Philanthropy

Carter Myers Automotive has been dedicated to helping others since our inception in 1924. We know the importance of human service organizations in our communities, and work hard to be a part of them. These groups benefit our neighbors, our friends, and our families. Here is just a sampling of the non-profits with which our dealerships are involved:

BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK
January 2015
Valley Subaru of Staunton, in conjunction with Subaru of America and their Share the Love event, presented a check for $18,000 to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. BRAFB is the largest organization alleviating hunger in Western and Central Virginia. The money raised with Valley's Share the Love event will provide 72,000 meals to hungry families in our area!

For more information, visit www.BRAFB.org.


BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
December 2014
Carter Myers Automotive made a $2500 donation in December to help support the Boys & Girls Clubs, including their work with teens and the "Safe Friday Night" initiative. They collaborate with the police foundation to provide Friday nights at the club to keep teens off the streets. The number of kids participating is fantastic! Volvo of Charlottesville is also sponsoring the organization's gala event, The Big Gig, on March 28th.

For more information, visit www.BGclubCVA.org.


WOMEN UNITED, TOGETHER IN PHILANTHROPY
November 2014
CMA is proud to support Women United, Together in Philanthropy by being a matching donor for their 2014 Human Services Grant Award Luncheon and an ongoing Corporate Member/Underwriter. CMA President and CEO, Liza Borches, is a Co-Founder. Women United has given 13 grants in 9 years to local non-profits serving women and children in the greater Charlottesville/Albemarle community. All of that has been accomplished through collective giving.

For more information, visit www.WomenUnitedCville.org.


BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
October 2014
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and some CMA stores joined the fight!
The Heritage Chevrolet team came out in full force for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Richmond. 32 employees and family members walked and spent the day raising awareness.

Volvo of Charlottesville partnered with the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. For every New Volvo test drive, VOC donated $20 to the cause. The team also wore “Go Pink for a Cure” shirts to help raise awareness.


NADA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
ONGOING
CMA has chosento honor family members and dealership employees by naming them Ambassadors of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation. These Ambassadors then select local non-profits to receive grants. Through this Foundation, CMA has awarded $26,500 in grants to organizations serving Central Virginia since 2003. This is in addition to all the other non-profits supported by our individual dealerships.


BLOOD DRIVES
ONGOING
In memory of longtime Heritage Chevrolet associate, Bill Moats, our dealerships hold blood drives throughout the year. We conduct these drives with Virginia Blood Services, the sole provider of blood to Central Virginia hospitals. In 2014, we held drives in all 3 cities where we have locations: Charlottesville, Richmond/Chester and Staunton.


TOY LIFT!
ONGOING
Tom Powell, retired Manager of ourQuickLaneservice atColonial Auto Center, began Toy Lift in 1988 when he decided to perch himself eighty feet up in a bucket truck in Charlottesville. He stayed there until people donated 1,000 toys, which Tom then distributed to local children in need. Toy Lift has now grown into a huge annual community event. Every December, Tom will climb the ladder and again ask the community to come together.

In 2013, CMA President, Liza Borches, pulled together all the Charlottesville car dealers and collected $15,000 for Toy Lift. That money was used to purchase bikes and toys for the kids. Pictured from left to right: Dave Fafara, President of Kids Lift Foundation, Tom Powell, Carter Myers, Ann Myers and Liza Myers Borches.


BRICKS FOR LEUKEMIA
ONGOING
Legos are not only fun for kids, they also can help people develop motor skills and improve dexterity. In December,Valley HondaandValley Volkswagencollect hundreds of Legos sets and other toys which Bricks for Leukemiadistributed to sick children at the Augusta Medical Center and UVA Children's Hospital.


CHRISTMAS MOTHER
ONGOING
One of the first things on a kids wish list is a new bike, and there are many families who can't afford them. This year, Colonial Honda collects dozens of bikes & helmets for local kids in need!


TOYS FOR TOTS
ONGOING
Every year, Heritage Chevrolet is an official dropoff location for the US Marine's Toys for Tots drive. This year, internet salesperson, Alexander Perry spearheaded the drive. Alex is an active reserve with the US Marines. He and the Heritage team collected enough bikes and boxes of toys to fill a truck!


