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.