Following the record damage caused by the spring flooding in Texas, members of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, along with the NIADA Foundation, decided to help.

Keith Hagler, a former NIADA president, presented a $15,600 check to the Austin Disaster Relief Network at the First Baptist Church of Taylor on July 30 to aid the relief and rebuilding efforts around Taylor, Texas, where Hagler owns and operates Taylor Auto Credit.

The idea for the contribution started with NIADA chairman Arlan Kuehn, who contacted Hagler after hearing about the Texas floods on the news.

“Arlan saw reports on the national news about flooding in Texas, and in Taylor,” Hagler said. “When he called me I was helping get water out of our church.”

Half of the contribution, $7,800, was raised during the NIADA Convention and Expo in June, where Kuehn announced his plans to donate to ADRN. The NIADA Foundation matched the total.

Daniel Geraci, the executive director at ADRN, said his organization is currently helping 70 to 80 families in Taylor with rebuilding and restoring their homes.

In other donation news, the NIADA Foundation also contributed $1,000 to Your Grateful Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting U.S. combat veterans and their families during and after their transition from military to civilian life.

For more information, visit the NIADA website.