SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, U.S. — Winning bids added up to over $85,000 at the International Milling Education Foundation’s (IMEF) largest fundraising event of the year, the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) said on May 29.

The fundraiser, a combination of silent and live auctions, was held during the annual IAOM Conference & Expo in Spokane, Washington, U.S.

“This far surpassed our goal, and we’re really thrilled with the results given the fact that we turned the final banquet into a fundraising event for the Foundation,” said Aaron Black, IMEF president at the conference. “The support for the Foundation and the auctions in particular has been tremendous.

“In total, just over half-a-million dollars has been contributed to IMEF since 2004 when we marked our first donations. It’s a wonderful milestone to hit $500,000.”

The donations ensure that IMEF will be able to continue to inspire leadership and achievement within the milling community as the Foundation supports learning and knowledge resources.

One of the projects funded by the IMEF endowment is a scholarship program for milling science students at Kansas State University. For the first time in the history of the program, two students will receive an IMEF scholarship for the coming academic year. The recipients, Blake Adams and Sabrina Reynolds, will each receive $2,500 from IMEF.

Donations to the auction were made by milling companies, individuals, partner organizations, equipment and service suppliers, and others.