WESTCHESTER, Ill., and WARREN, R.I. -

Two companies within the remarketing industry offered updates this week on their charitable endeavors.

First, Insurance Auto Auctions announced it is supporting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s ninth annual National Lemonade Days.

In June, IAA plans to sell lemonade at 142 of its 160 North American branches from coast to coast as well as its Chicago-based headquarters to help generate $100,000 for research into new treatments and cures for childhood cancer.

Officials explained that National Lemonade Days returns annually each June in an effort to raise $1 million for childhood cancer research during the course of three days.

With the support of more than 1,800 IAA employees, the company hopes to raise much-needed funds by selling lemonade onsite during auction sale days.

Additionally, each IAA branch location has a fundraising page on the ALSF website for generating funds.

Each site will be active through June 22 where the public can offer their financial support and donate online at www.AlexsLemonade.org/campaign/midwest-lemonade-days .

IAA partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand last year as well, where five branches raised $10,000.

“We are thrilled to have the support of IAA in the battle against childhood cancer,” said Liz Scott, Alex’s mom and co-executive director of ALSF.

“By enlisting the support of their employees, vehicle providers, friends, neighbors and relatives, IAA is helping to continue the mission of our daughter, allowing us to take strides toward finding a cure for all kids with cancer,” Scott continued.

On select dates, officials indicated, families affected by childhood cancer will be present at a number of the lemonade stands set up at IAA auction facilities across the nation to help support IAA’s fund generation efforts.

"It has always been IAA’s mission to give back to the communities in which we live and work," said Tom O’Brien, IAA’s chief executive officer.

“We are honored to partner with Alex’s Lemonade Stand for the second year in a row on this important fundraising initiative to help raise awareness and critical funds for childhood cancer causes,” O’Brien went on to say. “Our employees are energized and excited to have the opportunity to give back to their communities in a meaningful way.”

ARS Reaches Fundraising Milestone for Nonprofits

Moving over to Advanced Remarketing Services, it has determined that the company has now raised more than $40 million for nonprofits through the vehicle donation services of Car Donation Wizard.

ARS said partners with registered, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are known by and for the work that they do worldwide, nationwide and in  local communities.

The money raised from donated vehicle sales helps fund the missions of nonprofit organizations such as: the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Car Talk, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, North Shore Animal League, Feed the Children and many more.

ARS president Joseph Hearn stressed, “$40 million is a great milestone for our young company.

“I’m especially proud of our employees and the dedication that they continue to show to the charitable goals of our nonprofit partners,” Hearn explained. “We’re all committed to spreading the word that one car can make a difference; so reaching this level of accomplishment, one car at a time, really means a lot to us, as well as the organizations we work with.”

ARS said that vehicle donations not only benefit charitable missions, but they can also help take older model, high polluting vehicles off the road.

Officials believe that regardless of condition, miles or age, a donated vehicle has value. The average vehicle that ARS sees donated is older than 12 model years and has more than 150,000 miles.

The Clean Air Foundation stressed this type of vehicle is 19 times more likely to produce smog-forming emissions. ARS mentioned that according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries scrap metal recovered from recycled vehicles is used to produce new steel products such as construction materials, canned goods, structural elements and more or is exported to one of 90 countries worldwide.

In addition to helping environmentally unfriendly vehicles enter the steel recycling stream, ARS sells high-value vehicles back into the automotive marketplace. The company thinks each recycle-ready donated vehicle helps contribute to a cleaner, greener environment.

For more information about ARS, vehicle donation or to learn about one of its partners, visit www.cardonationwizard.com.