Archive for August, 2009

Photo: United Country Auction Services President Mike Jones and auction team members Rob Ruhte, Montie Davis and Phillip Braun gather next to the #96 DLP Texas Instruments sponsored car co-owned by Hall of Fame Racing’s Super Bowl quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. The NASCAR themed event was held in the garages of Park Place Porsche in Dallas for the Visiting Nurse Association fundraising auction held March 30th. The Live Auction raised over $108,000 for the group.

As United Country Auction Services President Mike Jones announced “Ladies & Gentlemen”…”Start Your Bidding” right on cue, NASCAR #96 roared to life in the garages of Park Place Porsche in Dallas, the crowd that gathered on Sunday evening March 30th knew it was time to raise some money for a great cause. The hot electric blue car is sponsored by DLP Texas Instruments and the Hall of Fame Racing team co-owned by Super Bowl quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

The event presented by Bank of America was the 2008 Wheels for Meals & More fundraiser benefiting the Visiting Nurse Association. This is the 3rd year that the United Country Auction team has conducted the Live Auction which in 2007 helped provide one or more health care services to over 15,000 individuals, 2,042 received home health care, 4,913 people received home-delivered meals Monday through Friday each week, 1,200 seniors were served meals five days a week at Senior Centers, 640 preschool children received meals each weekday and VNA Meals on Wheels prepared a total of 1,635,795.

This year’s Live Auction Highlights included a 12 month dining experience at 16 of Dallas’ finest restaurants that garnered $7500, a collection of autographed NASCAR 1:24 die cast cars with names like Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and others with a custom oak case $4,000, Texas Motor Speedway Package for two complete with helicopter transportation, pit passes and hosted by event chairs Marianne Staubach and Mary Templeton $5,000, Cartier Trinity Ring $9000, Beretta White Onyx 12 Gauge Shotgun with Bird Hunt $7,000 and an Infineon Sonoma NASCAR Race Weekend $6,000.

Auctioneer Jones then conducted the “Fund-A-Need” VNA Style, portion of the program which brought in an additional $69,600. Totals from the Live Auction and “Fund-A-Need” program brought in over $108,000 for the group whose mission is to Feed the hungry, Enable the disabled, Care for the sick, Promote health in the communities they serve, and Comfort patients and their families at the end of life.

It was another great year for VNA and United Country Auction Services was proud to be a part of this year’s program as in the past.

Auctioneer Mike Jones and Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert

 

One of the best parties in Dallas took place on April 29, 2008 @ Gilley’s Dallas courtesy of the Episcopal School of Dallas. Donned in their cowboy hats, boots and finest western attire, the parents, teachers and guests of one of the cities premier private schools raised funds for the Parent Teachers Association and danced the night away to the music of country music traditionalist Clint Black.

The room was filled with Dallas notables and celebrity parents including Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, Dallas Cowboys, COO, Executive VP and Director of Player Personnel Stephen Jones, CBS football color commentator and former Cowboy fullback Daryl “Moose” Johnston and many others.

The evening kicked off with the Silent Auction and moved quickly to the Live Auction with Professional Auctioneer Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services presiding. No stranger to ESD, Jones a 30 year veteran of the fundraising scene in Dallas used his rapid fire chant to kick off the auction with a trip to Belize which fetched $5000 quickly followed by “His & Hers” Beretta shotguns that brought in $19,000. As Jones’ professional bid spotters excitedly worked the room, a trip to Puerto Vallarta sold for $17,500, Headmaster for the Day reeled in $22,000, a Ford Mustang autographed by designer and fellow Texan Carroll Shelby brought in $37,500 and a Ford F-250 donated by Rodeo Ford and represented by Dallas actor and Blazing Saddles Star Burton Gilliam sold for $42,000.

The Live Auction closed out with Jones selling $10,000 dollars worth of signature ESD Hot Sauce. The total for the Live Auction brought in well over $200,000 for the ESD Parent Teacher’s Association. Auction Chairman Gina Betts was ecstatic and remarked “the Live Auction went flawless and that’s why if I am chairing an event there is only one auction group working for me and that’s Mike Jones and his team”. Final numbers for the entire event were not available at press time but when asked how they thought things went, event Co-Chairs Kim Konradi and Bonnie Mahoney displayed their pleasure with big smiles and both gave a big thumb’s up.

Members of the cast from the television show Dallas including Larry Hagman aka J.R. Ewing, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray gather around United Country Auction Services President Mike Jones and wife Lori at the Dallas 30th Anniversary Cast Reunion & Ewing Barbeque held Saturday, November 8th at the Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. United Country Auction Services sponsored the event and conducted a benefit auction on behalf of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Kidney Foundation and A Strong Voice for Green Initiatives.

United Country Auction Services President and Auctioneer Mike Jones (right) with radio personality Ron Chapman of Paul Harvey News and Comment together to raise money for SPCA of Texas.

Dallas, TX — This year’s theme for the SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2008 was “Disco for the Dogs” and it was hopping at the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas September 27 as patrons celebrated their 70th anniversary in grand style with special awards, comedy, music and live and silent auctions. Organizers tapped some heavy weights to raise this year’s goal of $250,000 to help supplement the groups $8 million dollar operating budget dedicated to animal services.

The evening kicked off with Lifetime Achievement Awards followed by Honorary Sponsors, the Dallas Cowboys Women’s Association who teamed up with players and the Gene & Jerry Jones Family Charities to help raise funds and awareness by creating a game called Poker for Pets which was a huge hit.

The Voice of SPCA Award was presented to radio personality Ron Chapman. Chapman has spent over 45 years in radio and is now heard by over 23 million listeners each week as the “fill in voice” for the venerable Paul Harvey’s News & Comment heard on over 1200 stations in the ABC Radio Network.Then it was time to raise money with the Live Auction and WFAA Channel 8 News Anchor Debbie Denmon who emceed the event turned it over to professiona

l auctioneer Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services who handled the bid calling duties for the evening.A few of the evenings Live Auction highlights included 24 Cases of Exotic Wines $11,000, Dallas Mavericks game package for 18 fans, $3750; Dallas Stars Sky Box for 18 fans, $4000 and a Dinner Club package at some of Dallas’ finest restaurants fetching a respectable $5,500.

The event was a huge success according to Event Chair Tricia Linderman and organizers are already planning for 2009.

SPCA facts: SPCA of Texas has reached the $7 million dollar mark of its $10 million dollar capital campaign to build a new facility in Dallas. The group dedicated to animals is funded solely through private donations. In 2007 SPCA of Texas found new homes for 9,682 animals, performed 22,194 spay/neuter surgeries and wellness visits in our low-cost clinics, rescued 7,874 animals through Rescue & Investigations Team and continued to educate the community about responsible pet ownership, including classes at the new Pet University.