The holiday spirit continues at dealership groups across the country.
On Friday, the Jim Ellis Automotive Group announced the kickoff of its annual holiday giving campaign to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
During December, each of the retailer’s 20 locations will donate a portion of all vehicle sales to The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
The Jim Ellis group selects a different charity for which to raise funds each holiday season, and has raised more than $250,000 for groups helping women and children via these efforts.
The group raised $68,850 for the Atlanta Children’s Shelter last year and aims to raise at least $65,000 for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center this year.
The retailer has donated a portion of the funds raised by the Annual Jim Ellis Charity Golf Tournament to Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center for the last decade.
“No one wants to see a child struggle or be in pain” Jim Ellis Automotive Group vice president Stacey Ellis Hodges said in a news release. “We hope that our donation this holiday season can bring a little extra joy to a child and their family at a time when they need support most. We can give a child the gift of growing up, together.”
On a similar note, The Valerie Fund — which supports comprehensive health care for children fighting cancer and blood disorders — recognized New Jersey’s new car and truck dealerships and the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers during the fund’s 31st annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala last month.
The Valerie Fund and New Jersey’s franchised dealers have partnered since 2014, raising nearly $3 million through this collaboration.
Hundreds of franchised dealers in the state have also participated in various fundraising efforts through the New Jersey Auto Retailers Unite Campaign program, helping more than 6,000 children with cancer, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders.
“We are so thankful for the support of NJ CAR and all the New Jersey car and truck dealers in helping the Valerie Fund serve its critical mission of providing individualized care at medical centers close to home,” The Valerie Fund executive director Barry Kirschner said in a news release.
“With the help of community partners like New Jersey’s dealerships, we are able to provide not just medical support but also emotional, social and developmental support, treating the whole child,” Kirschner said.
NJ CAR president Jim Appleton added: “New Jersey’s 500+ neighborhood new car dealerships support hundreds of charities in communities throughout the Garden State, contributing nearly $16 million each year to hundreds of worthy organizations in all corners of the state.
“The partnership with The Valerie Fund shows that these local leaders always respond to those in need. The relationship dealers have had with The Valerie Fund is a testament to the incredible work the Fund does to support thousands of children and their families in New Jersey.”
The Thanksgiving gala raised $1.1 million for the fund.
A well-known name in Hollywood is rallying to help New Jersey auto dealers and their work on positively impacting the lives of ill children all over the country.
Rosario Dawson, well known for her roles in projects such as "The Mandalorian", "Top Five", "Rent", and "Sin City" — and to be seen in the upcoming Hulu limited series "Dopesick" — has joined the New Jersey Auto Retailers Unite campaign as the celebrity spokesperson. She will be featured in a public service announcement expected to be launched in mid-September.
Dawson joins more than 200 franchised New Jersey new car and truck dealerships, that have participated in a variety of New Jersey Auto Retailers Unite fundraising campaigns since 2014. The group of dealers have collectively raised over $2,259,000 since 2014, impacting the lives of more than 6,000 children with cancer, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders treated by The Valerie Fund each year. The fund, launched in 1977, has helped tens of thousands of critically ill children to recieve state of the art medical treatment and customized health care services at one of seven Valerie Fund Children’s Centers located close to their homes.
“New Jersey’s 500-plus franchised neighborhood new car and truck dealerships are the backbone of their communities and support local organizations in hundreds of different ways,” said Jim Appleton, president of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (N.J. CAR), in a news release. “These entrepreneurs compete for customers every day, but they can also unite behind a worthwhile cause.”
Celebrity spokesperson Dawson will be assisting the New Jersey Auto Retailers Unite Campaign goal this year of raising $500,000. Nearly 80 dealers have alreay contributed more than $270,000 — even before the two-month campaign official launched on Sept. 1.
The Sept. 1 date was chosen to coincide with this month's national recognition of Pediatric Cancer Awareness and Sickle Cell Awareness.
This year’s campaign will focus on educating the public about Sickle Cell Disease, in particular. The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Newark Beth Israel treats more sickle cell patients than any other hospital in New Jersey and is recognized as a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, the campaign said in a press release.
“New Jersey’s dealerships are coming together, across all brands, to pay it forward and support the thousands of brave children treated by The Valerie Fund each year, and their families,” said Judith Schumacher-Tilton, N.J. CAR chairwoman and owner of the Schumacher Auto Group. “It is especially important to support the hundreds of children with Sickle Cell disease treated at Valerie Fund Centers. This is an incurable disease that effects an underserved population.”
For more information about the New Jersey Auto Retailers Unite campaign, The Valerie Fund or the services provided at The Valerie Fund Children’s Centers, interested parties can contact Randi Zamkotowicz, Valerie Fund assistant director of development for philanthropy at (201) 993-3787; or Brian Hughes, NJ CAR director of communications.
N.J. CAR was in dealer news as the year kicked off, as well.
Vice president of the Mahwah Board of Education, Rick DeSilva Jr., owner of Liberty Subaru in Emerson, N.J., TIME and Ally Financial recognized him as the 2021TIME Dealer of the Year. DeSilva has served on the board of trustees for the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers since 2008. He was chairman in 2017.
Larry H. Miller Dealerships said that its employees and 89 of its vendors and business partners raised a record $500,000 for charity through the recent Larry H. Miller Dealerships Golf Classic.
The group presented a check for that amount to Larry H. Miller Charities, which is the philanthropic arm of its parent company.
“The funds raised at the 2021 Larry H. Miller Dealerships Golf Classic will be distributed to charities in the seven states where the group does business,” Larry H. Miller Charities president Don Stirling said in a news release.
“These vital charitable contributions into local communities will focus on programs that serve women and children with an emphasis on health and education,” Stirling said. “These funds alone will help dozens and dozens of nonprofit organizations at a time when the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge women and children everywhere.
“The charitable spirit of our dealerships and their partners, as evidenced by the amount of money raised, is both moving and inspiring. We are so grateful!”
This was the 10th annual golf classic for the group. More than $2.4 million for Larry H. Miller Charities through the tournament over the years.
Georgia dealership provides free oil changes for educators
In another philanthropic effort from the dealership world, Jim Ellis Mazda Marietta in Georgia has rolled out the Essential Car Care program that provides free standard oil changes for educators through the end of next month.
The oil changes are available at the dealership’s service center and are good on most makes and models.
The dealership is also providing teachers, teaching assistants, professors, administrators, coaches and school support staff a car wash with interior cleaning and vehicle inspections.
“We are proud to participate in this program to support the amazing teachers in the Marietta community,” the dealership’s vice president Tracie Maloney said in a news release. “We are happy to have the opportunity to show how much we value and appreciate them.”
LotLinx, known for its inventory marketing technology, is now participating in supporting the U CAN-CER VIVE foundation — a dealer group cancer research non-profit — through a recent donation.
It was founded by siblings Ryan and Kelley LaFontaine of the Michigan-based LaFontaine Automotive Group, in February of 2016. Since then, in just over five years, the organization has raised over $2.5 million. These funds went to a total of 10 research grants, five of which the auto group noted are live in the state.
In terms of how LotLinx’ plans to further support the non-profit, the company says it plans to join the LaFontaine Auto Group at the foundation's first event of the year, U CAN-CER VIVE Evening for the Cure, which happens Friday in Pontiac, Mich.
"On behalf of the passionate team at U CAN-CER VIVE, we greatly appreciate the support from LotLinx," said Kelley LaFontaine, co-founder of U CAN-CER VIVE, in a news release. "Their donation will go directly toward needed cancer research and ultimately get us closer to our mission of a cancer-free world."
Neal Gann, president of LotLinx, said in a release: "LaFontaine has been a trusted partner of ours for several years. At LotLinx, we are passionate about helping clients succeed — both in and out of the dealership. We're proud to have the opportunity to support LaFontaine's mission of providing funding for cancer research and hope our involvement can continue to spread awareness."
And this isn’t the only philanthropic effort LotLinx has participated in for 2021. The team explained the company has been involved with several other dealer clients’ non-profit organizations, as well.
AutoNation said its new partnership with a Major League Soccer club shows its and the club’s commitment to fighting cancer by using the power of soccer and its strong fan base.
The soccer club is South Florida-based Inter Miami CF, and as part of the partnership, AutoNation will be the official and exclusive automotive partner of Inter Miami.
The partnership includes naming rights of the stadium, which will be called DRV PNK Stadium. The partnership will also include branding on training kits. AutoNation has raised more than $25 million to help fight cancer, create awareness, and support research through its DRIVE PINK initiative.
TV and digital exposure is also part of the partnership, with the entitlement of the Inter Miami Digital Live Stream via their Inter Miami App and the Inter Miami Spanish language streaming show.
AutoNation said Spanish is one of the top two languages for Inter Miami’s fans across social media during Inter Miami's inaugural season. More than 60% of website traffic came from Latino-dominant U.S. cities. In addition, 34% of Inter Miami’s registered mobile app users identified themselves as being of Hispanic/Latino descent.
Part of the multiplatform media campaign will involve AutoNation becoming the sponsor of the “Saves” feature during Inter Miami matches. For that feature, AutoNation and Inter Miami will donate up to $100,000 toward cancer research annually for every Inter Miami goalkeeper save.
“DRV PNK Stadium is about driving awareness of a proven mission that has raised over $26 million in the fight against cancer,” AutoNation’s executive vice president and chief customer experience officer Marc Cannon said in a news release.
Cannon also said, “Our partnership with Inter Miami, one of the most dynamic soccer clubs, will help fund research. It allows for our collective support of organizations like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Cleveland Clinic, and Moffitt Cancer Center at the national and local levels.”
“Inter Miami is a purpose-driven organization, and we take great pride in partnering with AutoNation, No. 154 on the Fortune 500 and a South Florida-based company that is positively impacting our community through a creative national campaign,” said Inter Miami managing owner, Jorge Mas.
Mas also said, “It’s important as a sports club to take our time to partner with the right brands who not only represent our values but also help us use our platforms and reach to amplify good causes.”
Every October, associates from more than 300 AutoNation locations deliver thousands of comfort bags on DRV PNK Across America Day to cancer patients at treatment facilities.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October and in conjunction with DRV PNK Across America Day, AutoNation will be the presenting sponsor at an Inter Miami home match. AutoNation and Inter Miami invite fans in attendance to wear pink in support the cause and their home team.
