QXP-GIVING STORIES-TGGEB19-CREEP.qxp_Layout 1 12/27/18 12:04 PM Page 10
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BUSINESSES
IVING BACK
RIVING GENEROSITY
BAXTER AUTO GROUP FOSTERS PHILANTHROPIC SPIRIT
Baxter Auto Group was known 61 years ago as a company that cares about its local community. That compassionate spirit has carried forward and expanded through a workforce of 1,800 employees as Baxter has grown to encompass operations in three states.
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N 1957, 18-YEAR-OLD TALTON “TAL” ANDERSON was awarded SUPPORTING EDUCATION Considering Tal Anderson’s personal history, it should be no surprise that an athletic scholarship from Omaha University (now the University of Nebraska Omaha). With his focus on playing basketball and baseball and education is one area of special focus for Baxter’s philanthropic efforts, Quinn said. “Education changes lives, so we gravitate toward that, as a group. Our getting an education, the young man probably never dreamed that one simple father’s story illustrates the transformative power of education. We recognize opportunity would set in motion an incredible future. “He might not have gone to college if he didn’t have that scholarship. But that people can achieve amazing things when they’re given opportunities, so he still needed an income to pay for things the scholarship didn’t cover, which we remain very committed to helping youth education at all levels,” she said. is how he met Johnny Baxter,” said Anderson’s daughter Angie Quinn, now “Two initiatives we’re most proud of, that exist due to our father’s story, are co-owner of Baxter Auto Group with her brother, Mickey Anderson. “He The Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha, which he co-founded; and the started pumping gas, he worked his way into sales, and then he asked Mr. Tal Anderson College of Business Administration/Athletic Scholarship, Baxter if he could be part owner of Johnny Baxter Chrysler Plymouth. That’s supporting UNO undergraduate students pursuing a major in the College of how this whole thing got started. None of that probably would have happened Business Administration.” Some of the other institutions of higher education that have received if it wasn’t for UNO.” support from Baxter include Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College, and Bellevue PHILANTHROPIC HISTORY “OF THE MARKETS University locally; and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Today, Baxter Auto Group is a family-owned and locally operated group of 20 dealerships and three body IN WHICH WE OPERATE, Colorado Springs. Education is certainly an area of interest, but the shops across Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City and OMAHA IS BY FAR THE company supports a wide variety of nonprofits and Colorado Springs representing 14 different automobile MOST CHARITABLE. community organizations. Baxter participates in brands ranging from family cars and trucks to luxury sponsorships in all the markets served by the company, vehicles. The company has earned a reputation over WE ARE HEIRS OF PAST Anderson said, and they encourage employees to get more than six decades in business for outstanding PHILANTHROPIC involved in their preferred charitable activities. customer service, but its owners are even more proud ACTIVITY AND THAT’S to be part of a history of giving back and a philanthropic TALENTED AND CHARITABLE spirit. In gratitude for the support the company has WHY OMAHA “We’re biased, but we believe we employ the received from its communities throughout the years, IS SO STRONG.” industry’s most talented and charitable workforce. Baxter Auto Group supports the communities in turn. Baxter employees give back to our communities by “We serve the well-being of our guests, employees, ~ MICKEY ANDERSON serving meals, supporting education opportunities at and the neighborhoods where they live and work,” Co-Owner all levels, building homes, advocating for greater Mickey Anderson said. “It’s part of Baxter’s DNA. Both Mr. Baxter and our father, when they were young, were given disease prevention awareness in Washington D.C., fostering house pets, opportunities by people who believed in them. That inspired our father to be serving on boards, and more,” Anderson said. And that’s just a sampling of generous with his personal resources, and he encouraged us to support the the many activities, projects and causes Baxter employees are part of. “With community as well. Today, that spirit of giving exists throughout our more than 1,800 employees, the list of charitable activities and sponsorships dealerships and with all of our employees. Baxter has grown because of our is long.” Tal Anderson, who died in 2009, and Johnny Baxter, who died in 2010, community’s support, so we feel privileged to give back.” Businesses are made up of people, Quinn pointed out. So when businesses were both part of a larger legacy of giving that characterizes the community, support nonprofits and community organizations, it provides people a chance Quinn said. It’s a privilege, she said, to follow their lead. “We rest on the shoulders of giants here in Omaha. It’s really a special place. to give their time, contribute their skills and provide financial support. “It’s important for corporate entities to give back to their communities Of the markets in which we operate, Omaha is by far the most charitable. We are because they are community members. The two—corporations and heirs of past philanthropic activity and that’s why Omaha is so strong,” communities—are interdependent,” she said. “We aspire to make an impact Anderson added. “So, like those before us, we know we need to maintain much like so many other companies do in Omaha. We are humbled to play a high levels of community engagement and giving…to keep Omaha strong for future generations.” part and we know we can always do more.”
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THE IVING GUIDE
2019
THE EVENT BOOK
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