12/14/10
4:55 PM
Page 1
December 20, 2010
www.usedcarnews.com
Auto Industry Reaches Out To Needy By Sheila McGrath
Dealers around the United States are showing how big their hearts are this Christmas season with special holiday programs to help the needy. Whether they’re donating a toy for every person who “likes” them on Facebook or collecting items for Toys for Tots, dealers are finding ways large and small to help make sure families have a happy holiday. Chris Spears, with Prestige Auto Sales in Ocala, Fla., felt inspired to help the less fortunate this Christmas after realizing with relief that his business had pulled through the economic recession. This month, Prestige hosted Cash & Cars Christmas, an event that raised money for Interfaith Emergency Services and the Advocacy Resource Center in Ocala. The event offered an afternoon of food, entertainment and fun, where everything cost $1. Raffle
Rush - Dated Material
UCN_01
tickets were sold for a $3,000 prize, and Spears donated the grand prize, a minivan for a family in need. Spears said he had heard of a dealer group that held a similar event a few years ago, and he made a mental note that it was something he’d like to do. But then the economy collapsed and his business suffered through some tough years. “About four months ago, I was having breakfast before work and I felt blessed that we were on a positive sales trend,” he said. He turned his napkin over and started outlining a plan for the Cash & Cars Christmas event. “It was mostly my way of showing appreciation, trying to help someone else,” Spears said. “We’ve been blessed, God’s kept us and we’ve turned a corner.” In Charleston, S.C., the Charleston Auto Auction holds a toy drive each year to benefit the Carolina Youth Development Center, a local orphanage. Dealers can participate in a variety of ways, from dropping toys in a gift box at the auction to writing a $100 check to the Youth Development Center and getting a $25 off coupon for any buy or sell fee at the auction. All donations are matched by the auction. “Charleston Auto Auction strongly believes that everyone, especially children, should be able to enjoy the holidays,” said Bill McCready, assistant general manager.
GIVING SEASON: The Haley Toyota Certified Sales Center in Richmond, Va., above, sells trees to help raise money for needy families. Charleston Auto Auction, right, runs a toy drive.
The Haley Toyota Certified Sales Center in Richmond, Va., is hosting a Christmas tree sale to benefit the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program. The program helps needy families with holiday meals, toys and clothing. General manager Bill Simmons said they had been approached by a tree vendor who wanted to use a portion of their lot to display trees. “We decided that we would do it if a portion of the sale would be donated to a local charity, as I did not really care about making money off of the tree sales,” he said.
“But I thought it would help decorate the lot and draw traffic, plus help out a local cause.” Sales went well. Simmons said they planned to make the donation to the Christmas Mother program around the middle of the
month, when the organization’s donation season ended. After that, any remaining sales would benefit the historic Byrd Theater in Richmond as a Christmas present. The 82-year-old theater is in need of funds for restoration work.
IN THIS ISSUE • A new program helps dealers keep their skills up to date. – Page 3
• This was a year of high prices and new regulations. – Page 8
• The auction industry mourns the passing of a pioneer. – Page 5
• Honda says so long to the Element, once a top seller. – Page 14