With NADA showing the way, state and metro dealer associations have pledged nearly $2 million as of last week to the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundationês Emergency Relief Fund to help meet the financial needs of dealership employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
NADA announced last Friday that it has pledged up to $1 million to the fund, with another $1 million contributed by dealers associations around the country, including a major donation from WANADA.
As with the 9/11 tragedy, WANADA has formulated a plan to organize Washington area dealers in the nationês hurricane relief efforts, WANADA Chairman Dennis O. Rippeon said in a recent letter encouraging association members to match that effort.
Following 9/11, WANADA was able to organize dealer donations in excess of $100,000, which, in conjunction with NADAês Charitable Foundation, went to Pentagon victims assistance groups. Additionally, Washington area dealers contributed another $150,000 to assorted 9/11 relief efforts, for a total contribution of $1/4 million.
To dealers nationwide, NADA Chairman Jack Kain said, We are determined to help our fellow dealers and their families in the Gulf region who have suffered so much from the devastation of KatrinaÄWe’re especially grateful to be part of an industry that is showing its compassion across the country to help those in need.
NADA reports that some state and metro associations are taking additional creative steps to raise funds, such as designating a portion of sales to emergency relief, providing vehicles in needy areas and serving as drop-off and distribution centers for relief agency supplies. California, for example, is asking each dealership employee throughout the state to contribute $10 to the fund and Chicago is matching dealership employee contributions up to $125,000.
Locally, Sheehy Auto Stores raised tens of thousands of dollars for victims bydonating $100 to the American Red Cross for every vehicle sold over Labor Day weekend, according to NADA.
Because NADA is picking up the administration costs, the association reminds dealers that every penny of every dollar contributed to the Foundation Relief Fund will go directly to help dealership employees.
Beyondits fundraising efforts, NADA is taking a series of actions to help dealer members impacted by Katrina to get back on their feet. These include:
à Communicating closely with both domestic and international auto manufacturers to share ideas on the best ways to help impacted dealers.
à Membership dues and 20 Group dues have been suspended for dealers in the affected areas.
à The National Automobile Dealers Association Retirement Trust (NADART) has streamlined processes for impacted participants and plan sponsors.
à The N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Co. is providing free guide books and/or additional web lookups and e-Valuator for Dealers CDs as a courtesy to affected dealers, as well as extending existing payment schedules.
AIADA also has launched Emergency Relief Auto Jobs, a program with the aim of matching retail automobile salespeople, technicians and related personnel displaced by Hurricane Katrina with temporary jobs at international nameplate auto dealerships. Job seekers can contact AIADA with their job history and contact information and AIADA will match their qualifications with openings submitted by AIADA members. Job seekers and those with job openings are encouraged to contact AIADAês Emergency Relief Auto Jobs by e-mailing autojobs@aiada.org or by calling (800) GO-AIADA. AIADA anticipates launching an online job bank this week.
WANADA is also working with NADA to relocate displaced gulf coast dealer personnel to Washington area dealerships. Early estimates are that Hurricane Katrina likely damaged more than 200 dealerships and displaced 7,000 dealership employeesin Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
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