The Chicago Auto Show Helps A Safe Haven Foundation
MEDIA INFORMATION
Contact: Mark Bilek
Senior Director of Communications and Technology
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6082
Cell: (847) 652-0632
Email: mbilek@drivechicago.com
Contact: Jennifer Morand
Director of Public Relations and Social Media
Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Office: (630) 424-6084
Cell: (630) 391-1986
Email: jmorand@drivechicago.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Chicago Auto Show Helps A Safe Haven Foundation
CHICAGO (Feb. 14, 2020) – While checking out the latest models and makes of automobiles at the recent Chicago Auto Show, thousands of visitors showed their generosity in donating a total of six tons of canned goods to, A Safe Haven Foundation an anchor in the community, celebrating 25 years of helping end hunger and homelessness for the city's most poverty stricken during, the Nation's Largest Canned Food Drive Feb. 12 to 14.
The donations will all go directly to help feed an average of 5,000 homeless individuals, families and veterans that reside and depend on A Safe Haven Foundation, annually. A Safe Haven provides their residents basic needs like food, transitional housing and holistic wrap around services to help them get back on their feet with jobs and affordable housing. A Safe Haven's pioneering and award winning model has been recognized by leading stakeholders around the world for offering the most innovative, complete and vertically integrated approach and system that is uniquely designed to address root causes of poverty and homelessness by providing them a path to social, economic and housing opportunities to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency.
Volunteers from the Chicago White Sox and UIC and individuals helped to man the two booths, at the Chicago Auto Show. The volunteers and A Safe Haven staff were instrumental in helping to greet guests and educate them about the nonprofit's mission of eradicating homelessness and the issues surrounding that topic as well as unemployment, mental health and addiction.
A Safe Haven also launched their campaign for their upcoming 5k RUN/WALK To End Homelessness at the event. The Chicago Auto Show also partnered with the Chicago Area Runners Association and to host an inaugural Mile Per Hour Race, and President, Neli Vazquez Rowland, as a lifelong runner herself was one of the 600 runners to support fitness and wellness at the event!
"I want to thank the Dave Sloan, President of the Chicago Auto Trade Association again for sponsoring the Nation's Largest Canned Food Drive at the Chicago Auto Show, this year," Vazquez Rowland said. "There is no question that our long-standing partnership has helped tens of thousands of people in crisis get access to the nutrition they need as a first step to regaining their health and strength to work on getting their life back on track. All of the food goes to A Safe Haven Foundation to directly feed 5,000 homeless people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the year. We are based in a food desert with no grocery stories nearby, so we also distribute it throughout the communities to hundreds of residents who really need those groceries from our food pantry every week."
"Those of us at the Chicago Auto Trade Association and the Chicago Auto Show are pleased once again to be working with A Safe Haven during the Chicago Auto Show Food Drive," said Dave Sloan, General Manager of the Chicago Auto Show. "It's gratifying to know our donations and those of our attendees are going to such a wonderful organization and the people they represent and serve."
Another way that people can help the foundation is to sponsor and to participate in its 10th Annual 5K Run/Walk to End Homelessness at 8 a.m. Sunday, July 19 at 600 W. Montrose Drive in Chicago, a Chicago Area Runners Association certified run.
"We always have a great turnout and an event like this draws the community together as we educate and empower people to help us heal root causes and solve the homeless epidemic, in a sustainable manner" she said. "All the proceeds will go to support our mission of transforming lives from homelessness to self-sufficiency."
For more information about the 5K Run/Walk to End Homelessness, visit www.RunToEndHomelessness.org.
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About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2020 public show is Feb. 8-17. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.
About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation’s largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 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 www.CATA.info.
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