Since TrueCar started the program, DrivenToDrive, in 2016 to help injured veterans regain their independence and get back behind the wheel of a vehicle, the program has awarded four disabled veterans with brand-new vehicles.
This week, TrueCar said it is again teaming up with AutoNation and DAV, or Disabled American Veterans, for its DrivenToDrive program.
New for this year, NASCAR driver and Naval officer, Jesse Iwuji, who is TrueCar Military’s brand ambassador, will participate in the 2020 DrivenToDrive program and present a vehicle to the recipient on Veterans Day.
TrueCar president and chief executive officer Mike Darrow said providing a vehicle retrofit to an injured veteran’s specific needs helps the veteran control his or her own mobility and brings independence to his or her life.
“This program is incredibly meaningful to our organization, and we are excited to continue it in partnership with AutoNation and DAV as we help the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom regain their freedom to drive,” Darrow said in a news release.
This marks the fourth year of TrueCar’s DrivenToDrive program and fifth vehicle giveaway.
AutoNation executive vice president and chief customer experience officer Marc Cannon said DrivenToDrive embodies AutoNation and TrueCar’s shared commitment to American military veterans.
“It is truly an honor to be able to impact the life of an injured veteran by gifting them a retrofit vehicle that gets them back behind the wheel,” Cannon said.
DAV national adjutant Marc Burgess said TrueCar has been a strong partner for many years.
“And we are excited to join forces with them again to support DrivenToDrive,” Burgess said. “The men and women who served know all too well the costs of preserving the freedoms we all enjoy, and we’re proud to offer veterans the gift of increased independence thanks to DrivenToDrive.”
DAV provides the recipient nominees. TrueCar representatives and DrivenToDrive ambassador and Army Ranger Cory Remsburg will select the winner.
A virtual event awarding the 2020 winning veteran with a new vehicle will take place online on Nov. 11.
More information is available about DrivenToDrive, its mission and past winners.
Vince Sheehy says that during the current COVID-19 pandemic, staying well through heart-healthy diets and exercise is more important than ever.
“Our partnership with the American Heart Association enables them to continue their great work and community support,” said Sheehy, who is president of Sheehy Auto Stores, in a news release.
Regarding that partnership, Sheehy Auto Stores said on Friday it raised $250,500 to benefit the American Heart Association as part of its annual Sheehy 8000 Sales Race. This is the 23rd annual Sheehy 8000.
The company describes that event as a community-wide effort to raise funds and awareness for the charity. The event ran July 17 to Sept. 8.
Sheehy, which says it is the 37th largest dealer group in the country, noted that its Sheehy 8000 is its biggest annual sales event and fundraising partnership.
In lieu of in-person “Lunch and Learns” for Sheehy Auto Stores’ back office staff, the American Heart Association and Sheehy facilitated a virtual event with more than 100 attendees from dealerships in Annapolis, Ashland, Springfield and Waldorf.
Dr. Roquell Wyche, a cardiologist with Chesapeake and Washington Heart Care, was among the speakers, along with heart patient, Kaelyn Graham, 16, and her mother, who shared their story.
Sheehy’s 29 dealerships also participated in a pedometer challenge. Through that event, the dealerships collectively recorded 763,548 steps. That surpassed last year’s count of 656,006 steps. Sheehy INFINITI of Chantilly won the challenge with 115,854 steps.
In addition, employees selected heart-healthy activities and habits from the American Heart Association Game Board. Those included workouts and dietary and sleep adjustments.
Sheehy’s fundraising efforts have raised more than $40 million to date for community and non-profit organizations.
The company has raised more than $1.7 million for the American Heart Association.
“All of us at the American Heart Association are grateful for Sheehy's unwavering loyalty during these unprecedented times. COVID-19 disproportionately affects heart and stroke patients, making their support more important and life-saving than ever,” said American Heart Association executive director Soula Antoniou.
Antoniou added, “The Sheehy 8000 is a phenomenal sales race and truly a team effort. The commitment of Sheehy’s employees, vendors and customers can be seen in funds raised and the lives impacted — in Sheehy dealerships and in our communities. With more than $1.7 million raised to date, this campaign has made much of our work around blood pressure management, healthy food access, and CPR training possible. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
TrueCar has launched a new brand marketing campaign that it says will help build brand awareness and brand affinity for its TrueCar Military program.
