CHICAGOLAND DEALERS CARE

CHICAGO (Jan. 19, 2021) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, recently donated $1,500 to the Do It Stevie's Way Foundation. The donation came via the CATA's Chicagoland Dealers Care program in conjunction with a $4,000 donation by Tinley Park-based Apple Chevrolet. Through Chicagoland Dealers Care, the CATA matches up to $1,500 of a member dealer's donation to local charitable organizations.

The Do It Stevie's Way Foundation was started in 2010 by Mark and Karen Bajenski, Stevie's parents, after their son tragically died at age 17. The foundation identifies and directs its resources by teaching young men and women to do things the right way-Stevie's Way-within the classroom, communities, families and on the athletic fields. Based on these values, Do It Stevie's Way rewards numerous scholarships to kids of all ages on a yearly basis. The foundation also supports a variety of important initiatives ranging from suicide awareness to supporting other families who have lost children.  

"Our motto is 'Be a team player and make a difference every day,' just the way Stevie did," said Mark Bajenski. "The foundation doesn't support just one specific mission. Instead, it promotes helping children lead their best lives so then, hopefully one day, those children will also become team players and help future generations once they're able."

"Do It Stevie's Way has given me a new purpose in life, which is to give back and teach important lessons," Bajenski concluded.

Apple Chevrolet Dealer Principal John Alfirevich has helped support and champion Do It Stevie's Way since the foundation was started 11 years ago.  

"This foundation is unique in that is supports a variety of missions that represent Stevie's character; it doesn't just focus on one effort," said Alfirevich. "Giving is receiving in my world, and this cause is very near and dear to my heart." 

Because dealerships are closely weaved into the fabric of their local communities, many individuals and organizations turn to them in a time of need. The CATA has been a longtime supporter of local nonprofit organizations like the Do It Stevie's Way Foundation. Since its inception in 2008, the grassroots Chicagoland Dealers Care program has donated more than $120,000 to local charitable organizations. Additionally, since 1992, the association has raised more than $56 million for significant Chicago-area charities during the annual First Look for Charity black-tie event, traditionally held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public.  

"The CATA's Chicagoland Dealers Care program not only helps stretch our member's donation dollars for wonderful organizations like this foundation, but it also shines a spotlight on new-car dealers' positive impact within their communities," said CATA Chairman Kevin Keefe. "We applaud local dealers like Apple Chevrolet for their very generous contributions to their community and helping those in need."

To learn more about the Do It Stevie's Way Foundation, visit www.doitsteviesway219.com. 

CHICAGO (Nov. 10, 2020) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, just wrapped its month-long fundraising campaign - USO Barbecue for the Troops - to raise funds and awareness for the USO of Illinois. Throughout the entire month of October, local new-car dealers led the charge to raise funds to support local military and their families by hosting socially distant Barbecue for the Troops fundraisers and encouraging online donations.

The new-car dealers' USO Barbecue for the Troops initiative is traditionally held each July and features large community festivals with patriotic ceremonies. However, this year, the CATA and USO of Illinois made the collective decision to reschedule 2020's July fundraising campaign to October due to the pandemic. Still, nearly 60 CATA dealerships rallied around the cause that directly impacts local servicemembers. Since the program's inception in 2013, the area's new-car dealers have brought in more than $950,000 to support USO of Illinois initiatives with more than 630 unique fundraisers taking place. These funds enable the USO of Illinois to lend support to more than 350,000 service members and their families on an annual basis. 

"While this year is certainly unique, not even a global pandemic could stand in the way of local new-car dealers' drive to give back to those in need, right within their local communities," said CATA Chairman Kevin Keefe. "Furthermore, we found that people really rallied around the cause because it directly impacts local military who have been serving on the homefront in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as around the world."

"We are truly grateful for the support we have received from our partners at the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, the local new-car dealerships and our hometown communities," said USO of Illinois Executive Director Christopher Schmidt. "For the eighth consecutive year, the CATA dealers have rallied to help raise funds for our local service members and their families. Our sincere thanks to everyone who stepped up to support the USO of Illinois and those that we serve, especially during these unprecedented times."   

Awareness was also spread through social media through the #BBQ4Troops Ultimate At-Home Barbecue contest. The CATA and USO of Illinois encouraged fans to nominate someone deserving of the grand prize, a $150 Real Urban Barbecue catered meal, at-home grilling essentials and a signed hockey puck by hometown hero Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane. 

