Chicago Automobile Trade Association chairman Kevin Keefe says the instinct to help others “is deeply rooted within local car dealers.”
“And they’re among the first to roll up their sleeves and help when people need it most,” Keefe said in a news release.
Chicagoland’s new-car dealers for the past seven years have supported hometown heroes by hosting Barbecue for the Troops community fundraisers for the USO of Illinois.
CATA acknowledged this year is unique, and local dealers know a need exists to help local military families. Because of that, dealerships are asking the public to visit their businesses on Oct. 3 to donate to the USO of Illinois. Or the public can do that any time throughout the month of October.
The partnership between CATA — which includes more than 400 franchised dealers and 150 allied members — and the USO of Illinois dates back to 2013. That’s when the first Barbecue for the Troops fundraisers took place. Nearly 600 fundraisers later, local dealerships have achieved community support of the USO of Illinois, raising nearly $900,000.
That funding goes to local military serving on the home front during the COVID-19 pandemic and on the frontlines around the world.
Keefe says that although the current times are challenging, dealers want to make a difference.
“While the USO Barbecue for the Troops campaign is just one of many charitable initiatives that dealers support, it's a perfect example of how these local businesses can rally their communities like not many can to all come together around one great cause."
USO of Illinois executive director Christopher Schmidt said the support of local new-car dealers and their hometown communities during these challenging times is important.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the brave men and women who wear the cloth of our nation continue their mission without pause, deploying around the world as well as here at home in support of the fight of COVID-19 across Illinois,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt continued, “USO stands with our service members and their families as the ‘Force Behind the Forces,’ continuing to provide essential services, programs and activities even through the pandemic. Thank you to all our local dealerships and their patrons, without whom we could not continue our mission.”
CATA is also helping people get involved on social media. Beginning Sept. 21, fans visiting Drive Chicago on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can nominate someone who they feel deserves to win the contest’s grand prize, the #BBQ4Troops Ultimate At-Home BBQ.
The prize includes a Real Urban Barbecue catering gift card, barbecue essentials for at-home grilling and a Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane-autographed hockey puck.
Those visiting DriveChicago.com can see the complete listing of dealership fundraisers on Oct. 3 and can get details on how to make an online donation.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ronald McDonald House has been forced to suspend or modify many of its scheduled fundraising efforts, says David Wickwar, sales associate at AutoNation Toyota Corpus Christi.
“When we learned about the needs at Ronald McDonald House to help fund programs that keep families together when children are undergoing serious medical treatment, we immediately sprang into action to help,” Wickwar said in a news release.
Wickwar added, “We’re a very close-knit community and have supported many local charities such as Ronald McDonald House of Corpus Christi and Driscoll Children’s Hospital with our Saltwater Fishing Tournament and our Toy Drive Across America.”
AutoNation said on Thursday it has started a partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi at all eight local Corpus Christi stores. Wickwar is leading the effort.
The partnership is part of AutoNation’s Drive Pink initiative, or DRV PNK. As part of that effort, AutoNation partners with local and national charities to raise money for services such as cancer research and treatment.
AutoNation said it is approaching $25 million raised through Drive Pink, which was officially branded in 2015.
“AutoNation Corpus Christi has been supporting our families and mission for many years by providing warm meals, and the always popular magical holiday celebrations, complete with toys, community mascots, crafts, and entertainment,” said Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi chief executive officer Michelle Horine.
Horine continued, “We are truly grateful to be chosen to benefit from AutoNation’s point-of-purchase fundraiser this year, when we need it most.”
AutoNation market president Jeff Amidon said AutoNation plays a leadership role in the local community.
“DRV PNK is a very important part of our culture," Amidon said. “Customers and associates have united for a common cause — to help drive towards a world without cancer."
AutoNation’s Tuesday announcement that it was donating $25,000 to the American Breast Cancer Foundation marks the public unveiling of AutoNation’s new ONE AutoNation initiative. The company says the initiative continues its position as “a change leader within the automotive industry.”
The American Breast Cancer Foundation provides educational resources, access and financial assistance to aid in the early detection, treatment and survival of breast cancer for underserved and uninsured individuals, regardless of age or gender.
AutoNation designed its ONE AutoNation initiative to provide resources that help its associates, customers, community and industry start conversations around injustice and inequality. The company said that empowers individuals to “address issues, engage in dialogue and commit to action.”
In addition to its financial contribution to the American Breast Cancer Foundation, AutoNation will partner with the foundation to raise awareness and educate communities about cancer care and treatment.
AutoNation said the donation is in line with the company’s DRV PNK mission, which focuses on charitable giving and volunteerism to raise awareness, generate resources and build support for groups impacted by cancer. The DRV PNK effort has raised nearly $25 million since its 2015 introduction.
“No one in America should have their fight against cancer made any more difficult because of who they are or where they’re from,” AutoNation’s executive vice president and chief customer experience officer Marc Cannon said in a news release.
