FREDERICK, Md. -

For the second consecutive year, ADESA Winnipeg has been named the National Auto Auction Association's Eastern Chapter Auto Auction of the Year in recognition of its public service.

The auction has planned and participated in more than 55 events to raise over $3.5 million for various regional causes, according to NAAA.

“It's my privilege to announce during this National Auto Auction Week that once again ADESA Winnipeg is our nomination for Auto Auction of the Year,” Eastern Chapter president Chris Angelicchio said in a news release. “While we were touched and amazed by the charitable efforts of all our entrants, ADESA Winnipeg's culture of giving back was evidenced by the sheer number and diversity of charities they're able to support. Congratulations to their team for truly making community service part of their daily lives.”

Representing NAAA's Eastern chapter, the auction will join Midwest, Southern and Western chapter finalists competing to win NAAA's Auto Auction of the Year Award for Excellence in Community Service.

The winner receives a large crystal loving cup, a feature story in both NAAA's On The Block magazine and annual Membership Directory, as well as a $20,000 donation for the charity of the auction's choice.

In November, each finalist will be recognized at the NAAA Convention — which is being held in partnership with the National Remarketing Conference — with a crystal trophy and a $5,000 prize for a charity of the auction's choice.

“Our team strives to make a positive impact in the community by donating their time, money and auctioneering skills in service to more than 55 charities,” said Gregg Maidment, ADESA senior vice president of Canadian operations and general manager of ADESA Winnipeg. “To reach out to that many causes big or small often means our employees are participating in three or four events in a week — sometimes even two the same day! And we don't plan on slowing down any time soon.”

This year, Maidment and his wife Lana co-chaired the Gold Heart Gala Under the Big Top fundraiser where ADESA Winnipeg staff held a live auction for the 765 guests, raising $532,000 for Variety, the Children's Charity of Manitoba.

“The contributions of the Maidments and ADESA Winnipeg's employees played an instrumental role in making this year's event the most successful gala in terms of funds raised and attendance in thirty-nine years,” Variety Chief Executive Officer Jeff Liba added.

Just before Christmas, the auction raised $31,760 with its dealer partners to help Winnipeg Harvest feed more than 62,000 Manitobans holiday dinner baskets from employees donated meal items.

Additionally, two weeks after learning that a young boy born with two rare diseases needed extensive brain surgery far from his home, the auction raised $12,000 to help his family pay for medical expenses, according to NAAA.

ADESA Winnipeg supports organizations such as the Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald House, Children's Hospital, KidSport, the Dream Factory, Habitat for Humanity, CancerCare Manitoba, the Health Sciences Centre Foundation, the local Alzheimer's Society and pet rescue.