Monthly Archives: January 2020

Road to a Better Community – Remembering The Foxtrappe

Community,

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are kicking off 2020 in a major way! They recently partnered up for their first Road to a Better Community segment of the year. A local photographer by the name of Don Baker has captured the history of Washington D.C. and is on a mission to preserve it for future generations. He has had the pleasure of snapping photos of athletes, musicians, and politicians over his 40 years of being a photographer. Baker’s love for photos inspired him to turn his art into a documentary that he is working on called “The Trappe”. It will be a look back at the famous Foxtrappe which was private black night club in Washington D.C residing at 1601 R St. NW. After the 1968 riots in DC, the Foxtrappe became a place where African Americans could go to enjoy themselves and have fun. Members of the Congress had their own room where they could also discuss business. This was the go to spot for many celebrities and elite as well. Baker is determined to showcase the impact that this now famous club had on the city of Washington. He feels that a documentary would be the perfect form of preservation so that the legacy, memories, and stories can continue to be passed down and shared.

“The Trappe” has been 10 years in the making so Baker created a Go Fund Me to help fund this passion project. He was able to raise $7,500 of his $10,000 goal. This was until Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 decided to come together and give Baker the surprise of a lifetime. WUSA 9 cameras captured Joel Bassam presenting Baker with a $3,000 check on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group. With Baker’s goal now complete, he will be able to finish his documentary and share the wonderful history and culture of Washington D.C. with the entire world.

To learn more about Easterns Automotive Group’s partnership with WUSA 9 and how they come together to empower the DMV community, please visit

www.wusa9.com/BetterCommunity

Pay It Forward – Project Opportunity

Community,

We hope that the first few days of 2020 are going great for all of you! Before 2019 ended, Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC came together to help teen parents by participating in a local diaper drive. When you are strapped for cash and trying to finish school every little bit helps. Fairfax County Public School system created the Project Opportunity program at Bryant High School in Alexandria, VA for this exact reason. Being able to help the students with diapers takes off stress and allows them to be more focused in school. Many children in the program are very adamant about overcoming adversity and showing their children that they too can overcome anything.
Cory Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised the Project Opportunity partners live on Fox 5 DC with snacks and gift cards but the giving didn?t stop there. Several cases of diapers were donated to the Fox 5 Diaper Drive on behalf of Easterns as well. These will all go to the students and hopefully make their winter months a little bit easier. We encourage you all to give back if possible. Not only does it feel great to do but you have the ability to impact so many people and children in need. If you would like to learn more about the Fox 5 Diaper Drive or find diaper drop off locations, please click here.

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.

Pay It Forward – Project Linus

Community


Happy New Year everyone! 2019 was a great year and the support from you all made it even better.? December was a busy month for Easterns.? However, it was important to share the latest Pay It Forward with Fox 5 DC.? The special non-profit that they decided to help is called Project Linus which was brought to their attention by Sara Gorfinkel.? Project Linus provides homemade blankets to children in need.? Gorfinkel began her affiliation with the brand two years ago when she made blankets with her children to donate.? It was then she realized that there were no local chapters in her area.? The nearest Project Linus was over 30 minutes away.? In that moment she realized that it was her to change that.? Gorfinkel reached out to the national office and let them know that she was interested starting a chapter in Montgomery County, MD.? They connected her with another woman from the area, Carol Lichtenstein.? Together they formed the Montgomery County chapter for Project Linus.? Volunteers began pouring in and it truly made them a force to be reckoned with.

Since they started in 2017, the two have had tremendous success by donating over 3,000 blankets to sick and traumatized children across the region.? Project Linus would not be possible without the volunteer organizations that purchase all the materials needed to make the blankets.? They then provide instructions and blankets to make the templates to volunteers to complete.? The finished blankets get distributed to those in need.? Some of those places include shelters and hospitals in the area.

Gorfinkel and some of her volunteers gave a blanket tutorial on Fox 5 Pay it Forward.? The lovely blankets take about a half hour to make and are great quality.? Joel Bassam surprised them live on air by donating 144 yards of fleece on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group.? This will them make plenty of blankets to kick off 2020.?? If you would like to learn more about Project Linus and how you can either donate or volunteer, please visit www.projectlinus.org.

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.