NEW YORK — RetailROI, a year-old industry group formed to address the needs of 143 million orphans worldwide, raised more than $115,000 at a silent auction and industry event held prior to the opening of the National Retail Federation’s Convention & Expo here earlier this month.

The money will go to three organizations focused on helping orphans: Safe Families (which is helping to evacuate orphans in Haiti), LifeSong for Orphans and Warm Blankets. The auction was held in conjunction with RetailROI SuperSaturday, a day-long series of presentations on retail trends given by industry experts; RetailROI will be having another fund-raiser where videos of the main presentation will be available.

In addition, the group will hold an online auction next month. RetailROI also seeks to encourage retailers, vendors and manufacturers to create programs in their local communities aimed to mentor foster children and support adoption activities. More information is available at www.retailroi.org.

“We need tons of help,” said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Consulting Group, Franklin, Tenn., who helped start the group in late 2008 with former Target Chief Information Officer Paul Singer. “Haiti, for instance, had over 380,000 orphans before the earthquake and there are countless more.”

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