EJ’s Auction & Appraisal and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona recently donated $4,000 to Peoria Diamond Club, a nonprofit that raises funds and awareness for West Valley youth charities and organizations.

A $3,000 check was presented to the nonprofit in March, prior to the COVID-19 crisis escalating in Arizona. An additional $1,000 check was sent to the nonprofit after Gov. Doug Ducey lifted the shelter-at-home order and EJ’s, 5880 W. Bell Road, reopened its full-service Glendale auction house.

The partnership between EJ’s and Goodwill started three years ago when William McCulloch, EJ’s floor setup manager, approached Goodwill to ask how the two organizations could collaborate to help other nonprofits in the community. EJ’s weekly Saturday auctions feature everything from Picasso paintings to pots and pans, but sometimes items just don’t sell. Goodwill sends a truck to EJ’s each Sunday to pick up the excess items.

“William has been spearheading EJ’s charitable programs, and he is passionate about helping others, especially kids,” said Erik Hoyer, CEO of EJ’s Auction & Appraisal. “He and Goodwill worked out a unique arrangement where Goodwill weighs the donated items that didn’t sell at auction and then donates 10 cents per pound to local charities each quarter. In total, EJ’s and Goodwill have donated more than $12,000 to nonprofits since the program started.”

The Peoria Diamond Club was one of the beneficiaries of this unique arrangement.

Peoria Diamond Club General Manager Roz Shanley said the donation helped to fund some Grab ‘N Go events to feed food insecure populations during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, some funds were applied to the PDC’s last grant cycle as well as scholarships.

“The Peoria Diamond Club has been around for 27 years, giving back to the community. During the course of recent events, we find it an obligation to stay diligent in helping not only the children, but whole families, meet the demands to obtain basic life necessities and give back where and when we can to meet those needs,” Ms. Shanley said. “However, we can’t give away what we don’t have. We are creative in our fundraising endeavors as things have changed drastically, but with help from donors like EJ’s Auction & Appraisal and Goodwill, we are thrilled to be able to put those dollars right back into our community. Their donations are lifesaving to some.”

The Peoria Diamond Club was established in 1993 in response to the desires of the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and city of Peoria to partner with a nonprofit organization in the operation of spring training. PDC boasts more than 500 volunteer members and has donated over $2 million, impacting thousands of children throughout western Maricopa County. 

Angie Tapia, Goodwill’s senior donation drive coordinator, said the partnership with EJ’s aligns with Goodwill’s mission to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build stronger communities.

“Goodwill is committed to ending poverty through the power of work and promoting a sustainable environment,” Ms. Tapia said. “All donated items help drive our vision as we offer no-cost career services where Arizonans can develop their digital skills, connect with career advisors, and meet directly with hiring employers. Every year, Goodwill diverts nearly 200 million pounds of materials from going directly into Arizona landfills.” 

To learn more about EJ’s, visit www.ejsauction.com or call 623-878-2003.  

To learn about Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona’s donations centers and retail stores, visit www.goodwillaz.org or call 602-535-4000. 

For details about Peoria Diamond Club, visit www.peoriadiamondclub.org or call 623-773-8710.