CHICAGOLAND DEALERS CARE

CHICAGO (Aug.1, 2012) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) donated $1,500 to the Anderson Animal Shelter of South Elgin as part of its Chicagoland Dealers Care program to build on efforts put forth by the Chicagoland dealer community. While charities and civic organizations know that their local automotive dealer is an integral part of the community and deeply involved in its organization, the dealers often don't receive the recognition they deserve.

The Chicagoland Dealers Care program was created to help deliver support and advocacy.
St. Charles Toyota has been a financial supporter of the Anderson Animal Shelter, longtime advocates for the humane treatment of animals through direct care, education and community outreach programs. St. Charles Toyota General Sales Manager Steven Alf has a personal investment in the cause as he describes his commitment to the shelter to be "very near and dear" to his heart.

"The Anderson Animal Shelter thrives on generosity from the local community," said Jack Graff, executive director of the Anderson Animal Shelter. "The support from the Chicagoland Dealers Care program and St. Charles Toyota is critical in helping us fund programs to provide exceptional and ethical services to mistreated animals."

The Chicago Automobile Trade Association has been a longtime supporter of local non-profit organizations. Since 1992, the association has raised more than $32 million dollars for significant Chicago charities during the annual First Look for Charity black-tie event, held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public. 

"The Chicagoland Dealers Care program began in 2008 as an effort to deliver year-round support to local charities and amplify the efforts already put forth by Chicagoland new-car dealers," said Kurt Schiele, chairman of the CATA.  

For more information on the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, please visitChicagolandDealersCare.com. For more details on the Anderson Animal Shelter, please call 847-697-2880 or visit AndersonAnimalShelter.org.

About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. It is comprised of about 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.

New-car dealer Philip Resnick and the Resnick Auto Group have contributed over $10,000 this year in cash and vehicles to Lambs Farm, a local organization for developmentally disabled adults. Resnick's dedication drew accolades from the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which gave an additional $1500 through its Chicagoland Dealers Care program.

Lambs Farm empowers developmentally disabled people to live independently and contribute to the community. The Libertyville campus provides living arrangements for over 150 participants, and arranges employment for nearly 250 through the on-campus farmyard, pet shop, restaurant, country store & bakery, thrift shop, and at other local businesses. For more information, visitwww.lambsfarm.com.

Arlington Heights Toyota dealer Gary Vicari was inspired by one of his employees' dedication to a Chicago area charity, so when a flier from the Chicago Automobile Trade Association crossed his desk with an offer to match donations of its dealer members, he jumped at the chance.

Vicari applied to the CATA to match his $1000 donation to Maot Chitim, an agency that furnishes meals for needy families during specific Jewish holidays.

"My employee always impressed me with the time he gave to this organization," said Vicari.  "We like to support organizations that are important to our employees and customers." 

That same spirit was the motivation for the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, with allows the association to support causes important to its dealer members.  "Our dealer members are the caring arms of this program," said Mike Ettleson an officer of the CATA.  "They tell us where our donations will do the most good."

Maot Chitim refers to the custom of gathering wheat to provide the poor with the makings of matzo for Passover.  Nearly a century ago, Rabbis set up card tables in front of their synagogues and distributed a few dollars to the poor for holy day meals.

Today, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago has evolved into a year-round volunteer effort searching for the best and most reasonably priced Kosher products, organizing an army of volunteers, setting up a warehouse, locating recipients through social service agencies, packing the products, coordinating an orderly delivery system, delivering the packages and finally closing up and beginning the plans for the next holiday.

With only one paid staff member, Maot Chitim knows how to make that most of the donations that come its way.

"We rely heavily on the generosity of our donors and the selfless giving of time and effort by our volunteers, said Audrey Lane Schiff, the agency's executive director.

Maot Chitim volunteers represent city and suburbanites, all religious denominations and secular Jews, ages ranging from children to seniors.  Family, friends, clubs and school classes come together for hard work and a pleasurable experience.

OAKBROOK, IL - John Hennessy of River Oaks Ford in Calumet City has led the charge in making a major contribution to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. John and his family participate in the Lisle JDRF Walk every October as a part of team Left Eye, which raised nearly $8000 during this year alone. Over half of the team's contribution came from River Oaks Ford and its friends and vendors. 

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. Especially for children, the numerous painful finger pricks of blood sugar monitoring and shots of insulin required as treatment are unbearable. "The amazing fact about JDRF" says John, "is over 80% of the money raised goes to finding a cure! I don't know of any other foundation that does that."

John's dedication and contribution caught the attention of Chicagoland Dealers Care, a Chicago Automobile Trade Association program that matches local car dealers' charitable contributions. Chicagoland Dealers Care matched the River Oaks Ford donation, contributing an additional $1500 to JDRF.

CHICAGO (Feb. 10)-Eighteen area charities tonight shared in nearly $2 million raised by the 2011 Chicago Auto Show's benevolent event, First Look for Charity, and two attendees left with the keys to new cars.

The black-tie benefit, which is held the evening before the auto show opens its 10-day public run, raised $1,905,060, boosting its total to more than $30 million over 20 years.

"First Look for Charity is a great instrument for the area's new-car dealers to show the positive impact they have on their community," said Kevin Mize, chairman of this year's auto show. "All the benefiting charities are involved locally, so the money that's raised in Chicago stays in Chicago."

