Going, Going, Gone! Using an Online Auction to Help Find the Cure for Diabetes

Supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is even easier now through a new, easy-to-use online auction Web site called ubid.

ubid is an online marketplace where consumers can bid on and buy brand-name merchandise at deep discounts. Founded in 1997 and now part of Petters Group Worldwide, a long-time supporter of JDRF, ubid combines the cost savings of an auction with the customer service of popular, brand-name, retail e-commerce sites.

In October, when the partnership between ubid and JDRF was formed, ubid hosted a charitable auction for JDRF with merchandise donated by Petters Group Worldwide. According to Tom Petters, Chairman of Petters Group Worldwide, "I've been working with JDRF to help find a cure for years, and establishing the auction seemed like an innovative way for me to make my donation and help raise money for the cure. And it worked — we raised over $10,000 in just two weeks! People clearly value the opportunity to get a high quality item and give to charity at the same time."

The auction worked so well that ubid will partner with JDRF on another auction to raise funds to support the Walk to Cure Diabetes. Some of the items in the auction are:

• Polaroid 17-inch LCD TV, HDTV Compatible

• IBM IntelliStation ZPro Xeon Desktop

• Philips 37" Plasma TV (photo)

• Minolta DiMage 5.0 Mega Pixel Digital Camera

Online bidding on behalf of JDRF runs from Jan. 17 - Jan. 31, 2005. Jackie Casey, Executive Director, JDRF, believes that this auction can raise $20,000 or more. "Why not get what you want and raise money to find a cure for diabetes at the same time?" she says. "Just visit www.findthecure.ubid.com, select your item and post your bid."

About ubid
ubid is a leading brand name auction marketplace that offers consumers and businesses leading manufacturer's merchandise below wholesale prices. Founded in 1997, ubid has swiftly emerged as a major force in the e-commerce world. Today, as a member of Petters Group, ubid specializes in providing customers with savings on items from leading brands. In addition to ubid's own product listings, ubid features ubid Certified Merchants listings in which consumers will find items listed by ubid-approved businesses. With more that 5 million registered users, ubid is committed to providing its valued customers with the highest quality experience on the Internet and offers manufacturer warranties on most products along with Extended Protection Plans.  For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ubid.com.

About Petters
Petters Group Worldwide is a dynamic collection of companies that create, develop and invest in companies that manufacture, procure and market consumer merchandise. The group of companies includes both retail and wholesale companies. For additional information visit www.pettersgroup.com.

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