FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

“Empowering young adults to achieve their dreams in the face of financial adversity,” is the mission statement shown on the Hourglass Foundation’s website. 

The Hourglass Foundation believes that great change can come from helping young adults, and “that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams for their best life possible, through hard work and commitment,” foundation chairman Ron Shoemaker said in a news release. The Hourglass Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Hourglass Management and its portfolio companies, which includes Flexco Fleet Services. 

Now, ServNet Auctions and Flexco are working to support the foundation’s work, raising funds for the foundation’s scholarship program. The program seeks to help community college and technical school students pursuing their education in mechanical fields. 

ServNet will participate in two areas, said ServNet president Eric Autenrieth. For every Flexco vehicle sold at auction, ServNet auction locations across the United States will make cash donations to the scholarship program. Second, representatives from the local auctions will work to make high school, two-year college and trade school students in their communities aware of the scholarship program as well as opportunities for workplace experience at the auction.

The owners of the ServNet auctions say they are committed to supporting the education and training of the next generation. For many years, Autenrieth said, ServNet has contributed to the NAAA Warren Young Sr. Scholastic Foundation, and in 2016 it founded its own scholarship program for children of ServNet auction employees.

Autenrieth said ServNet admires The Hourglass Foundation’s work “to provide opportunities for young adults through scholarships and its focus on trade school and community college education.” He said individuals who are educated in mechanical fields—including condition report writers, technicians and managers in the mechanical, body and recon shops — “are a critical link in the chain of our auction operations.” 

“We are excited to work in partnership with The Hourglass Foundation and Flexco to create opportunities for the next generation,” Autenrieth said.