The Mentor's Project 30th Anniversary Online Gala Auction
celebrating 30 years of improving the graduation rate for Bibb County's most at risk middle and high school students.
Mission Statement
Mentor Information
Mentors spend a minimum of four hours per month with a middle or high school student from the Bibb County Public School System to encourage and motivate their protégé to reach their full potential. Mentors also expose their proteges to positive activities they might not otherwise experience, as well as steer them away from negative peer pressures. Unlike many other programs, The Mentors Project is unique in that mentors stay with their protégé for more than one school year. In fact, they follow their protégé through high school graduation to ensure that their protégé graduates with a post secondary plan in mind. This long-term commitment prevents students from reverting back to negative behaviors if their mentor moves on.
The need for this program in our community is great. Thirty-six percent of freshmen in the Bibb County public schools do not graduate with their class due to dropping out or falling behind academically.
Positive Outcomes
Recent Program Changes – Size and Governance
Over the past few years the Mentoring Program has grown from a handful of mentors in one school to more than 130 in nine schools. This has happened because the success was developed in one school first and student and adult leaders from that school successfully mentored the newer programs as each new school was added to the project.
Recently, as the program grew and was improved, the governance of this program was changed. It is now run under the guidance of a separate, nonprofit agency governed by its own board of directors. The finances of the Mentor’s Project are audited by an independent accounting firm on an annual basis.
How and Why the Mentor’s Program Was Begun
The Mentor’s Project was initiated in 1990 by the Education Committee of the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce. Mentoring was selected as a strategy which research had shown was a highly effective means to address the Chamber’s concerns for the success of students in the community. In fact, at that time, each year over 600 students in Bibb County Public Schools were dropping out of school before graduating.
A Successful Pilot Program was Gradually Implemented
A pilot student mentoring program was designed and implemented to provide adult mentors for these at-risk students. The pilot program began at Southeast High School. Soon, the encouraging stories about successful mentor/protégé pairs at Southeast High school prompted the further expansion of the program to the other schools in the area. Here is how the Bibb County Mentor’s Project grew from a pilot into a major program:
- Between 1991 and 1995 Central, Southwest, Westside and Northeast High Schools each adopted the Bibb County Mentor’s Program model.
- In 1996, both Miller and Appling Middle Schools joined the program to extend mentoring as a more proactive force to better support the success of potentially at-risk students in the middle grades.
- In 1999, Weaver Middle School joined the program ;
- In 2000, Ballard Middle School joined the Bibb County Mentor’s Project.
Service Opportunities
TERMS: By registering to bid on the internet, you acknowledge that you have read & understand the terms and conditions for each auction and/or auction item, and you agree to abide by all terms and conditions for each auction and/or auction item. All items are sold "AS IS" with no refunds. We advise you to come to inspection dates listed in each auction catalog.
PAYMENT: ONLY Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express payments. A 3.5% Buyers Premium, this is to cover bank processing fees. Any other specific payment arrangements would have to be approved by L. W. Benton Company, Inc. PRIOR to bidding. by The MENTOR'S PROJECT OF BIBB COUNTY by contacting 478 954 4346 . Payment will be automatically made using the card with which the buyer registers. Upon receipt of payment in full, the purchaser will receive a paid invoice by email which must be presented at time of pick-up.
Items for a benefit auction as with all auctions, not picked up by end of scheduled pick up date, will be considered forfeited unless other arrangements have been made with the Mentor Project. You may contact the Mentor's Project of Bibb County (478) 765-8624
ALL ONLINE STANDARD AUCTION TERMS:
AUCTION BID DEFAULT: If the winning bidder's credit card information is on file with L.W. Benton Company, Inc., that card can be charged for the total purchase price plus one $30 late payment fee if payment is not otherwise made or arranged within 48 hours of the close of the auction. If no credit card information is on file or if the information is insufficient or outdated, a $30 late payment fee will be assessed for each day beyond the payment deadline for which payment is not made. If items are not timely removed as required above, a $10.00 handling and storage fee will be assessed per auction lot, per day. If an item is not removed within seven (7) days after the auction, the item can be considered abandoned property, with all of the buyer's rights and interests in the property extinguished with no refunds owed or offered to the buyer. If any items have been moved from an on-site location after the posted pick-up times at the election of L.W. Benton Company, Inc., there will be an $80 hour moving charge to recover those items. If a representative agrees to meet a successful bidder outside normal pick-up times at any location, there will be a $50 convenience fee for that arrangement. The seller reserves the right to sell these items to backup bidders and hold the original bidder liable for resulting losses to the seller. L.W. Benton Company, Inc. and/or the seller reserve the right to pursue all legal remedies.
