DETROIT -

Ally Financial has announced that 49 U.S. auto dealers have been chosen as nominees for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award.

The award, in its 48th year, recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a commitment to community service.

The nominees will be honored at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in New Orleans on Jan. 27. They will be welcomed by Meredith Long, senior vice president and general manager of news and luxury at TIME, and Tim Russi, president of auto finance at Ally.

“A remarkable group of dealers have been nominated for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award,” said Russi. “We are honored to acknowledge these dealers that ‘do it right’ in their businesses and communities every day, and we are excited to recognize their achievements at the NADA convention in January.”

In its sixth year as exclusive sponsor, Ally will recognize the 2017 nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each dealer’s 501(c)(3) charity of choice. The nominees will also be highlighted on AllyDealerHeroes.com.

Including the 2017 charitable grants pledged to this group of nominees, Ally will have committed nearly $480,000 as part of the TIME Dealer of the Year program. In previous years, nominee grants have supported various local community organizations, including educational programs, cultural offerings, youth athletic leagues and local nonprofits.

Previous winners have included Kitty Van Bortel of Van Bortel Motorcars in Rochester, N.Y., Andy Crews of AutoFair Honda in Manchester, N.H., Jeff Teague of Teague Auto Group in El Dorado, Ark., Michael Alford of Marine Chevrolet in Jacksonville, N.C. and Mike Shaw of Mike Shaw Automotive Group in Denver, Colo. 

For a list of all 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year nominees, click here. Or to learn more about the nominees, click here.