PETERSBURG LIBRARY FOUNDATION
September 2013
The new Petersburg Library is being built on the same land where our first dealership, Petersburg Motor Company, was located. According to the Petersburg Library Foundation website: "A new library facility will provide valuable resources and services needed for the citizens of Petersburg including educational support initiatives for accreditation of schools, literacy programs to ensure that all children meet mandated guidelines for reading proficiency and community support programs that foster growth and continual exposure to information within the global society."


DRIVE FOR LIFE
ONGOING
Every year since Liza openedVolvo of Charlottesville, she and her team have heldDrive for Life. Inspired by Volvo's commitment to Alex's Lemonade Stand, every dollar raised duringDrive for Lifegoes towards pediatric cancer treatment and research at the UVA Children's Hospital. Volvo's 2013 Drive for Life included a Blood Drive and a Lemonade Stand at Fridays After 5!

CHARLOTTESVILLE'S PROMISE GALA
ONGOING
Carter Myers Automotive is proud to support the Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program, a unique public-private partnership established by the Charlottesville City Council in 2001. The Program works as an endowment fund with an annual scholarship pool for high school graduates who want to continue their education. Our very own Simona Holloway-Warren is on the Charlottesville's Promise Gala Committee.
Visit www.CvilleScholarship.com for details.

SWIFT CREEK MILL THEATRE
June 2013
This theatre is located in an historic building in South Chesterfield, VA. On the National Historic Registry, it was originally built as a grain mill in 1663. Since 1965 it has served as a theatre, providing the public with general and children's productions. CMA's CFO, Joan Goebel, is on the Board of Directors. She is pictured here on the far right next to CMA's Executive Chairman,H. Carter Myers III; Swift Creek's President, Julian Porter; CMA's President, Liza Myers Borches; and Swift Creek's Treasurer, Jimmy Hartson.

CYCLING FOR A CAUSE
Spring & Fall
Volvo of Charlottesville has created a cycling team specifically to benefit non-profits. Our team rides in two large events every year: The MS Tour de Vine and the Boys and Girls Club Cycling Challenge. Each year the team grows and raises more money for the charities. For more information or to join our cycling team, contact Joe Lombardo at (434) 295-4125 or jlombardo@VolvoCville.com.

GOLFING FOR GOOD
June4, 2012
On June 4, 2012, four CMA stores came together to support the Mac McDonald Invitational, benefitting the UVA Childrens's Hospital. Each Par 3 on the course gave players the opportunity to win a car.Colonial Auto Centerprovided a 2012GMC Acadia,Valley Honda a 2011 Honda Pilot,Valley VW a 2012 Volkswagen CC andVolvo of Charlottesville a 2012 S60. Unfortunately,none of the players got a hole-in-one so the cars came back home to us. But hopefully our participation raised the level of excitement and therefore more money for the Hospital!



GOLFING FOR GOOD
ONGOING
Two of our Richmond area stores,Colonial Honda and Heritage Chevrolet, are proud to be annual sponsors of the Highlands-Massey Classic. In its first five years, the tournament raised more than $1,000,000 for the VCU Massey Cancer Center. Massey is one of only 63 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers and is a leader in clinical trials for adult and pediatric cancer treatments.

VALLEY'S COMMUNITY DAY
July 2011
Last Summer, our two stores in Staunton, VA sponsored an all-day long event for the Valley.Valley Honda andValley Volkswagen invited everyone in the community to meet representatives of local healthcare, law enforcement and non-profit groups. The day included a blood drive with Virginia Blood Services and a Food Drive for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. In fact, if anyone brought at least 5 cans of food, they had ashot atone of our GM's (Scott Simons and Shawn Ayers pictured here) in the dunking booth! Look for this to become an annual event!

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS
ONGOING
Gateway Hyundai, one our Richmond area stores, is a proud participant in the Hyundai Hope On Wheels program. Since 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has been committed to fighting childhood cancer and has donated more than $43 million towards finding a cure.

 

 

 We are also involved with the local chapters of these and other organizations: