ROOTED IN AUBURN. CONNECTED BY COMMUNITY.
Community Engagement
Bringing people together to support nonprofits, open doors through education,
and strengthen the automotive community and the places we call home.
OUR PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS
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MORE THAN AUCTION DAY
A passion for collector cars. A heart for Auburn.
We’re automotive enthusiasts ourselves. The cars, the craftsmanship, and the friendships are why we care about the future of this industry—and why supporting it is part of our community work.
The collector-car world is a generous one. When bidders, donors, volunteers, and local organizations pull together, the whole community benefits.
At Kruse Auctions, you’ll see that generosity in charity cars and support for veterans, in career education and 4-H auctions, and in chances to pitch in right here in Auburn.
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Charity and community organizations supported at the 2026 Auburn Auction & Show.
Auction Day
How auction week gives back.
Auction week in Auburn brings together more than bidders. Charity cars rally support for good causes, and local clubs and students have played a part in past events.
Causes on the block
Donors and bidders have supported Clothes for Joes and Folds of Honor Indiana through designated charity cars, putting each organization’s mission in front of a room full of collectors.
Local clubs & volunteers
Helping during auction week can raise funds for local groups. In 2026, John recognized Auburn Lions Club, Empowered Volleyball, Fort Wayne Hawks basketball, and Serenity House.
From parking and welcoming guests to caring for cars, community groups, car clubs, and museum volunteers help bring the auction together.
Students & young people
IMPACT Institute automotive students joined our 2026 Auburn Auction & Show for a firsthand look at collector cars and a live auction.
John welcomed students interested in restoration and mechanical careers, connecting classroom learning with the automotive industry and our family’s wider work in career education.
Want to get your group involved? Car clubs, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations are welcome to contact our team about taking part in a future Auburn auction. We’ll talk through what makes sense for each event.
Charity Cars
Great cars. Greater purpose.
A donated car can bring a room together for a cause. Charity cars connect generous donors and bidders with organizations doing meaningful work.
1949 Ford Custom Convertible
One example is this donated 1949 Ford Custom Convertible, auctioned at the 2026 Auburn Auction & Show to benefit Clothes for Joes, which helps veterans and their spouses access clothing, everyday essentials, and community resources.
Watch: Clothes for Joes and the 1949 Ford Custom Convertible charity auction.
2004 Ford Mustang V-6
Another example is this 2004 Ford Mustang V-6, sold at the same event to benefit Folds of Honor Indiana, which supports education for the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members.
A tradition of giving
Not every charity lot has four wheels. The hand-embroidered 250 Years of Freedom charity quilt also crossed the block at the 2026 Auburn Auction & Show in support of Catholic Charities’ RSVP program.
Education
Helping people discover what comes next.
Through education and coaching, our family of companies helps young people, adults, and veterans build skills, recognize their strengths, and find a path forward.
Students explore hands-on Career Quest activities at J. Kruse Education Center. Use the arrows to browse.
Watch the JKEC Introduction
J. Kruse Education Center
J. Kruse Education Center (JKEC) helps students and returning veterans explore careers. Hands-on Career Quest experiences give young people a closer look at the opportunities around them.
Career Coaching Academy
Through JKEC’s Career Coaching Academy, students, adults, and veterans can identify their strengths, interests, and values as they plan their next step in education or work.
Reppert Auction School
Training auctioneers since 1921. Reppert is the country’s oldest continuously operated auction school. Through our family of companies, we help carry that legacy forward by investing in the next generation of auction professionals.
John Kruse, a Reppert graduate, owner, and instructor, joins working auctioneers in teaching bid calling and the business skills behind a successful auction. Pre-licensing courses, online and hybrid learning, and continuing education help newcomers enter the profession and experienced auctioneers keep growing.
Teaching these skills helps strengthen the auction profession.
Dennis Kruse and Ron Chaffee with Reppert’s Class 247, December 2016.
Watch: Inside Reppert Auction School
4-H
A microphone. A 4-H auction. A family tradition.
In 1995, with his grandfather Russell by his side, John Kruse called his first live auction item at the DeKalb County 4-H auction. The champion goat set a record that day.
Today, John carries on that family tradition by volunteering to coordinate the local 4-H auction. Cheering on young people and the hard work behind their projects is still part of who we are.
John Kruse with his grandfather Russell at the DeKalb County 4-H auction, 1995.
Veterans
Support that reaches beyond the sale.
Charity cars have given our auction community a way to rally behind veterans and military families, and JKEC’s career exploration and coaching help returning veterans plan their next steps.
We welcome conversations with organizations serving veterans and their families about future charitable auctions, events, and ways to work together.
Stock photo by Chris F / Pexels.
Preserving Auburn’s Automotive Heritage
Auburn is our hometown, and its automotive heritage is part of our everyday lives. We’re collectors and enthusiasts ourselves, with a shared interest in keeping the cars, stories, skills, and friendships of this community alive.
Our involvement connects the ACD Club and Festival with the museums that make Auburn a year-round destination. From welcoming fellow enthusiasts at the park to supporting museum fundraising and encouraging visitors to explore local collections, we’re proud to help carry that tradition forward.
Coffee, donuts, and a shared passion.
Some of our favorite Auburn traditions happen away from the auction block. Our team has welcomed ACD Club members and fellow enthusiasts with coffee and donuts at the club’s Eckhart Park car show during Festival weekend.
It’s a simple way to thank the owners, families, and volunteers who keep these remarkable cars—and the friendships around them—on the road.
A hometown celebration worth preserving.
John has supported the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club and Festival for many years. Their gatherings bring owners and visitors together to celebrate the automobiles that made Auburn famous.