Cannon continued, “Each of us deserves equal access to quality healthcare, and we’re proud to make our first ONE AutoNation donation to an organization that is singularly focused on the needs of communities that are all-too-often marginalized.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2014 Indianapolis 500 Winner, 2012 NTT IndyCar Series champion and Drive Pink spokesperson, said he was proud that AutoNation’s Drive Pink Mission is “taking on a new dimension” by helping underserved communities gain improved access to cancer screenings and treatment.
“There is no better time than right now to acknowledge that this can make a measurable difference in the race to beat cancer,” Hunter-Reay said.
American Breast Cancer Foundation board chair Brenda Loube said the foundation was grateful for AutoNation’s generosity.
“The funding they're providing will make a real, tangible difference for so many struggling with cancer now, but what's just as important is their commitment to helping us highlight the disparities that exist in cancer care today,” Loube said.
Loube continued, “The first step toward a more equitable healthcare system is the recognition of the ways that race, gender, age and other characteristics can factor into the quality of care that you receive.”
Sabrina Linares is studying accounting at Florida Atlantic University, and she is also preparing for a potential automotive industry career.
On Tuesday, retail automotive technology company CDK Global and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers announced that Linares and three other students are recipients of the annual Fueling Careers scholarship program. The program awarded the four students with $12,500 scholarships, and those scholarships will go toward their continued pursuit of a college degree.
The Fueling Careers scholarship program since its inception has provided 17 eligible applicants the opportunity to pursue their education and career-specific goals.
This year’s winners will also be offered an eight-week paid internship with CDK Global.
In addition to Linares, the other recipients of the 2020 Fueling Careers scholarships are David Toyooka, who is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz; Jakeem Littles, Life University in Marietta, Ga.; and Sebastian Watler, Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
Linares said she was fortunate to have been awarded the CDK/NAMAD scholarship for four consecutive years, and she is the first student to receive the scholarship for four years in a row.
“I hope to use the scholarship as a means to relieve the financial burden of student loans and also to inspire many others in pursuing their dreams of higher education,” Linares said in a news release.
CDK president and chief executive officer Brian Krzanich said the company seeks to create opportunities for “quality and inclusive education that promotes lifelong learning.”
“Each of the scholarship winners possesses the characteristics CDK and NAMAD have valued since establishing the Fueling Careers scholarship program in 2017,” Krzanich said.
He continued, “CDK is honored to play a small role in supporting these students as they continue learning the necessary skills to achieve success in their respective future careers.”
NAMAD president Damon Lester said: “With the Fueling Careers scholarship program, we are finding young, minority leaders who are setting the example for the next generation by demonstrating educational excellence at every level.
Lester continued, “It will be exciting to watch these students flourish as they take the first steps in realizing their educational and professional dreams.”
Award recipients were selected based on academic merit and financial need.
The application site for next year’s scholarships will open on Jan. 3. Fueling Careers scholarship applicants must be planning to attend or are currently attending an accredited college or university. All applicants must have a parent employed by a NAMAD dealership. The applicant must also be sponsored by a current NAMAD member.
International Scholarship and Tuition Services Inc. managed the scholarship application and award processes, and ISTS also selected the final four award recipients, with approval by the Fueling Careers Scholarship Committee consisting of CDK and NAMAD members.
Striving to end hunger in the Phoenix community, Camelback Subaru has so far donated 98,094 meals to St. Mary’s Food Bank through Feeding America. The dealership is also asking local residents to join them in this pursuit.
But Camelback Subaru does not want the donations to stop there.
For every Subaru the dealership sells through May 31, it will donate 100 meals to the food bank in the car purchaser’s name.
Camelback Subaru’s work also doesn’t stop there. The company is collecting non-perishable food items at the dealership.
Donation boxes are located inside the store, and members of the public can drop off food through the service department or at the front desk.
The most needed items include peanut butter, canned ravioli, canned protein such as chicken or tuna, canned fruits (no sugar added or packed in 100% fruit juice), canned vegetables (low or no sodium), dry or canned beans (low sodium), and cereal (wholegrain or 100% wheat, boxed)
The dealership notes that 2 million Americans each year face a lack of consistent access to adequate food. Nearly 30% of the Arizona population is considered working poor. Those residents live on wages that barely cover housing and other basic necessities. Many community members have little money to spare for food, and they often go without meals. To feed themselves and their families, at times they have no other choice but to purchase the cheapest, sometimes expired, groceries.
The dealership said members of the public can battle those statistics by donating at the dealership or joining the online fund drive at Bitly.com/CamelbackSubaruFoodDonation.
All donated funds go directly to St. Mary's Food Bank. A $1 donation would allow the non-profit to provide seven meals. The donator will also receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit through his or her Arizona tax return when completing the proper forms for donating to a qualifying charitable organization.
— $5 provides 35 nutritious meals for food-insecure children, families and seniors.
— $25 fills an emergency food box for a family living in poverty.
— $50 provides lunch for more than 300 low-income school children.
— $75 provides 144 meals in weekend food backpacks for children who don't have enough food at home.
— $100 feeds a low-income family of four for nearly two months (700 meals).
— $400 provides 2,800 meals to hungry families throughout Arizona.
