For release:  Dec. 10, 2007

Contacts: 
Steve Karsjen , Public Affairs, 515-294-5643

AMES LAB/IPRT BENEFIT AUCTION RAISES MORE THAN $4,100 FOR SHOP WITH A COP PROGRAM

AMES, Iowa – The holidays will be brighter for some Ames children thanks to an annual holiday tradition at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University’s Institute for Physical Research and Technology. The organizations raised more than $4,100 during a benefit auction held Thursday, Dec. 6, and the Shop with a Cop program will use the funds to help disadvantaged children buy gifts for their families.

For the sixth straight year, employees at Ames Laboratory and IPRT donated a wide variety of items and services. Those items, along with generous donations from area merchants, were placed on both silent and live auctions with employees bidding against each other to raise cash for a local charitable organization. Since its inception, the auction has raised more than $13,000 for charities in Story County and surrounding areas. Past recipients include Youth and Shelter Service’s Rosedale Shelter, Beloit Residential Treatment Center, Israel Family Hospice House, ARC of Story County and the Emergency Residence Project. “Once again our employees were in the giving spirit,” according to Steve Karsjen, manager of Public Affairs, which organizes the auction. “Their generosity will be felt by many.” The Shop with a Cop program has been in existence for 10 years and is sponsored by the Ames Police Benevolent Association.

Auctioneer Dale Meyer, a lab engineering technician, calls out the bid on a hand-made wall hanging being held by Steve Karsjen, Public Affairs manager.

On Dec. 15, officers and 75 special young guests will head off to Kmart via CyRide for a morning of shopping, gift wrapping, eating and fun. By the time they are through, the 75 guests will have purchased gifts for distribution to 235 deserving individuals.

“We couldn’t continue this valuable program without the help of organizations like Ames Laboratory and IPRT,” said a thankful Ames Police Sergeant Tom Shelton to the auction crowd. “We are very thankful for your willingness to help support this worthy event.”

The Laboratory’s auction featured all kinds of items from “white elephants” and hand-made craft items to services, such as a multi-course breakfast for an entire department or homemade “treats” once a month for an entire year. Local businesses donating items included Coe’s Floral and Gifts, Dogtown University, Gallery 319, Nature’s Touch Jewelry, Octagon Center for the Arts, Riddle’s Jewelry, Great Plains Sauce & Dough Co., -more- Lucullan’s Italian Grill, James Brockway Massage, Temptations, Skunk River Cycles, Bike World, Best Buy, Ames Silversmithing, Hickory Park Inc., Ames Racquet & Fitness Center, Thiesen’s, American Country, Evert’s Flowers & Gifts and Shoppes on Grand. In addition to the auction items, employees donated hats, mittens, scarves and food for Mid-Iowa Community Action.

Ames Laboratory, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including the synthesis and study of new materials, energy resources, high-speed computer design, and environmental cleanup and restoration.

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