We encourage our auction guests to make time for the Festival, local businesses, and Auburn’s museums. Supporting the collector-car community also means supporting the places that preserve its history.
ACD Automobile Museum
The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum preserves Auburn’s story in the company’s original Art Deco headquarters. John has served as a museum trustee, and Kruse Auctions sponsored the vehicle prize for its 1967 Corvette Convertible sweepstakes.
National Auto & Truck Museum
Inside historic Auburn Automobile Company factory buildings, NATMUS preserves the cars, trucks, and industrial history that put America on wheels—including GM Futurliner No. 10. We encourage auction visitors to make this collection part of their Auburn visit.
Early Ford V-8 Museum
The Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum celebrates Ford’s 1932–1953 flathead era through vehicles, engineering, and period displays. We encourage fellow enthusiasts to explore this collection and discover another chapter of automotive history while they’re in Auburn.
Street Team
Supporting the industry we love.
We’re enthusiasts ourselves. Away from the auction block, our team takes part in car shows, clubs, and community gatherings to share that passion and support the automotive industry.
From the St. Ignace Car Show to Cars & Coffee, these events connect us with fellow collectors, families, and the next generation of enthusiasts.
Explore a few moments from our travels. Select any photo to take a closer look.
A family day at St. Ignace
A family day at St. Ignace
John Kruse and family at the St. Ignace Car Show.
A warm welcome
A warm welcome
Welcoming enthusiasts at the Kruse tent in St. Ignace.
On the show circuit
On the show circuit
The Kruse street-team display at St. Ignace.
Cars & Coffee
Cars & Coffee
A stop at Fuel Social Club to share our enthusiasm for cars.
Giveaways
Collector cars supporting good causes.
Collector cars have a way of bringing people together around a cause. We sponsor nonprofit sweepstakes that support automotive heritage, education, and community programs.
PAST SPONSORED GIVEAWAY · CLOSED
The Rally Red 1967 Corvette Convertible featured in our ACD Museum campaign.
1967 Corvette Convertible · ACD Museum
Kruse Auctions sponsored the vehicle prize for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum’s 1967 Corvette Convertible sweepstakes, helping preserve Auburn’s automotive heritage.
The Rally Red, four-speed Corvette earned two NCRS Top Flight awards, and the prize also included $10,000 cash. Entries closed August 9, 2026, with the winner drawn August 15.
SPONSORED SWEEPSTAKES
The 1967 Porsche 911S featured in the SCCA Foundation’s sweepstakes.
1967 Porsche 911S · SCCA Foundation
Kruse Auctions is a sponsor of the SCCA Foundation’s first-ever car sweepstakes. The sweepstakes car, a 1967 Porsche 911S in Martini Racing livery, was featured at our 2026 Auburn Auction & Show.
The campaign supports education, volunteers, historic preservation, and opportunities for the next generation in amateur motorsports.
Each sweepstakes is run by its organizer. Visit the organizer’s website for current status, entry methods, eligibility, prize terms, and official rules.
Our Partners and Collaborators
Working together, close to home.
Here are some of the organizations Kruse Auctions, John Kruse, and our family of companies have supported through charitable auctions, volunteer service, education, and sponsorship.
J. Kruse Education Center
Hands-on career exploration and coaching for students, adults, and returning veterans.
DeKalb County 4-H
John continues a family tradition by volunteering to coordinate the local 4-H auction.
FFA Bootcamp & scholarships
Kruse Auctions and Reppert Auction School are Host and Diamond sponsors of the Midwest Auctioneers Roundup, supporting FFA Bootcamp and Reppert scholarships. See the Roundup sponsors →
Clothes for Joes
Supporting veterans and their spouses through our 1949 Ford charity-car auction.
Folds of Honor Indiana
Supporting education for military families through our 2004 Mustang charity-car auction.
SCCA Foundation
Porsche sweepstakes sponsorship that helps introduce younger generations to motorsports. Explore the giveaway →
EuroFest · Gilmore Car Museum
June 12, 2027 · Sponsorship
Kruse Auctions will sponsor EuroFest at Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Meet our team at the Kruse tent and vehicle display, with a special Jaguar display planned. Visit Gilmore Car Museum →
Catholic Charities
Supporting the RSVP program through the 250 Years of Freedom charity-quilt auction.
Reppert Reunion
Our family of companies brings the Reppert community together to learn, reconnect, and give back. Reunion fundraising offerings, including a beer-collectibles sale, help support charitable causes. Explore Reppert Reunion →
Get Involved
Bring your time, ideas, or support.
Pick the path that suits you, or reach out and we’ll help you find the right fit.
Join the street team
Help spread the word at car shows and community events. Tell us where you live and which events interest you so we can connect as opportunities are confirmed.
Volunteer at an event
Individuals, car clubs, and community groups can help bring auction week to life. Share your interests, experience, and availability so we can discuss roles that may fit.
Sponsor or partner with us
Sponsor an event, introduce us to a nonprofit, or talk with us about a charitable auction. We welcome businesses and organizations that want to make a difference in our community.
Choose how to connect.
Choose a form below to share your interests or tell us about an upcoming event. Our team will review your information and follow up.
Volunteer & Street Team
Tell us how you’d like to get involved. We’ll keep your details on hand and reach out as suitable opportunities are confirmed.
Sponsorship Inquiry
Explore a sponsorship or community partnership with Kruse Auctions. Share your idea and we will follow up to discuss fit and next steps.
Event & Charitable Support Request
Invite the Kruse team to an event or tell us about a charitable auction or community idea. Please share the details you have, even if planning is still underway.
Have a community idea? Let’s talk.
Tell us about your organization, event, or idea for giving back.