The social media contest winner was selected, Joy and Dan Symonds, a husband and wife team who founded Operation LOVE (acronym for "Love Our Veterans Elgin") Our Veterans, based out of Elgin, Illinois. The mission of Operation LOVE is to honor "unclaimed" veterans at their funerals, connect volunteers with Elgin-area veterans in need and strengthen existing local veterans' service organizations by promoting their events, volunteer opportunities and fundraisers. 

"We are so thankful to the local dealerships and the USO of Illinois for this great recognition of Operation LOVE," commented Operation LOVE Co-Founder Joy Symonds. "We're blessed to have a strong community committed to serving and honoring our country's true heroes, our veterans."

CHICAGO (November 5, 2020) - Antioch-based Raymond Auto Group covered $20,000 towards a 2020 Chevrolet Express Cargo van for local food pantry Open Arms Mission. Open Arms Mission recently received $20,000 from the Lake Cares "Unmet Needs" grant and the dealership jumped at the opportunity to cover the remaining $20,000. 

Open Arms Mission provides daily living necessities-such as food and toiletries-to individuals and families in need while encouraging self-sufficiency. The food pantry has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to serve its community, making health and safety adjustments such as offering a drive-thru distribution to eliminate indoor face-to-face contact. Since last spring, Open Arms Mission has actually distributed more food-especially to families with children-in an effort to ease food insecurities during the pandemic.

"Raymond Auto Group has served Antioch and surrounding towns for 60 years, and is committed to being there when our community needs a little help," said Mark Scarpelli, president of Raymond Auto Group. "This case is no exception."  

Raymond Auto Group has partnered with Open Arms Mission for the last decade on various projects to help those in need right within the Antioch community. 

"Our philosophy has always been neighbor helping neighbor, and we feel blessed that Raymond Auto Group stepped up to help us meet the needs of community members who are food insecure," said Open Arms Mission Executive Director Marytherese Ambacher. "The van will be utilized to pick up reclaimed food and donations from local grocery stores as well as to deliver food to homebound neighbors." 

Local new-car dealers are perfectly positioned to come to the aid of their communities. The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the area's new-car dealer association, has been a longtime supporter of local non-profit organizations. The CATA has donated more than $100,000 to local charitable organizations through its Chicagoland Dealers Care program, launched by Mark Scarpelli in 2008 when he was chairman of the CATA. The Chicagoland Dealers Care program helps expand on CATA members' donations and shine a spotlight on new-car dealers' positive impact within their communities.

For more information on Raymond Auto Group and the CATA, visit RaymondDeals.com and CATA.info, respectively. To learn more about Open Arms Mission, please visit OpenArmsMission.org.

CHICAGO (July. 27, 2020) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, donated $1,500 to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. The donation came in conjunction with Hyundai of Palatine and the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, an initiative that matches CATA dealer member donations of up to $1,500 for local charitable organizations. 

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy was formed five years ago by the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce to help coach middle and high school aged children on how to build and run their own businesses. In September of each year, students have the opportunity to apply to a 25-week program that accepts only 30 students. Each student is paired with a personal mentor who works with them every step of the way through the final phase of forming a business plan. 

"When Hyundai of Palatine first submitted the Young Entrepreneurs Academy's Chicagoland Dealers Care application to the CATA, we took one look at it and said 'This is right within our wheelhouse,'" commented CATA Chairman Kevin Keefe. "The concept is wonderful, arming these young students with the education and resources for them to build and run their own businesses."

Similar to ABC's hit show "Shark Tank," these students have the chance to pitch their business ideas to local business leaders and investors. One student qualifies each year to present at a national level in Rochester, New York, in front of a panel of judges at the end of the program. All students are pledged some funding to launch their business, and some have even reaped the benefits of receiving offers from local investors. 

"To think that these young students are receiving legitimate offers from major investors is incredible," said Steven Gaus, Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. "We are so thankful for local businesses like Hyundai of Palatine and organizations such as the CATA who help fund our programming so these students can achieve these extraordinary goals."  

"As a business owner myself, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to help these young students who have similar passions," said Hyundai of Palatine/Leader Auto Group President Tamara Darvish. "The Young Entrepreneurs Academy does tremendous work within the Palatine community, and we're committed to continuing to support their efforts."

The CATA has been a longtime supporter of local nonprofit organizations like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Since its inception in 2008, the Chicagoland Dealers Care program has donated more than $100,000 to local charitable organizations supported by new-car dealers. Additionally, since 1992, the association has raised more than $56 million for significant Chicago-area charities during the annual First Look for Charity black-tie event, held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public. 

