Super Bowl VIP package, 2013 Camaro convertible to headline ARF benefit auction Oct. 14 in Conn.

Oct. 6, 2012 - PRLog -- (TERRYVILLE, Conn.) – A shiny new red 2013 Camaro convertible, a VIP package for Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans valued at $35,000, a 2012 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and an antique Eli Terry pillar-and-scroll clock are just a few of the items bidders will find at the first-ever auction to benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation (or ARF), slated for Sunday, Oct. 14.

   The auction will begin promptly at noon (EST), at ARF’s shelter facility, located at 366 Main Street in Terryville (zip: 06786). The event will be conducted by Tim’s, Inc., a Bristol-based auction firm whose owner, Tim Chapulis, contacted ARF with the idea of staging a benefit auction. The money will go toward ARF’s very survival; the group subsists solely on donations.

   “Step one was getting people and businesses in Terryville, Bristol and the surrounding communities to step up with some great items for this auction, and that has happened in a big way,” said Tim Chapulis of Tim’s, Inc. “Now, step two will be for a huge crowd to turn out and support the Animal Rescue Foundation and bid on these many wonderful items. That’s the plan.”

   The auction is not short on blockbuster items. The Camaro, red with a black convertible top, comes courtesy of Terryville Chevrolet and is brand new, with many desirable options. It is parked on the ARF shelter property, for public viewing. The Harley-Davidson motorcycle is from Yankee Harley-Davidson in Bristol. The Eli Terry clock is from one of Chapulis’ clients.

   The 2013 Super Bowl XLVII VIP package includes four nights of accommodations in New Orleans, round-trip air fare for two (from anywhere in the continental U.S.), two lower level corner tickets, post-game on-field access, VIP express entry to the game and in-stadium hospitality. Other trip packages will also be auctioned, for Maui (Hawaii), Paris and Las Vegas.

   Other vehicles will feature a classic fire engine red 1955 Chevrolet two-door hard-top with a beautiful black and white leather interior, 350 cubic inch engine and four-speed Muncie transmission, fully restored and in mint condition; and a 1993 black 500SL Mercedes Benz convertible, with hard top and soft top and black leather interior, in excellent running condition. A completely different kind of vehicle will also be offered – a 1955 Allis-Chalmers Track X bulldozer, with tracks that are about four years old (the bulldozer will not be on-site at the event).

   Coins and currency will include silver coins, rolls of Kennedy half-dollars in brilliant uncirculated condition, mint and proof sets, and paper money. Fans of antiques will love the Currier & Ives-like horse-drawn sleigh and the buckboard wagon in excellent condition. Also sold will be a unique antique bird’s-eye maple bedroom set and a Chippendale chest of drawers.

Estate jewelry will feature diamond rings (one appraised at over $12,000, another at over $6,000), antique diamond rings (over 1 carat, some with platinum and gold settings), a one-of-a-kind sterling silver puppy charm with jade accent piece, assorted bracelets and necklaces, gold items and other estate jewelry pieces with mixed stones. A Civil War-era pistol will also be sold.

Rock and roll memorabilia items will also cross the block, to include guitars signed by folk-rock icon James Taylor, country music singer Willie Nelson, counterculture comedians Cheech and Chong, the late electric guitar legend Les Paul and members of the ‘60s rock band Vanilla Fudge (You Keep Me Hangin’ On).  Sports memorabilia will also be sold, as will Oriental carpets, artwork (to include original oil paintings) and some decorative accessories.

Terms of the auction will be cash or known checks. A 15 percent deposit will be required on auction day for some of the bigger-ticket items, like the Camaro and motorcycle. A 15 percent buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases, with the total amount going to ARF. “The idea is to make this a mega-event, the biggest selling benefit auction we’ve ever held,” Chapulis said.

Chapulis said the clock hasn’t run out for people looking to offer last-minute items. “We may end up accepting merchandise right up to auction day, but at this stage it’s got to be quality items. We’re already approaching 400 lots, and we have to sell everything in one day, so if someone has something truly remarkable, I invite them to call me quickly, at 860-459-0964.”
   
The Animal Rights Foundation will be using the money for its day-to-day operations, which total close to $6,000 a month. The economic downturn and a 2008 fire dealt a crippling blow, but the not-for-profit 501C3 group has been able to keep its head above water thanks to donations, bequests and fundraisers. Everyone on staff, including the president, is a volunteer.

ARF’s new shelter in Terryville is a two-story, colonial-style structure that became necessary after the 2008 fire destroyed the previous facility. ARF was renting the kennel and the land, whereas it owns the new building now, but it is still paying a mortgage on the land and that presents a whole new set of problems and costs, The 2.3-acre property needs to be maintained.

On top of the mowing in the summer and plowing in the winter, there’s the 5,300 square feet of indoor space that also requires upkeep. Right now that only involves the first floor – the second floor is little more than a shell. Completion of the shelter – home to around 18 dogs and 20 cats –- has been halted due to costs. The money simply isn’t there. The auction can help that.

   A preview will be held from 11 a.m. on auction day until the first gavel comes down at noon. ARF will be showcasing some of its furry residents, for the enjoyment of the bidders and buyers. For more information about Tim’s, Inc., and the first-ever auction to benefit the ARF, log on to www.timsauction. To donate a quality item, please call Tim Chapulis at (860) 459-0964.
   
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