Auto wholesale company OPENLANE auctioned off a Harley-Davidson Low Rider S motorcycle today at NADA Show 2024 in Las Vegas, raising $135,768 for the NADA Foundation’s Frank E. McCarthy Memorial Program that benefits Canine Companions. The winning bidder was Mehdi Chitgari with Bob Stall Chevrolet in La Mesa, Calif.

Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. Dogs and all follow-up services are provided at no cost to the clients. The organization’s cause of freedom of mobility was dear to the late Bob Mallon, who founded the NADA Foundation in 1975, and the late Frank McCarthy, who served as NADA’s chief executive from 1968 to 2001.

Canine Companions graduate and grief support group facilitator Lyena Strelkoff (with her service dog, Grant, by her side) offered remarks at the auction, which took place on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the OPENLANE booth at the NADA Expo. Several other graduates, future graduates and their service dogs were on hand to greet attendees.

“We are proud of our enduring partnership with the NADA Foundation and Canine Companions to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to live independent lives,” said Peter Kelly, CEO of OPENLANE. “Together with our generous OPENLANE dealers and partners, over the past 13 years we’ve raised $1,041,066—equipping veterans and people with disabilities with expertly skilled dogs that can offer independence, confidence and companionship.”

Since 2004, NADA Foundation’s Frank E. McCarthy Memorial Program has contributed more than $1.4 million to Canine Companions. This is the 20th anniversary of the relationship between the NADA Foundation and Canine Companions, and the 13th year that OPENLANE has sponsored an auction at NADA Show to benefit the program.

“Dealers are without a doubt committed to serving others, and we are grateful for OPENLANE’s continued support of this annual event,” said Annette Sykora, chairwoman of the NADA Foundation and 2008 NADA chairwoman. “Thanks to the generous donations by dealers from across the country, since 2004 we’ve been able to help pair 24 people with disabilities with Canine Companions service dogs that can literally open doors to greater independence.”

For more information on the NADA Foundation, click here. For more information on Canine Companions, click here.