INSPECTION: Location, Date, and Time for inspections are posted in the Auction Catalog. Buyers understand they view property at their own risk and L. W. Benton Company, Inc., its representatives, nor the Seller or their representatives are responsible for accidents or damage to personal property during any inspection.
CONDITION OF PROPERTY: Any and all information regarding the condition of property is derived from sources believed to be true and accurate, but none is guaranteed by the Seller or L. W. Benton Company, Inc.. It is the sole responsibility of the Bidder to verify any and all lot information (including condition) in person during the posted inspection times for this auction.
DYNAMIC AUCTION CLOSING TIME: The lots in this auction will close in groups of 100 lots beginning at 9:00 PM, and with each addition group of 100 lots closing in 5 minute intervals. Please note that there is also a 5 minute auto-extend for each lot in all of our auctions. For example, if a lot in the auction is scheduled to close at 9:00 PM and someone places a bid at 8:59, the system will auto extend 5 minutes to give the previous bidders time to bid again. This will continue until there are no more bids in a 5 minute period related to that lot.
BID RETRACTION: By placing a bid, buyer and all other bidders acknowledge all terms of the auction and agree not to retract the bid. If a bidder cannot satisfy the terms of the auction, the bidder should not bid. Once a bid is placed, L. W. Benton Company, Inc. cannot remove the bid from the online bidding system. Please be sure of your bids before placing them in our system.
PICK-UP OF ITEMS: At the completion of the auction, successful bidders will be emailed an invoice with pick-up instructions. In this auction, because the card with which you registered will automatically be charged, your invoice should be paid when you arrive for pickup unless there was a problem with your card. Winning bidders must make payment in full or approved payment arrangements within 48 hours after the close of the auction if there is a problem with the registered card. Sellers cannot accept payment. L. W. Benton Company, Inc. and/or Sellers are in no way responsible for pick-up, delivery, or assisting in loading out of property as this is the sole responsibility of the successful bidder. It is the successful bidder's responsibility to remove property within the posted pickup times for this auction. In the event that a Seller or representative of L. W. Benton Company, Inc. agrees to assist in the load out of purchased lots, Buyers understand that neither the Seller, L. W. Benton Company, Inc. nor its representatives are responsible for any damage to the Buyer's property of any kind. If items are not timely removed as required above, a $10.00 handling and storage fee will be assessed per auction lot, per day. If an item is not removed within seven (7) days after the auction, the item can be considered abandoned property, with all of the buyer's rights and interests in the property extinguished with no refunds owed or offered to the buyer. If any items have been moved from an on-site location after the posted pick-up times, there will be an $80 hour moving charge to recover those items. If a representative agrees to meet a successful bidder outside normal pick-up times at any location, there will be a $50 convenience fee for that arrangement.
SHIPPING: IF BUYER MAKES ARRANGEMENTS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF AUCTION CLOSE, we will be glad to ship small items via USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope ONLY at a cost of $5 per envelope plus the price of actual shipping including any insurance, which will be required on items totaling more than $50 in value. WARNING: If you do not contact us with your request for shipping within 24 hours of auction close, we will not ship, and you will forfeit your items without refund.
ITEMS NOT REMOVED DURING POSTED PICK-UP TIMES: If arrangements have not been made to remove items by the end of the last posted pickup day after the auction closing time, they will be considered abandoned property, even if paid, with all of the buyer's rights and interests in the property extinguished with no refunds owed or offered to the buyer. Items will be resold to recover removal costs. Further, the seller and L. W. Benton Company, Inc. reserves the right to resell these items to backup bidders and hold the original bidder liable for resulting losses to the seller. L. W. Benton Company, Inc. and/or the seller reserve the right to pursue all legal remedies.