CHICAGO (July. 27, 2020) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, donated $1,500 to Children at the Crossroads Foundation. The donation came in conjunction with Elgin Toyota and the Chicagoland Dealers Care program, an initiative that matches CATA dealer member donations of up to $1,500 for local charitable organizations. 

Children at the Crossroads Foundation, based in Chicago, was created in 1990 on the belief that economic circumstances should not predict the future. Chicago's former first lady Maggie Daley founded the Frances Xavier Warde School in 1989 with the vision that it would be would be a place where all families would embrace and accept each other's faiths, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Her goal was to have 30% of the school's students benefit from financial assistance, a hope that became a reality in 1990 with the inception of Children at the Crossroads Foundation.

Now, 30 years later, Children at the Crossroads Foundation has changed the lives of more than 700 children and has provided more than $15 million in financial aid. The foundation has not wavered in its commitment to provide opportunity, support and hope to the more than 80 children who receive financial aid annually.

"We applaud the Children at the Crossroads Foundation for its tremendous work to help enrich these young students' lives," said CATA Chairman Kevin Keefe. "The CATA's Chicagoland Dealers Care program not only helps stretch our member dealers' dollars a little further for wonderful organizations like this foundation, but it also helps shine a spotlight on new-car dealers' positive impact within their communities." 

Specifically, Elgin Toyota has been a supporter of Children at the Crossroads Foundation for five years.

"I was hooked on its mission from the first moment I attended one of the foundation's fundraising events," said Bob Loquercio, president and CEO of the Bob Loquercio Auto Group. "I knew I had to get involved, and here I am, five years later." 

"We're so humbled by Bob Loquercio Auto Group's generosity as well as the contribution from the area's new-car dealer association, the CATA," said Children at the Crossroads Director of Advancement Sarah Frick.

The CATA has been a longtime supporter of local nonprofit organizations like Children at the Crossroads. Since its inception in 2008, the Chicagoland Dealers Care program has donated more than $100,000 to local charitable organizations supported by new-car dealers. Additionally, since 1992, the association has raised more than $56 million for significant Chicago-area charities during the annual First Look for Charity black-tie event, held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public. 

CHICAGO (July. 27, 2020) - To help fulfill the holiday dreams of less fortunate children, Fox Lake-based Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has partnered with Jeeps on the Run (JOTR), a local Jeep enthusiast club and the largest donating group to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program in Lake County, Illinois. On Sunday, Dec. 6, more than 600 Jeeps are anticipated to participate in the 25-mile, fully escorted JOTR caravan that kicks off at the Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership and culminates at the historic Genesee Theatre where Jeep owners will offload their Toys for Tots donations to the U.S. Marine Corps.

"I started Jeeps on the Run eight years ago as a family-oriented Jeep enthusiast club, but it has since turned into a non-for-profit organization that gives back to charitable organizations all year long," said JOTR President Mike Missak. "Over the past seven years, Jeeps on the Run has donated more than $550,000 to Toys for Tots, both in toys and monetary donations. While this year is unique, the support from our community is stronger than ever, and we are taking COVID-19 precautions into consideration to ensure the health and safety for all involved." 

JOTR is encouraging people to pre-register for the event as registration will not be accepted onsite. The event registration fee is $20 and those who purchase a raffle ticket, also $20, will automatically be entered to win one of two prizes that Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has donated: a three-year lease on a 2021 Jeep Wrangler and a complimentary lift kit for a Jeep owner. 
"Perhaps now more than ever, our community needs all the support they can get," said Ray Scarpelli Jr., owner of Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Ray Chevrolet. "When I first learned more about Jeeps on the Run and the organization's commitment to bringing smiles to the faces of young children, it was a no-brainer for us to participate. We look forward to our first year as the event's primary sponsor, and want to encourage our community to get involved in any way possible."  

Because dealerships are closely weaved 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 also been a longtime supporter of local non-profit organizations. The CATA has donated more than $100,000 to local charitable organizations through its Chicagoland Dealers Care program, which helps expand on CATA members' donations and shine a spotlight on new-car dealers' positive impact within their communities.

For more information on Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram or the CATA, visit www.raycdjr.com and www.cata.info, respectively. To learn more about Jeeps on the Run, visit www.jeepsontherun.com.

CHICAGO (May 18, 2020) - The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the area's new-car dealer association, presented the 2020 Spirit of Carol Cooling Scholarship to a John Hersey High School senior, Kathryn Costello, this week. The CATA established the Spirit of Carol Cooling Scholarship-a $1,000 grant, now in its seventh year-to honor Carol Cooling, a Hersey alumna and long-time NBC 5 Chicago Special Events Director who died in 2013 following a battle with cancer.