As the name of the event implies, those who attend First Look for Charity are part of the premier viewing of each year's Chicago Auto Show. Tickets to the fund-raiser are $250 each, and purchasers can elect to have their proceeds equally benefit all participating charities, or any one charity for which they have an affinity. For the event, the auto show floor is replete with a variety of food and beverage stations.

A highlight of the evening was the drawing for the event's grand prizes, a 2011 Honda CR-Z and a 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo. Geneva's Keith Egly won the former and Janice Cacciatore of Park Ridge won the latter.

Egly, whose wife is involved with the Misericordia Women's Auxiliary, said he was considering donating the CR-Z to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, one of the event's 18 beneficiaries.  Cacciatore said she was likely to keep her car for her 15-year-old son, who starts driver's education classes in two weeks. Cacciatore and her husband, Tim, directed the proceeds of their ticket purchase to the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities, another charity participating in the event.

Other organizations involved in the 2011 First Look for Charity included Autism Speaks; Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet.

Also, Children's Memorial Hospital; The Cradle Foundation; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Evans Scholars Foundation; Franciscan Community Benefit Services; and March of Dimes.

And, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago; Special Olympics Illinois; Spina Bifida Association of Illinois; St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation; St. James Hospital & Health Centers; and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

The Sonata was compliments of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Hyundai Dealers, and the CR-Z was provided by American Honda Motor Company.

During the month of October, the Bredemann Family of Dealerships, which includes Toyota and Chevrolet in Park Ridge and Ford and Lexus in Glenview, took part in the American Cancer Society's "Real Men Wear Pink" campaign.

This goal of this campaign was to encourage women 40 years of age and older to undergo annual mammograms. In support of the program, the Bredemann dealerships posted materials and made a coordinated effort among staff members to include the color pink in their work attire, reminding their customers of the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. 

"Many of our clients were very pleased and appreciative of our dealerships' efforts to draw attention to the necessity of yearly exams," said Marty Bredemann, General Manager of Bredemann Lexus. "All of us know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and if even one of our clients benefits from this reminder, we consider our participation in this campaign to be a success."

CHICAGO, Ill. (Feb. 12) - Eighteen area charities last night shared in $1.7 million raised by the 2010 Chicago Auto Show's benevolent event, First Look for Charity, and one lucky winner left with the keys to a brand-new Chevrolet Equinox.

About 7,200 people attended First Look for Charity, helping to raise $1,701,012. The event is held the evening before the annual auto show opens its 10-day public run.

"First Look for Charity is a great instrument for the area's new-car dealers to show the positive impact they have on their community," said John Phelan, chairman of this year's auto show. "All the benefiting charities are involved locally, so the money that's raised in Chicago stays in Chicago."

As the name of the event implies, those who attend First Look for Charity are part of the premier viewing of each year's Chicago Auto Show. Tickets to the fund-raiser are $225 each, and purchasers can elect to have their proceeds equally benefit all participating charities, or any one charity for which they have an affinity. For the event, the auto show floor is replete with a variety of food and beverage stations.

A highlight of the evening this year was the drawing for a grand prize vehicle: a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover. This year's event awarded the Equinox to Curt Lundquist of Arlington Heights.

"I've never won a vehicle before, but I'm also very lucky in love," Lundquist said. When asked if the Equinox is more likely to be driven by him or his wife, Janice, Lundquist remarked, "What do you think?"

Proceeds of Lundquist's ticket benefited Clearbrook. The ticket purchaser is on the organization's board of directors. In all, 18 charities profited from the event.

Other organizations participating in the 2009 First Look for Charity include Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, Autism Speaks, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Campagna Academy, Cancer Health Alliance of Metropolitan Chicago, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Also, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet; Children's Memorial Hospital, Evans Scholars Foundation, Franciscan Community Benefit Services, and the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities.

And, Misericordia Heart of Mercy, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Spina Bifida Association of Illinois, St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation, St. Coletta's Foundation of Illinois, St. James Hospital & Health Centers, and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show runs Feb. 12-21. See www.chicagoautoshow.com for details.

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2009 - The Chicagoland Dealers Care program has joined with Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) member and dealer Jim Jennings to benefit the Advocate Health Care Adult Association for Down Syndrome Center.

At a presentation at the center adjoining Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, CATA Chairman Kevin Mize and Chevrolet dealer Jim Jennings presented a check to Dr. Brian Chicoine, attending physician for the center.

"The CATA's charitable activities go on far beyond our Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity event," said Mize. "By joining up with the generous contributions that Jim (Jennings) has made to this group, we help a very worthwhile organization. Both Jim's and my family have been touched by Down syndrome, so these dollars made available via Chicagoland Dealers Care are of particular note to both of us on behalf of our more than 500 area new-car dealers."

"There are just a handful of centers such as the one in Park Ridge," said Dr. Chicoine. "As Down Syndrome found both Kevin Mize and Jim Jennings, it found me via a family member. We've made such remarkable gains in the treatment and quality of life for Down syndrome patients, though. When my uncle was a boy his life expectancy was about ten years. Now the average life expectancy has risen to 56." 

"That's why contributions such as this are so important," continued the physician. "Conditions such as heart disease used to be the biggest problem, but now because of increased longevity we face other challenges. We so appreciate the efforts of Mr. Jennings and Chicagoland Dealers Care."

Dr. Chicoine-with only one other full-time MD and a short staff of social workers-not only see patients inside the center, but also makes numerous "van calls" where they will see patients in the vehicles in which they travel to the center.

"I'm proud that our charitable arm can help with this group," said Mize. "They do remarkable work here and deserve the assist."