NASCAR driver and Naval officer Jesse Iwuji, will be TrueCar Military’s first brand ambassador for the new campaign, titled “Drive On.”
Iwuji is the only NASCAR driver currently racing at the national levels who has ever served in the military, according to TrueCar.
The company says the campaign will help build awareness for its military program through research and “emotional storytelling that engages and empowers the military audience.”
TrueCar says the “Drive On” theme combines the “toughness and determination” of the military community with the TrueCar brand’s “values of optimism and empowerment.” The campaign features actual military veterans, highlighting vignettes showing different subsets and diverse lifestyles in the military community. At the same time, it will tie back to the “benefits and ease” of car shopping with TrueCar Military.
TrueCar’s “Drive On” campaign went live on Sept. 30, initially launching digitally and on social channels and targeting military members.
The company notes that Iwuji is one of NASCAR's few African Americans competing in the sport, and he received NASCAR’s Diverse Driver of the Year Award in 2017 and 2018.
Iwuji will be featured in the upcoming “Drive On” marketing materials, and he will also participate in DrivenToDrive. TrueCar launched that program in 2017, noting that the program helps veterans regain their freedom to drive by providing them a new vehicle retrofit to their needs. This year will mark the fourth year of the program and fifth vehicle giveaway.
During the DrivenToDrive event ahead of Veteran’s Day, Iwuji will present a new vehicle to a veteran in need.
“As someone who has served this country the last 10 years in the military, I’m excited to work with a brand like TrueCar that understands the unique needs and lifestyle demands of the military community,” Iwuji said in a news release.
Iwuji continued, “TrueCar has exclusive benefits and incentives, while providing an easier way to navigate the complexity of car buying customized to the community. As the first ambassador for TrueCar Military, I look forward to working with them to raise awareness of this fantastic program that can save active duty service members, veterans and their families a lot of time, stress and money.”
TrueCar president and chief executive officer Mike Darrow said that “with his authenticity, passion for the military community and support for diversity,” Iwuji “embodies what TrueCar stands for as a brand.”
“We admire his strength and are proud to have him represent TrueCar Military,” Darrow said.
To launch its new brand positioning, custom persona profiles and segmentation, custom photography assets and digital, social and traditional media placements, TrueCar has partnered with military marketing specialists, Refuel Agency. TrueCar said that has improved its understanding of the military audience and led to a brand campaign that “resonates and leans deeper into the military community’s ethos.”
Marco Andretti says race car drivers often face challenges. But that is nothing compared to the challenges of those fighting cancer.
“We support all the cancer survivors and those who are fighting right now,” said Andretti, a two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner, in a news release.
AutoNation said Andretti and two other NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers helped AutoNation support its Drive Pink initiative, or DRV PNK, and kick-off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Andretti, along with 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi and 2019 INDYCAR Grand Prix podium finisher Jack Harvey, sported pink liveries in the INDYCAR HARVEST Grand Prix Race 2. That race took place on Saturday, and the drivers displayed the DRV PNK logo and pink brand elements on their cars, fire suits and helmets.
Harvey, No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda driver, is happy to help in the fight against cancer.
“I am so honored to be joined by Alexander and Marco to DRV PNK for AutoNation and help raise awareness and funds that will hopefully lead us to a world without cancer,” Harvey said.
"We may be fierce competitors on the track, but off the track, we are completely united in our efforts to drive out cancer," said Rossi, No. 27 AutoNation/ NAPA AUTO PARTS Honda Driver and 2016 Indianapolis 500 Winner.
DRV PNK is an AutoNation philanthropic initiative and company-wide effort. It focuses on charitable giving and volunteerism to raise awareness, generate resources, and build support for cancer-impacted groups. The company is working toward more than $25 million donated to cancer treatment and research.
“AutoNation is extremely grateful to these three outstanding drivers and their teams,” AutoNation’s executive vice president and chief customer experience officer Marc Cannon said in a news release. “We thank each of them for their partnership and their commitment to help drive out cancer.”
The company says it offers a company-paid cancer insurance plan to all its associates and their eligible dependents on their first day of employment.