As the producer of the Chicago Auto Show, the CATA worked closely with Cooling and NBC 5 to help facilitate the station's live TV specials that garnered several Emmy Awards over the years. When Cooling died, CATA leadership knew they wanted to help contribute to a cause that would enable her spirit to live on.

"What better way to pay tribute to a remarkable woman than to have her legacy live on through a scholarship program that helps young students further their education to set them up for success," said David Sloan, CATA president and Chicago Auto Show general manager. "John Webb, our board chairman at the time, presented this wonderful idea to honor our friend Carol."

The Hersey High School scholarship committee selected Costello as the recipient of the Spirit of Carol Cooling Scholarship because she embodies many of the characteristics also used to describe Cooling. Attributions such as "determined, mature, energetic, positive and motivated" are commonly used by Costello's teachers and peers.

Hersey Assistant Principal John Novak said that Costello was an "exceptional choice for the award" as she's heavily involved in a number of activities both inside and outside of school. 

"We are very excited to have Kathryn Costello chosen as this year's recipient of the Spirit of Carol Cooling Scholarship," said Novak. "Kathryn's energy and spirit are what sets her apart from her peers. She performed hundreds of service work hours through our 'Service Over Self' program, all while taking a very solid academic schedule."

"We would like to once again thank the Chicago Automobile Trade Association for honoring Carol's memory by awarding this scholarship to a deserving Hersey student," Novak continued. 

Costello will graduate from Hersey High School with a highest honors distinction and then attend the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall to study neuroscience. Costello will apply her scholarship money to her education where she looks forward to studying the adolescent brain.

"I'm extremely grateful to receive this award to not only further my college education, but also continue the spirit of Carol Cooling," commented Costello. "Carol was a person of positivity, and I think as we face a difficult time, it's important to grasp onto positivity. Even in what seems to be powerless situations, we always have power over one thing: our emotions. Our attitudes, our thoughts, our feelings are all choices, so why not choose to be positive, choose to be hopeful?" 

Hersey High School students will have the chance to apply for the Spirit of Carol Cooling Scholarship again next year. 

CHICAGO (April 21, 2020) - Chicagoland's new-car dealers are perfectly positioned to provide vital and essential transportation services and also to come to the aide of their communities during this crisis. While most dealers are open for service and sales by appointment, many are doing so much more. Here's a rundown of just a few of the altruistic activities taking place at Chicago's new-car dealers. 

​Advantage Toyota of River Oaks- Since the start of the pandemic, Advantage Toyota of River Oaks is donating 50 grocery bags bimonthly — filled with groceries, toilet paper, face masks and more — to people in need within its community. Additionally, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, on May 22 and May 23, Advantage Toyota of River Oaks will be hosting events at its dealership where they’re inviting the community to donate items to people in need. The dealership will also donate a total of 50 filled grocery bags as a part of this initiative. 

Apple Chevrolet - Apple Chevrolet is offering free vehicle sanitizing for emergency personnel, first responders and medical personnel working on the front lines to defeat COVID-19.

Arlington Heights Ford - Arlington Heights Ford has donated food for everyone at the front lines of this crisis including doctors and nurses. The dealership is a true leader giving back to their community.  

Bill Stasek Chevrolet - Bill Stasek Chevrolet is helping make local kids’ birthdays one to remember by offering a free Birthday Car Parade. The dealership is decking out vehicles and bringing the fun (safely) to people in their community. Just tell them the date and time, and they’ll be there. 

Bob Loquercio Auto Group  Bob Loquercio Auto Group is loaning its time and resources during this pandemic to support first responders and medical teams around the city of Chicago and suburbs. Dealership personnel have graciously delivered meals to the emergency room staff at Rush and University of Illinois hospitals. They’ve also been focused on keeping police and fire crews safe by delivering thousands of much-needed N95 masks to several districts and departments of the Chicago Police as well as Streamwood Police, Elgin and South Elgin Police and Fire. 

Fox Valley Auto Group  Emir Abinion, founder of Fox Valley Auto Group, partnered with Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and the nonprofit Cal’s Angels to facilitate the loaning of vehicles to nurses on the front lines of the crisis who need a way of getting to and from work. Fox Valley Auto Group sanitizes the vehicles prior to loaning them out; everything is free of charge. 

