Monthly Archives: January 2019

Robert Bassam & Easterns Autmomotive Group named 2019 Maryland State Quality Dealer of the Year presented by MidAtlantic IADA

Award, Easterns Automotive


 

Read the Full Article Here:?https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=564352#

 

MidAtlantic Independent Automotive Dealers Association?(IADA) recently named Robert Bassam?s company Easterns Automotive Group the 2019 Maryland Quality Dealer of the Year. This is such a prestigious honor! Many don?t know that Easterns started as just an idea Bassam had as a young man. He literally started from the bottom and worked his way up to where he is now with over 300 employees across 7 dealerships in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Easterns is truly light years ahead of the car dealer competition due to the innovation at their corporate facility in Sterling, VA. Every day staff works to turnaround between 30-40 vehicles that are ready for sale. Employees at Easterns really work together as a team despite the department that they work in. They understand that the goal is to sell high quality vehicles.
Throughout the years, Easterns went through several changes due to the economy. In 2008, Easterns had 17 locations across the area and Bassam decided it was best to downsize. The goal was to have less dealerships but convert the remaining small dealerships into larger super centers in the right locations to command customers. The internet also played a huge role in the growth of Easterns. Easterns.com has over 1,000 vehicles that are available to all customers despite the specific location. For example, if a customer likes a vehicle at the Laurel, MD store but their nearest store is Temple Hills, MD Easterns staff will have the vehicle transferred free of cost. After their purchase, customers are able to leave reviews online based on their Easterns car buying experience. This also helps potential customers when deciding on a dealer because they will see that Easterns has a 4.9 out of 5 rating and specializes in providing excellent customer service.
Many know Easterns from the early 2000 jingle commercials that have featured players from the Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards, and Baltimore Ravens. These commercials still garner attention on social media and still often go viral to this day. However, Easterns has another audience that is familiar with their philanthropy in the community. Easterns works with both Fox 5 DC and WUSA 9 on segments that are geared to helping individuals or organizations in need. Recently, Easterns stepped up to the plate to donate $10,000 a week to two Loudoun County food banks until the end of the government shutdown. The shutdown left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay. Bassam always does his best to make sure Easterns is present in the community that has supported his brand for over 30 years.

 

 

Pay It Forward – Fox 5 Diaper Drive Donation

Community,

Late post! A few days before 2018 came to a close; Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) joined Fox 5 DC for their Diaper Drive Donation.? Fox 5 DC asked businesses in the area to contribute or donate what they could so they could provide diapers to families in need with babies.? Many times as people we think about adults living in poverty but not always the affects it has on small children.? Due to the lack of diaper supply, babies are often left in dirty diapers causing various infections, skin aliments, and rashes.? Diapers also unfortunately cost more in low-income neighborhoods where they should in fact be cheaper.? The issue is that those areas don?t always have wholesale department stores where diapers can be purchased in bulk.

 

Fox 5 DC partnered with Horton?s Kids and the Greater DC Diaper Bank to make sure all donations and diapers goes directly to the babies affected by the lack of supplies.? When Fox 5 DC reached out to Easterns, they didn?t hesitate to get involved.? Joel Bassam of Easterns met Allison Seymour in Washington D.C. at the diaper drive to present Horton?s Kids with a $1,500 check.? That wasn?t all, Joel then walked Allison to an SUV full of diapers!

Please take some time to learn more about Horton?s Kids and the Greater DC Diaper Bank to find out more and learn how you too can get involved.

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

?

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

 

Link to original post

Road To A Better Community – SMYAL

Community,

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 recently got together to do their very first edition of their Road to a Better Community segment for 2019.? Easterns and WUSA 9 have such a unique relationship because their intentions always line up when it comes to giving back and helping others.? They found an amazing Washington D.C. based nonprofit that specializes in helping LGBTQ youth in the area.? The organization, SMYAL is short for Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League.? SMYAL brings LGBTQ youth together through their afterschool programs and leadership development opportunities.? They also offer counseling services to youth because they understand the importance of mental health and making sure the teens go on to prosper in the real world.? Many LGBTQ youth often feel isolated and alone with nobody to relate to so SMYAL also offers housing to teens in need.? SMYAL is there to be a safe space for them to be understood, loved, and appreciated.? The nonprofit offers a scholarship program to recent high school graduates that can be used at their discretion.

Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing for Easterns presented SMYAL with a check for $2,500 to help with their incredible organization.? This money will help them to cover the costs of their services needed to keep SYMAL going.? WUSA 9 and Easterns are no strangers to giving back to the LGBTQ youth.? Just a few months ago, the pair donated to the Latin American Youth Center in Washington D.C.? If you would like to learn more about SMYAL, the services that they provide, and how you too can get involved, please click here.

 

To learn more about how WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group helps organizations through the Road to a Better Community partnership, please click here.

 

 

Link to the original post

Pay It Forward: La Cocina VA

Community

Happy New Year! We hope that everyone is having a good start to the year despite all the craziness going on in the world.? To those affected by the government shutdown, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.? In fact, Easterns Automotive Group announced that they will be donating $10,000 each week to two local Loudoun County food banks until the shutdown is over.? The overall goal is to help feed all the families that are currently without pay.? Being a part of the community for over 30 years, giving back is a huge part of Easterns? DNA.

Easterns and Fox 5 DC recently had their very first Pay It Forward collaboration for 2019.? The two became aware of a Northern Virginia woman by the name of Patricia Funegra.? She was working for an international development agency in Washington D.C. where she quit her job because she realized her passion was to impact her community.? This decision birthed her nonprofit organization called La Cocina VA.? Their mission is to create opportunities for social and economic change through feeding, educating, and empowering the minds of the community.? La Cocina VA has a Culinary Training Program where they teach those unemployed the necessary skills and knowledge they need to work in the food service industry.? They also have a Food Assistance Program where they help low income families have access to more healthy and affordable food options. ?The bigger picture is that there is power in food that can generate opportunities and create social and economic change.

Funegra is doing such amazing work in the community with LA Cocina VA that Easterns and Fox 5 DC decided to surprise them.? Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing for Easterns Automotive Group presented La Cocina VA with a $1,000 check to contribute to all of their expenses.? He also gifted the students with cast-ironed pots, recipe books, and $50 gift cards.? The holidays may be over but the giving certainly doesn?t stop!

Please click here and take some time out of your day to learn more about La Cocina VA. Find out how you can invest, donate, or volunteer if you would like to be a part of their amazing family.

 

 

If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that goes above and beyond the call and is worthy of being recognized, Click here to nominate them.

?

Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.

Link to original post

Easterns Supports Loudoun County Federal Workers In Government Shutdown

Community

It has been nearly a month that the government has been shut down for issues regarding politics.? This has unfortunately left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay.? The entire country is in an uproar because federal employees are still expected to work while they have no clue when they will receive their income.? Though this is a tremendous tragedy, life certainly does not stop.? In the meantime, people still have to live, pay bills, and support their families.? Easterns Automotive Group, headquartered in Sterling, Virginia has always been a company that steps up to the plate to help the members of the DMV community (DC, Maryland, and Virginia).? This government shutdown issue is no different.

 

Easterns Director of Marketing Joel Bassam collaborated with his father CEO Robert Bassam on ways they could give back and help the many families affected during such a hard time.? The two came up with the idea to donate $10,000 each week to both Loudoun Hunger Relief and Dulles South Food Pantry.? Both are local food banks located in Loudoun County, Virginia.? This will continue until the shutdown is brought to an end.? Unfortunately, the shutdown has caused many people to run out of money which in turn has lead to not being able to eat or provide food for their families.? An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 federal workers live in Loudoun so this will definitely be a start to help people out.? Easterns also donated $5,000 to that Capital Area Food Bank which is a member of Feeding America that responds to hunger in the Washington, DC metro area.? We want to encourage everyone that is facing tough times to stay strong. Please keep hope alive and remember that this won?t last forever!

 

DONATE: If you are looking to donate to any of these incredible organizations, please visit: Loudoun Hunger Relief, Dulles South Food Pantry, or Capital Area Food Bank.

RECEIVE SERVICES: If you are looking to receive services during this government shutdown, please visit: Loudoun Hunger Relief, Dulles South Food Pantry, or Capital Area Food Bank.