PENALTIES: Purchases not picked in accordance with the removal terms will be forfeit and resold to cover storage fees with no credit given to the original buyer. Buyers accounts will then be turned over to a collection agency for any delinquencies and storage fees yet unpaid.
DOCUMENTATION FEE ON ITEMS REQUIRING TITLE OR DOCUMENT TRANSFERS: There will be a $100 document transfer fee added to all vehicle and equipment purchases that require a title or document transfer with the State. When signatures are required to transfer the title, it is the sole responsibility of the buyer to submit the necessary signatures and information for that transfer. L. W. Benton Company, Inc., nor the Seller, will be responsible for any late fees accrued for a title transfer as the result of negligence or untimely submission of paperwork by a Buyer.
TITLE CANCELLATION: Buyers who purchase titled vehicles with the intent to scrap, salvage and/or dismantle said vehicles may qualify for a $40 document fee by signing a letter stating their intent to do so, thus granting L. W. Benton Company, Inc. permission to request that the State cancel the current title. Upon doing so, Buyers understand that there is no remedy to this request, and a title cannot be reapplied for once submitted to the state for cancellation.
AGENCY DISCLOSURE: In all transactions, the auctioneers are acting as agents for the seller, not as buyer’s agents.
DISCLAIMER: All items are sold “subject to owner confirmation” or “with reserve” unless advertised “absolute.” All information published, announced or contained herein was derived from sources believed to be true and accurate but is not guaranteed by the Seller or L.W. Benton Company. The Seller and their agents reserve the right to place bids on the property up to the seller’s reserve, if desired, at their sole discretion, unless selling absolute. All property is being sold “as is, where is” with no guarantee or warranties. It is the Purchaser’s responsibility to conduct their own due diligence and make their own decision as to the accuracy of all information.
LEGAL COURSES OF ACTION: Bids are a binding offer to enter a contract and you are responsible for honoring them. Every legal remedy available will be used to ensure buyer's performance of this contract. Buyer accepts responsibility for and agrees for buyer and all of buyer's agents, representatives, successors and assigns to indemnify, defend and hold harmless sellers & L. W. Benton Company, Inc., its employees, governing body, officers, owners, affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, agents, and representatives from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, judgments, fees, costs, and expenses including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses related to, arising from, or associated with (I) the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, personal injuries or property damage incurred on the sale premises or during removal and transport of any auction item, (II) buyer's use of L. W. Benton Company, Inc.'s website and (III) a dispute with another bidder.
Seller agrees to hold harmless the Auctioneers against any claims of the nature referred to in this contract. Venue for any controversy or claim arising from or relating to this agreement, or breach thereof, shall lie exclusively with the Magistrate or Superior Court of Jones County, Georgia. This agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of Georgia.
WARNING! - EXPLANATION OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD: In order to bid online, buyers must register and create an account at our website, www.bidderone.com. The credit card will be charged upon completion of the auction for any items won plus applicable buyer's premium and sales tax. If, when charged, it is determined that the card is not valid or does not have a sufficient balance to cover the charges, and the bidder or representatives of the bidder knowingly registered with this card, this constitutes "Credit Card Fraud" under Federal and Georgia state law, and L. W. Benton Company, Inc. reserves the right to press criminal charges for such fraud, including the swearing out of an arrest warrant in the county of the bidder's residence. In addition to any criminal charges, L. W. Benton Company, Inc. reserves the right to seek civil restitution.
BIDDER VERIFICATION: The identity of all bidders will be verified, bidding rights are provisional, and if complete verification is not possible, L.W. Benton Company, Inc. may reject the registration, and bidding activity will be terminated.
WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS FROM THE AUCTION: L.W. Benton Company, Inc. and/or the Seller reserves the right to add or delete property, reject any bid and/or cancel the sale.
Please call our office if you have any questions regarding this new policy. 478-744-0027.