Gary Lang Auto Group- Gary Lang Auto Group is doing a number of things to ensure the safety and well-being of those in their community. First, they’re offering first responders and anyone in the medical community free oil changes and tire rotations with pick up and drop off of their vehicles to their home or place of employment. They are also covering customers’ first payment when they purchase a new vehicle so they don’t have any payments for 150 days. Secondly, the dealership has partnered with the Rise Up Foundation to deliver essential items to their senior neighbors in their county who may not be able to go to the store. Thirdly, they are donating 50,000 gloves and 2,500 N-85 masks to the City of McHenry to be distributed to critical care providers. In addition, they are offering no-charge sanitization of these workers’ vehicles using PermaSafe. This PermaSafe perpetual antimicrobial surface and air protection system kills 99.99 percent of harmful bacteria and viruses, makes treated surfaces virtually self-sanitizing and can last and remain effective indefinitely inside the vehicle. Finally, the dealership just received a shipment of 20-gallon jugs of hand sanitizer which will be distributed to different segments around the city.

Hawk Auto Group - In March, Hawk Auto Group donated thousands of gloves, masks, respirators and body suits to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. 

Mazda Dealers - Local Mazda dealers are providing healthcare workers free oil changes and enhanced vehicle cleaning.

McGrath Auto Group - McGrath Auto Group donated 50,000 medical gloves to Central DuPage Hospital in March. The dealership is also currently working on getting ahold on medical shields for local hospitals. 

Ray Chevrolet and Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram  These Fox Lake based dealerships are offering free vehicle sanitizing to police vehicles within their communities. The dealerships are also providing free oil changes to first responders to thank them for their service. Additionally, as a way to spread joy to the community it has served for more than 60 years, the dealerships bought out the community drive-in theater, McHenry Outdoor Theater, for its opening night. A total of 400 families have their experience paid for, and the local theater now has the revenue to hopefully continue to do business throughout the season (as its business was in jeopardy). 

Subaru Dealers - Local Subaru dealers are donating to three local food banks that will benefit from Subaru’s national Feeding America initiative. Those food banks include: The Northern Illinois Food Bank, The Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. A total of 1,476,274 meals will be distributed by these food banks to Chicagoland residents in need.  

Taylor Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram - David Taylor, dealer Principal of Taylor Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Bourbonnais, decided to make life a bit easier for the frontline healthcare workers at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee. Last week, Taylor took their mobile service unit to the hospital campus and provided oil changes and inspections, free of charge, to Riverside employees. Riverside workers are working overtime and putting themselves on the front line in order to help stop the pandemic. 

CHICAGO (April. 10, 2020) - Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), recently donated $15,000 to Illinois Broadcasters Uniting Against Hunger in response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

For complete coverage of the donation, click here: https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-broadcasters-association-coronavirus-covid-19-john-idler/6049269/. 

CHICAGO (Feb. 7, 2020) – Eighteen area charities tonight shared more than $2.8 million raised by the 2020 Chicago Auto Show's benevolent event, First Look for Charity, and one attendee left with the keys to a new vehicle.

The black-tie benefit, which is held the evening before the auto show opens its 10-day public run, raised $2,812,016, boosting its total raised to more than $56 million over 29 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 Tony Guido, 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 fundraiser are $275 each, and purchasers can elect to have their proceeds equally benefit all participating charities, or any one charity of their choosing. For the event, the auto show floor is replete with live entertainment and a variety of exquisite food and beverage stations.

A highlight of the evening was the drawing for the event's grand prize, this year a 2020 Ford Explorer ST. After the five-minute allowance for a winner to match the first ticket stub drawn expired, Mychel Watts of Calumet Park, in south suburban Cook County, screamed that she'd matched the second number even before the countdown clock began ticking.

"I'm feeling in shock," she said afterward. "I came alone tonight. All my friends declined to go and I said 'To heck with you all, I'm going.'"

Watts directed the proceeds of her ticket purchase to benefit all the event's charities. Wintrust, the Chicago Auto Show's official bank sponsor, gave her a $250 gift card.

This year's beneficiaries included the 100 Club of Chicago, Advocate Health Care, the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Also, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Clearbrook, Franciscan Community Benefit Services, Habitat for Humanity, JDRF, Susan G. Komen Chicago, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and Lydia Home & Safe Families for Children.

And, Misericordia, New Star, Special Olympics Illinois, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

The Explorer was compliments of Ford Motor Co. and the Chicagoland Ford Dealers Association.

The 2020 Chicago Auto Show runs from Feb. 8-17 and is open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the final day, Monday, Feb. 17, Presidents Day.

For more information on the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com. For high resolution photos and b-roll, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com/media/online-newsroom-gallery.