Ally Financial this week announced its presentation of funds to a charity selected by this year’s TIME Dealer of the Year.

After naming Michael Alford of Marine Chevrolet Cadillac the winner of the 2013 award earlier this year, Ally executives were in North Carolina this week to present a $10,000 grant to Alford’s chosen charity, Girls on the Run.  

The grant from Ally will enable 225 local students to participate in the program who otherwise may not have been able to financially. Girls on the Run is a learning program for students in third through eighth grades that teaches life skills through conversation-based lessons and running games.

“At Ally, we witness dealers as community service heroes every day. We want to showcase the good they do in hopes that it inspires all of us to do more for those that need help,” said Tim Russi, president of auto finance for Ally Financial.

“Ally has provided more than 100 grants to nonprofit organizations in connection with TIME Dealer of the Year program,” Russi added. “We are grateful to be able to support the local causes of these generous individuals.” 

Ally has also provided additional $5,000 grants to support charities chosen by the three award finalists:

• Sam Mansker of Olathe Ford Lincoln in Olathe Kan., who chose KidsTLC, which provides psychiatric treatment, community outreach, behavioral health and autism treatment for kids and families.

• Dominick Carbone of the Carbone Auto Group in Utica, N.Y., who chose the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, which aims to improve life and livelihood in its communities; and

• Bill McCurley of McCurley Integrity Dealerships in Tri-Cities, Wash., who chose the NADA Charitable Foundation, which supports organizations involved in emergency medical care and higher education.

Alford and the finalists were chosen from a group of 57 U.S. dealers, Ally reported, at the 2013 NADA Convention and Expo held in Orlando, Fla. in February.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the auto industry’s most prestigious, with recipients considered among the nation’s most successful auto dealers, with a commitment to community service.

For more information, visit allydealerheroes.com.