Chicagoland Dealers Wrap Up Year of Giving this Holiday Season
MEDIA INFORMATION
Hayley Feichter
Communications & Marketing Manager
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6002
Cell: (419) 506-0885
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chicagoland Dealers Wrap Up Year of Giving this Holiday Season
Local Car Dealers Lend Support to Charitable Organizations within their Communities
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. (Dec. 20, 2024) – This holiday season, local car dealers have teamed up with charitable organizations to give back to their communities and help fulfill holiday wishes of those less fortunate. Chicagoland’s new-car dealers understand the vital impact their businesses have on the communities they serve, which is why they’re going the extra mile this holiday season for causes that hold a special meaning to them.
“Chicagoland’s new-car dealers are an integral part of their community and often the first to donate to local organizations in need,” said Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) President Jennifer Morand. “This holiday season is no exception as dealers have risen to the occasion to give back.”
Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Fox Lake once again partnered with Jeeps on the Run (JOTR), a local Jeep enthusiast club that has raised more than $2 million in donations to the charities it supports, most notably Toys for Tots. The annual Toys for Tots event was held in early December. Participating Jeeps traveled the more than 20-mile JOTR caravan that kicked off at the Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership and culminated at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort where Jeep owners, with the help of Marines, unloaded the toys that participants donated. Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has partnered with Jeeps on the Run for the last five years, donating more than $250,000 to the non-profit organization. To raise additional funds for the event this year, the dealership donated a new 2024 Jeep Wrangler as part of a raffle, given away at the culmination of the event.
"Jeeps on the Run is the perfect example of when car culture marries with a charity," said Ray Scarpelli Jr., owner of Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Ray Chevrolet. "We are proud to say that 100 percent of our donation goes directly to Jeeps on the Run and the charities it supports."
For the fifth year, Fox Valley Volkswagen Buick GMC participated in Operation Christmas Child. This annual initiative is a project of Samaritan's Purse and collects shoeboxes filled with gifts such as toys, school supplies and personal care items. These shoeboxes are then delivered to children in need worldwide, with the goal of demonstrating love in a tangible way. The dealership has been involved with the initiative since 2020. This year, they packed 350 boxes, doubling what they have donated in years past.
“As a company, we believe that every effort, regardless of its size, to serve those less fortunate is impactful and aligns with our mission to ‘move people,’” said Danielle West, chief operating officer of Fox Valley Volkswagen Buick GMC.“This is a wonderful holiday activity that many employees do as a family and is suitable for children of all ages.”
Throughout the holiday season, a number of Chicagoland’s new-car dealers are a collection site for new, unwrapped toys, benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. Apple Chevrolet of Tinley Park and Webb Chevrolet of Oak Lawn are among the many dealerships that extend the call within the communities they serve to collect thousands of gifts for those in need.
Because dealerships are closely woven into the fabric of their local communities, many individuals and organizations turn to them in a time of need. The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the area's new-car dealer association, has been a longtime supporter of local non-profit organizations. The association has donated more than $130,000 to local charitable organizations through its Chicagoland Dealers Care program, which helps expand CATA members’ donations and shine a spotlight on new-car dealers’ positive impact within their communities.
For more information on the CATA’s Chicagoland Dealers Care program, visit ChicagolandDealersCare.com.
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About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group’s dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit CATA.info.
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