Mass(achusetts)Ego: Online Auction of Low-Number MA License Plates Exceeds Expectations
Massachusetts 9/11 Fund Surpasses Fundraising Goal by 57%; License Plates Earn Bids as High as $7,500
BOSTON, May 10 -- The first-ever online auction of low- numbered Massachusetts license plates has helped raise $157,000 for the MA 9/11 Fund, a nonprofit organization providing relief to Massachusetts families who lost a loved one in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
According to cMarket of Cambridge, MA, the provider of Internet-based auction services that handled this special online event for the MA 9/11 Fund, the amount of money raised exceeds the fundraising goal by more than 57%. The auction drew 2,035 bids on 632 items, raising $137,818 via the Internet. The online auction also helped encourage people to support the MA 9/11 Fund at its May 3 live auction, as an additional $19,182 was raised via bids on 35 license plates that drew particularly high-interest online. One license plate was sold for $7,500; other plates received bids for $5,000.
The MA 9/11 Fund, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, put low-number Massachusetts "United We Stand" license plates (numbers 101-999) on the silent auction block online beginning April 7 and continuing until the May 3 live auction. A portion of the proceeds also benefited the Commonwealth Security Trust which funds education and memorials for police and fire departments across Massachusetts.
"This is a wonderful example of how an organization can successfully leverage an online auction to not only generate interest in their live event, but, more importantly, reach a larger pool of bidders and achieve a stronger outcome," said Jon Carson, chief executive officer and co-founder of cMarket. "We are thrilled that our online auction technology was able to help such an important cause as the MA 9/11 Fund raise a significant amount of money."
"Without cMarket's online auction solution, we could not have achieved results so far above our expectations," said Linda Plazonja, executive director of the MA 9/11 Fund. "cMarket helped us go beyond the limits of a traditional fundraiser. Using their technology, we were able to promote our auction to a much broader audience, creating interest and excitement not just amongst our own members but to the general public as well. This increased visibility was key to successfully raising significant money and shining the spotlight on our organization and the families we serve."
About The MA 9/11 Fund
The MA 9/11 Fund, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing efficient and compassionate assistance and relief to residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who were directly impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. There are a number of public and private organizations providing aid to families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. However, the Fund is the first and only nonprofit organization established to raise money, provide assistance, and coordinate the provision of services for the exclusive benefit of victims' families living in Massachusetts.
About cMarket
cMarket of Cambridge, Massachusetts, enables nonprofits to easily create, extend, market, and manage their fundraising auctions online. With the ability to reach the inboxes of their community or targeted customer set, cMarket helps nonprofits maximize auction revenue through increased bidding, added sponsors and donor value. cMarket's solution has helped numerous nonprofits in the arts, healthcare, faith based and education sectors raise significant funds. For more information about cMarket, including the most current running auctions, visit www.cMarket.com.
