Barrett-Jackson to Help Raise Awareness, Funds for Tunnel to Towers Foundation Through 2025 Charity Initiative
January 21, 2025
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ‒ Jan. 21, 2025 – Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, announced today the company’s commitment to help raise awareness and funds for Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting U. S. military veterans, first responders and their families. Barrett-Jackson will partner with the Foundation to help raise funds and awareness by donating exhibitor space at each of its three collector car auctions, including the Scottsdale Auction in January, Palm Beach Auction in April and Scottsdale Fall Auction in October. In a generous show of support for this unique partnership, longtime friend of Barrett-Jackson and renowned car collector Ron Pratte has donated his 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse VIN 001 to be sold during the 2025 Palm Beach Auction, with 100 percent of the hammer price benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
“We believe in the great work that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation is doing for our nation’s military veterans, first responders and their families,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “Over the past several years, we’ve supported Tunnel to Towers Foundation by teaming up with sponsors like General Motors, who have donated vehicles to benefit the Foundation. We’re proud to be able to extend our help through the coming year and work directly with the Foundation and support their remarkable efforts for our nation’s veterans and first responders.We’re especially grateful for our good friend, Ron Pratte, for donating his VIN 001 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse to benefit the Foundation.”
Since 9/11, Tunnel to Towers Foundation has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The Foundation is also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001.
“I hold a special place in my heart for our country’s frontline heroes,” said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “One of the best ways we can honor the courage of our nation’s military veterans and those men and women who serve in our fire and law enforcement departments, is to support organizations like Tunnel to Towers Foundation. I’m thrilled to work with the Foundation this year and look forward to our collector car family rallying around their great cause during each of our auctions.”
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse VIN 001 is powered by a fourth-generation Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine with a dual air-intake box and throttle-body design. The engine sends 500 horsepower and 418 ft/lbs of torque to a unique 6-speed Tremec manual transmission. It was generously donated by Ron Pratte, a businessman and philanthropist, and will be sold during the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Palm Beach Auction with 100% of the hammer price benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
By working with generous sponsors, donors and bidders, Barrett-Jackson has helped raise more than $6.5 million through the auction of five vehicles for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Among those vehicles was the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Edition VIN 001, which raised $2.5 million in 2021, and the last production C7 Chevrolet Corvette that sold for $2.7 million in 2019.
“Barrett-Jackson has been an incredible champion of our foundation through the years,” said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers. “The chance to tell our story, and the story of those we help, on their world-famous auction block in front of a global audience is a tremendous opportunity. We’re so thankful to work with Carolyn and Craig Jackson and the Barrett-Jackson team through the coming year. We’re especially honored that Mr. Pratte donated his 2024 Dark Horse Mustang that will be sold with 100 percent of the benefits directly supporting our nation’s heroes.”
As part of the yearlong initiative, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation will have a featured exhibit near the entrance of the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, where guests will have the chance to commit to donating $11 a month. In honor of the new initiative, the Foundation will send the FDNY Ceremonial unit, along with the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, to perform during the auction’s Opening Night Gala on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
To be part of the action, register to bid here. For vehicle consignment, start here. General admission tickets and Barrett-Jackson Experiences hospitality packages for the January 2025 Scottsdale Auction are now available for purchase.
Join Barrett-Jackson’s online conversation with #BarrettJackson and #BJAC on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions, is the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of private collections. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of attendees per year, Barrett-Jackson produces several live collector car auctions where thousands of the most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles cross the block in front of a global audience. With broadcast partner A+E Networks, Barrett-Jackson features live television coverage of their events on FYI and The HISTORY Channel, as well as all the cars, all the time via their produced livestream on Barrett-Jackson.com. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings.
In August 2022, IMG, an Endeavor company and global leader in events, media, sports and fashion, acquired a majority stake in Barrett-Jackson and serves as the auction company’s strategic partner in building on its world-class automotive event experiences. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694.
Barrett-Jackson Communications
Aaron Cook, TimePiece PR & Marketing at (214) 520-3430 | [email protected]