed forces stationed around the world do for all of us.”

This year’s exciting bidding sequence unfolded quickly:

• Mike Dullea placed the winning bid of $25,000. Dullea is CEO of AutoAlert, with locations in Irvine, Calif., and Raytown, Mo.
• Joe Verde, president of Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc. in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., matched the bid with $25,000.
• But then Dullea surprised everyone by donating the motorcycle back to ADESA to be re-auctioned.
• Lewie Card was the top bidder at $20,000. Card is director of Carlister.com in Bonita Springs, Fla.
• Verde decided to also match that bid with another $20,000.
• Then Card donated the motorcycle to be re-auctioned.
• Justin Becker placed the third winning bid of $12,000. Becker is director of logistics for Wholesale Express in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
• But Dullea, the first winning bidder, announced he would match Becker’s bid of $12,000.
• The final surprise: When it came time to write the check to ADESA, Dullea kicked in another $13,000.
• Cash donations from auction onlookers, brought the final contribution to $128,000.

Please do all you can to support this worthy cause by clicking here.