East Texas loggers and mills had a chance to give back to the community by raising $40,000 in a benefit log auction held May 13, 2006, at the Forest Family Fun Day & Equipment Show in Lufkin.

On September 7, members of the Texas Forestry Association presented checks in the amount of $13,126 to two of the three auction recipients, the Lufkin State School's Regional Orthotics Center and the Texas Forestry Association Educational Fund. "We are sincerely grateful to the Texas Forestry Association for their generosity," said Randy Spence, Superintendent of the Lufkin State School. "Because of their continued support, we have been able to provide more people with the special kind of wheelchair supports they need," he added.

The Forest Family Fun Day & Equipment Show's Log Auction has donated $170,000 over the past 16 years to the Regional Orthotics Center for wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment.

Texas Forestry Association's Educational Fund, represented by Frank Shockley, Chair, was also presented a check on September 7th. "Texas Forestry Association's educational programs play a key role in educating teachers and students statewide about the industry in East Texas and the importance of forest management," Shockley said. Proceeds from the log auction go toward underwriting the Teachers Conservation Institute, a week-long summer camp attended by 100 teachers each summer who learn about the forest from the nursery to finished products, as well as other environmental education activities.

Texas Forestry Association will present the final check to the East Texas Angel Network later this month. Founded by country singer Neil McCoy, the East Texas Angel Network provides financial assistance for medical treatments and related costs to children of East Texas and their families in order to enhance the quality of life for those children facing the challenges of terminal or life-threatening diseases.

"It takes a lot of folks who are willing to donate the logs and raise the funds to make the log auction the success that it has been for the past 16 years," said Trevor Terry, Log Auction Coordinator for the Forest Family Fun Day Planning Committee. "Giving back to the community is something the number one industry in East Texas, timber, takes pride in doing. The money raised from the log auction goes right back into East Texas for the benefit of local organizations," Terry added.

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