Fall fundraising season is underway and this year Mother Nature was just one of the challenges facing CASA of Greater Prince William County.

Manassas, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/25/2011 -- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Greater Prince William supporters were on hand at the annual Evening Under the Stars last month to make record-setting donations. Despite Mother Nature's fickle activity, the event hosted more than 1,000 people who came to support CASA's work with over 430 abused children.

Just three days before the event, organizers were faced with an unstable weather forecast due to recent hurricane activity. Flight Works Inc. granted CASA last minute permission to use their Hangar at the Manassas Regional Airport on Thursday and on Friday, the process of adjusting and redirecting to the new venue was begun by staff and vendors. Despite the move and all the potential to reduce the night's fundraising, the results were record-setting.

The long-standing gala is the most well-attended charity ball in Prince William County. Red Apple Auctions was hired this year specifically to identify areas that would improve the event's profitability. A number of adjustments and additions were recommended and incorporated into the evening.

Event guests participated in traditional and new gala elements. The established silent and live auctions and an appeal for donations were kept, but all performed better than in past years and generated above-average results. Donated items in the live auction went from selling at about 80% of value to selling at over 140% of value. The cash appeal grew from $3000 to over $13,000.

In addition, new interactive activities were built into the timeline and designed to elicit previously untapped donations and funds. CASA Executive Director Charlyn Hasson-Brown stated the following:

"CASA is an especially challenging cause for fundraising because our work is with child victims of crime. These minors are protected by privacy laws and therefore the public cannot know them, their stories, or their outcomes. The donor cannot see who they are helping, hear from those they help, or even be informed about the specifics of any child's case. This is a challenge that can only be overcome by building relationships and trust in the community.

"In addition, we always try to make our events outstanding, through uniqueness and quality of experience. Quality of service to the children is reflected in the quality of our events and encourages giving. Donations are simply the ability to provide an advocate to every abused child to whom the Court appoints one and therefore maximizing donations at the event is the most important activity of the evening and auctions are essential.

"Auctions are only as good as the auctioneer and auction strategies used. This year, one of the tools we used to help meet our challenge was to invest in hiring a strong benefit auction company.

"Sherry Truhlar had worked an auction that was attended by one of my staff in 2009. The staff member came back to work and was effusive about the fun that she had witnessed in that auction and how much money had been brought in and recommended we contact her.

"I had checked into Red Apple but the fee was greater than we had ever paid so I dismissed the idea. Our auctions were not pulling in what we thought they should for the past couple of years and everyone just wrote it off to the poor economy but I suspected that we were missing something in our approach. We were drawing many people and surely there was more support to be drawn from such a large group.

"This past year, Ms Truhlar had worked with another of my staff members at a nearby school auction and the school had seen improvements, so once again it was recommended that I call her.

"With increasing challenges in fundraising, I believe the old definition of insanity – 'continue doing the same thing and expect different results.' All I needed was for Ms Truhlar to carry her own weight, bring at minimum, what I made last year plus the cost of her services. If the people had more fun with the auction, then we are already ahead.

"I hadn't included the hurricane and quick change of venue in this assessment; this really could have been a disaster year for us. Instead, the evening was more interactive, more financially successful than ever, and I loved that Red Apple's auctioneer, Colonel Bill Billingsley, focused on the support we need to be providing children in our court system throughout the evening. While final numbers are not in, it appears we more than doubled our highest revenue year for live auction and special appeal and that means we will be there for more child victims this year."

CASA of Greater Prince William serves the abused, neglected and abandoned children of the 31st Judicial District which includes Manassas City, Manassas Park, and Prince William County. Greater Prince William CASA is the second largest CASA program in Virginia serving more than 430 child victims through more than 100 volunteer advocates.

Red Apple Auctions works with nonprofit organizations, teaching them proven processes that improve an auction gala's profitability.

About CASA of Greater Prince William
CASA of Greater Prince William trained its first class of volunteers in 1994. The organization serves the abused, neglected and abandoned children of the 31st Judicial District which includes Manassas City, Manassas Park, and Prince William County. Greater Prince William CASA is the second largest CASA program in Virginia serving more than 430 child victims through more than 100 volunteer advocates. For more information, visit http://www.CASAofGPW.org.

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Red Apple Auctions launches a Facebook sweepstakes that runs through January 31 and offers fans a chance to win a teaching series focused on raising more money through interactivity at a charity auction.

Alexandria, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/18/2011 -- Red Apple Auctions, a boutique benefit auction firm, is excited to launch its first Facebook sweepstakes that gives fans a chance to win a tool that will make or break a fundraising auction – the Charity Auction Bells & Whistles teaching series.

"We use Facebook to provide advice, tips, and photos that volunteer auction chairs can read to get simple ideas that make their job easy. This sweepstakes is a chance to get people talking with us on Facebook. Our existing fans love our weekly how-to videos, so even after January 31, I know our new friends are going to like what they see," said Sherry Truhlar, benefit auctioneer and founder of Red Apple Auctions.

Once entered, a fan can invite friends to participate in the sweepstaeks. "I'd encourage entire auction committees, and maybe even entire schools, to ban together and enter, in the hopes that one of them would win the instructional videos," said Truhlar.

No purchase is necessary to enter. Entrants must be at least 18 years old. This contest requires that you have Internet access, a valid e-mail address, and you must become a fan of the Red Apple Auctions Facebook page where you can find and enter the contest via a NorthSocial application. Complete sweepstakes rules are available at http://www.redappleauctions.com/about-us/red-apple-auctions-become-a-fan-sweepstakes-rules/.

Media Contact:
Sherry Truhlar, CMP, BAS
Red Apple Auctions
1-888-474-0838
info@redappleauctions.com
http://www.redappleauctions.com

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St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital benefits from the Right Ingredients

Alexandria, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2010 -- What do you get when you mix a noble cause, proven marketing techniques, and enthusiastic auctioneers with a little risk? "An outpouring of support from both donors and bidders. I was proud to play a part and simply overwhelmed with the passion that so many of the supporters exhibited that night," said Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions, a member of the Certified Auctioneer Institute Benefit Auction Planning Committee 2010.

The Certified Auctioneer Institute is a 3-year business development program offered by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) for auction industry professionals. Truhlar and her classmates conducted the benefit auction as part of second year assignments. The planning committee, led by Si Harbottle of Ameritex Auctions, included classmates Russ Puchalla of Heartland Auction Co., Rusty Lane of John Dixon & Associates, Rafe Dixon of J.R. Dixon Auctions, Troy Hall of Hall Auction & Realty, Truhlar, and class advisor Traci Ayers Dower of Ayers Auction & Real Estate.

A record-breaking $47,250 was raised at the auction. The event was organized in less than two months through weekly teleconferences with the planning committee and active collaboration in an open forum with the extended class through a Facebook group. "Great communication, intense desire, significant know-how, loyal sponsors, and teamwork were the ingredients of this auction's success," said Puchalla.

Creative fund raising ideas included: table sponsorships (Head Chef and Sous Chefs), valuable centerpieces, trips, ad packages, artwork and much more – all with the theme of 'Cookin' Up Fun(ds). The 180 guests received aprons as gifts, which were worn during the event to add to the festivities. The bidding was conducted live and online, and the event was kept lively and entertaining with the help of two professional emcees and benefit auctioneers, Truhlar and Bill Menish of Bill Menish Auctioneers. CAI candidates from around the globe took turns selling the donated merchandise, which ranged from handcrafted items to hunting trips.

Funds raised benefited CAI education and the St. Jude's Children Hospital. "It was an emotional moment for me to look around the room and see everyone holding up their bidder card on the $100 fund a need appeal," said Dower. Auction action stood still and the entire room fell silent while Erika Albert, a former St. Jude's patient, spoke on behalf of the hospital to share her experience and express her appreciation.

Alexandria, Virginia Auctioneer Training with the Best at Certified Auctioneers Institute

Sherry Truhlar is enrolled in profession's premiere education program

Sherry Truhlar of Red Apple Auctions completed her second year of courses at the prestigious Certified Auctioneers Institute (CAI) last month. The CAI program is the industry's premier training program developed by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) for auction professionals.

A three-year program, the CAI designation is the industry's most respected professional designation an auctioneer can acquire. CAI is an intensive, executive development program offering professional auctioneers with instruction and coursework in business management, ethics, finance and marketing. Conducted every year in March at the University of Indiana, CAI candidates join auctioneers from across the world to be to be taught by the nation's most distinguished and respected leaders in the auction industry.

About the NAA
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) represents the interests of thousands of auctioneers in the United States, Canada and across the world. Founded in 1949, the mission of the NAA is to promote the auction method of marketing and enhance the professionalism of its members through education and technology. To learn more visit http://auctioneers.org.

Contact:
Sherry Truhlar, benefit auctioneer
1-888-474-0838
info@redappleauctions.com
http://www.redappleauctions.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm