Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) recently wrapped up a philanthropy project, while Zeigler Auto Group is working to organize an upcoming charity event.
Beginning with DGDG, one of the Bay Area’s largest family owned automotive groups partnered with the Subaru Share the Love Event to raise $53,336 for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, a non-profit organization that fulfills the wishes of children between the ages of 2 and 18 battling life-threatening medical conditions.
Held each year, Subaru donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to a host of charitable partners, per the selection of each customer. This year’s four national charities included the ASPCA, Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation.
In addition, DGDG’s Capitol Subaru participated in the hometown charity matching donation program to support Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area.
“Everyone at DGDG is very proud to continue our partnership with Make-A-Wish,” DGDG president Jeremy Beaver said in a news release. “Being able to make a difference with amazing organizations like Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area right here in our community is what we strive for at the Del Grande Dealer Group.”
Participating in the Subaru Share the Love Event to support Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area is just one of the many ways the DGDG family of employees support community causes with their time, resources and money through DGDG Does Good — Del Grande Does Good — the charitable arm of the DGDG dealership group.
DGDG also had the opportunity to assist Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area’s wish granters with fulfilling the dream of 18-year-old Bryce, whose wish was to have a car makeover.
DGDG said it helped to facilitate the vehicle updates and presented the vehicle “to a very happy and grateful Bryce before his first day of school.”
Zeigler supporting Drive for Life Foundation Charity Gala
Meanwhile in the Midwest, Zeigler Auto Group is providing support for the Drive for Life Foundation Charity Gala to benefit the American Cancer Society and other charities near Kalamazoo, Mich.
The event, which also is presented by Greenleaf Trust, Brown & Brown Dealer Services and Huntington Bank, will feature former professional basketball player and entrepreneur Ben Wallace. It’s scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo.
As a five-time All-NBA selection, four-time defensive player of the year, and member of the 2004 Pistons championship team, Wallace is regarded by many to be the greatest undrafted player in NBA history. Now a class of 2021 honoree for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, he continues to build his legacy through his work as minority owner and president of basketball operations of the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League.
Wallace will be joining the Drive for Life Foundation for the annual gala as a special guest speaker just two days after his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“I think it’s important for me to use my platform to bring awareness and to let people know that it’s time to go to war, and go to battle, against this disease because it has affected every last one of us. We all know somebody, we are all close to somebody, that has been affected by cancer, and it’s time to fight this disease,” Wallace said in a news release from Zeigler Auto Group.
After its cancellation last year due to COVID-19, Zeigler highlighted 2021 will mark the 39th installment of the event, raising more than $3 million since its debut under Harold Zeigler in 1982. All proceeds from the Drive for Life Foundation Charity Gala will go directly to its beneficiaries, with Zeigler Auto Group covering all costs associated with the event.
“For me, and I know for the rest of the Zeigler family, it’s truly an honor to be able to give back, not just to the charities themselves but to the people behind the scenes who tirelessly run these organizations for the good of the community. We will forever be grateful for all of their hard work and all the good that they do in the area,” Zeigler Auto Group president Aaron Zeigler said in a news release.
This year’s recipients include:
— American Cancer Society
— Make-a-Wish Foundation
— Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan
— MRC Industries of Kalamazoo
— Gull Lake Community Schools
— Family Camps
— American Heart Association
— Sherman Lake YMCA
— K C Ready 4S
— Southwest Michigan Miracle League
— Wings of Mercy
— Chef Therapeutic Riding Center
— Walk Tall Foundation for Kids
— Family & Children Services
“We have been lucky enough to be a beneficiary of the Drive For Life Foundation for many years, and having their support has been instrumental in keeping our mission of freeing the world of cancer alive. The donations we receive from this event helps us offer support year-round for those in our community who need it most,” said Cindy Kovacik, senior development manager of the American Cancer Society of Kalamazoo.
The event will include a social cocktail hour, a silent auction, a live auction and a chance to win a new Honda Accord or $30,000 cash. Each $250 ticket will admit two guests and is redeemable for one entry into the new car or cash prize drawing.
To purchase a ticket or for additional information, call Beth Kalleward at (269) 488-2203 or email [email protected].
Delayed for about a year because of the pandemic, Hertz’s effort to help the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation (JAJF) came to fruition.
On Friday, Hertz announced that the donation of its 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 has raised $250,000 for JAJF. Hertz donated the No. 1 production model of only 24 limited-edition custom Camaros that it commissioned to JAJF, which was auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson LIVE Las Vegas Auction on June 19.
According to a news release, Brenda and Rick Nielsen purchased the Camaro and the proceeds will help JAJF continue its mission since 2006 to treat families who have a parent diagnosed with terminal cancer to oncologist prescribed timeouts together known as WOW Experiences.
“Hertz is thrilled our donation of the Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 yielded such amazing results for the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation, with whom we’ve partnered for several years,” Hertz executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience Laura Smith said in the news release.
“At Hertz, we love helping people travel and make memories, so it’s an honor to support our partnership with this donation along with the in-kind rental cars we provide that help families facing unimaginable circumstances get away and spend time together,” Smith continued.
Last summer, Hertz donated the Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 to JAJF, but the Foundation had to delay its plans to auction off the vehicle due to the pandemic. Fortunately, the delay evidently did not curb interest.
Hertz said the Barrett-Jackson auction delivered “impressive” results that exceeded JAJF’s expectations.
“We are so thankful to Hertz and their continued partnership,” said Jon Albert, founder and president of the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation. “Our organization will never be bashful on behalf of these children who are losing their young moms and dads at such a vulnerable time.
“The investment that Hertz made and now the investment that Brenda and Rick Nielsen have made in us is a legacy. This will help sustain the Foundation and bring mores smiles and joy to families who are tragically touched by cancer,” Albert continued.
Hertz, which has a history of providing custom high-performance vehicles for rent, introduced the 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 as part of its fleet in 2019.
The custom Camaro ZL1 is outfitted with a 6.2 liter V8 engine and a roaring 750 horsepower, with features including a larger Callaway Supercharger; custom Hertz wheels; custom Hertz lighted door sill plates; embroidered headrests; Hertz fender badges; and a custom plaque denoting the model number.
And proceeds from the auction now are with the charity thanks to another individual impacted by cancer.
“I am overjoyed and blessed to be able to contribute to this remarkable foundation,” said Brenda Nielsen, buyer of the 2020 Hertz-Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1. “As a cancer survivor, the opportunity to support families affected by cancer means the world to me.”
Culture and children continue to be among the focus areas of the organizations receiving financial support from the Nissan Foundation.
The automaker’s philanthropic arm announced it is awarding $697,000 in grants to 28 nonprofit organizations for its 2021 grant cycle. According to a news release the nonprofit recipients are located in Southern California, Tennessee, Texas, Central Mississippi, Southeast Michigan as well as the New York and Atlanta metro areas.
Those are all locations where Nissan has an operational presence.
Over its 29-year history, the Nissan Foundation has awarded approximately $13 million to more than 150 organizations offering educational programs that bring diverse cultural perspectives, experiences and voices to communities across the country.
“For nearly 30 years, the Nissan Foundation has been committed to amplifying the efforts of nonprofit organizations doing the important work of sharing diverse cultural perspectives and experiences with communities across the country,” Nissan Foundation president Andrew Tavi said in the news release.
“At perhaps no other time in recent history has the work of these organizations been so critical. We are proud to support their efforts to inspire people to embrace the value of our differences,” Tavi continued.
The automaker highlighted that the mission of the Nissan Foundation — to build community by valuing culture diversity — is as relevant today as it was in 1992 when it was founded. Formed in response to the civil unrest that occurred near Nissan’s then North American headquarters in southern California following the Rodney King trial verdict, the Nissan Foundation has annually awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to nonprofit organizations that support the Foundation’s mission.
Among the 2021 Nissan Foundation grantees are many with a focus on inspiring young people to see the world through multiple perspectives. This includes the Foundation for Mississippi History, which will use its grant dollars to ensure all students in the state have the opportunity to visit the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History at least once during their K-12 education — regardless of their ability to pay.
Officials said the InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit will use its 2021 grant to grow its Religious Diversity Journeys program. Through this program, students attend a series of field trips to a Hindu temple and Sikh gurdwaras as well as Jewish, Christian and Muslim houses of worship. On each field trip, students learn about that religion’s specific culture, practices and beliefs.
Officials then added the Japanese American National Museum will use its 2021 grant to fund its School Visits program, which enables school groups from throughout southern California to visit the museum and witness the experiences of Japanese Americans from early immigration in the 19th century through the present. Annually, 15,000 students in grades 1 through 12 participate in the School Visits program, more than 70% from Title I schools.
“The Nissan Foundation is thrilled to continue supporting the many organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to imparting the value of culture and the expansion of cultural knowledge on communities across the United States,” Nissan Foundation executive director Parul Bajaj said.
“We’re also honored to provide grants to a number of new applicants whose programming aligns with the Foundation’s point of view that cultural and ethnic diversity are an enhancing factor of society,” Bajaj went on to say.
2021 Nissan Foundation Grant Recipients
California
Autry Museum of the American West, “Voices of Native America” ($15,000)
Japanese American National Museum, “School Visits Program and Family Festivals” ($30,000)
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, “Roots Series: Cultural Events, Educational Programs, and Exhibits for Children” ($10,000)
San Diego Museum of Us, “Race: Are We So Different? Virtual workshops” ($15,000)
Georgia
Atlanta Historical Society, Inc., “Juneteenth 2022 Family Program and Free Admission Weekend,” ($25,000)
Catholic Charities Atlanta, “Refugee Education and Engagement Project” ($10,000)
Fernbank Museum of Natural History, “Winter Wonderland: Celebrations and Traditions Around the World” ($25,000)
Michigan
Arab American National Museum (An Institution of ACCESS), “AANM Public Programming Series 2021-2022” ($20,000)
Detroit Educational Television Foundation, “Equitable Journalism” ($20,000)
Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus, “Using Literature to Provide Equitable Access to Holocaust Education” ($20,000)
The Interfaith Leadership Council of Metro Detroit, “Journeys in Religious Diversity: A Program Proven to Improve Faith-Based Relationships through Education” ($15,000)
U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants, Inc. “International Detroit” ($20,000)
Mississippi
Cleveland Music Foundation d/b/a GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, “Right to Write: Exploring Issues in Diversity & Inclusiveness Through Music” ($30,000)
Foundation for MS History, “School Visits Program to the Two MS Museums” ($30,000)
New York
Brooklyn Historical Society, “Muslims in Brooklyn 2021 – 2022 Educator Workshops & Curriculum Dissemination” ($10,000)
Jewish Children's Museum, “Overcoming Obstacles: Reformatting Public School Initiative” ($15,000)
The Jewish Museum, “Movies That Matter” ($25,000)
One To World, “Cultural Understanding Programs: Intercultural Education and Exchange for NYC Youth” ($25,000)
Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, “World Olympics: Celebrating Each Other’s Differences in Schools” ($37,000)
Tennessee
Discovery Center, “Kids First” ($60,000)
Global Education Center, “Passport to Understanding” ($25,000)
Nashville Public Library Foundation, “Civil Rights and a Civil Society: Critical Dialogues in Equity, Race, and Identity” ($25,000)
Nashville Public Television, “Next Door Neighbors: 2021-2022” ($75,000)
Oasis Center, Inc., “Oasis Center's Building Bridges” ($50,000)
Stars Nashville, “Understanding Bullying Prevention Through the Lens of Cultural Competence” ($20,000)
Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, “Building Support for Refugee Communities in Middle TN” ($10,000)
YWCA Nashville & Middle TN, “Stand Against Racism Lunch & Learn Series” ($20,000)
Texas
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, “Crucial Conversations: Confronting Antisemitism” ($15,000)
Officials noted Nissan Foundation grants are awarded annually. They said the next grants will be awarded in next June.
For more information about the Nissan Foundation and its application process, visit this website.
Ally Financial, Greensboro Auto Auction and the Hiester Automotive Group are working together, while fueled by some of their passions: classic-car restoration, helping people in need and lifting up the next generation of technicians.
John Hiester, owner of Hiester Automotive Group in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., led a project that highlighted another example of how dealers across the country got inventive throughout 2020 to keep American drivers on the road and their staffs safely working and motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to COVID-19, the nationwide shortage of mechanics was one of the biggest management obstacles faced by American dealers, so it was an abrupt change to suddenly have too many service techs and too few cars to fix.
“Back in the spring when the work slowed, my mechanics asked if they’d lose their jobs,” Hiester said in a news release distributed by Ally on Tuesday. “I thought, ‘Why not buy some classic cars and have my teams restore them?’ I love classic cars, but my team never works on them because they are always busy with customers. It was a good way to keep them employed so they could support their families.”
Hiester purchased more than a dozen classic cars, including a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible and a 1978 Jeep J10 truck in various states of disrepair. The mechanics were paired up in small teams to restore the classic autos.
Service technician Anthony Pompey said he appreciated the steady work and that the project helped “keep my mind off the news and the pandemic. I worried less about losing family or getting sick myself.”
Hiester Auto Group is one of approximately 18,500 dealer customers doing business with Ally Financial. When the finance company heard about what Hiester was orchestrating, it got involved.
“All of us at Ally were really moved by John’s commitment to do it right for his employees because it mirrored our own values in keeping team members both safe and employed,” Ally chief marketing and PR officer Andrea Brimmer said. “We wanted to support his ingenuity and shine a light on the important role service techs play in the auto business.”
Inspired by Hiester’s initiative, Brimmer said the Ally Foundation will support efforts to recruit and train the next generation of auto mechanics by donating $25,000 to the North Carolina Auto Dealers Foundation.
According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the industry requires 76,000 new technicians every year and technical colleges and training programs only graduate about half that number.
Brimmer didn’t stop with the donation.
Brimmer connected the Hiester team with reality show host and celebrity car customizer Danny Koker of History Channel’s “Counting Cars.” Koker, based in Las Vegas, served as a virtual coach to the Hiester mechanics while also documenting the renovation process for a new web-based video series called “Count’s Kulture.”
The series began streaming in early December on Koker’s YouTube channel. Car enthusiasts are encouraged to follow the restoration competition online and vote for their favorite.
And the wholesale market is involved in this entire project, too.
According to the news release, Hiester plans to auction the winning vehicle at the Greensboro Auto Auction in Greensboro, N.C., with the proceeds donated to a charity selected by his mechanics.
