Monthly Archives: November 2020

Pay It Forward – Here For A Reason

Uncategorized,

 

There is no doubt that Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group have been doing everything in their power to assist those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.? They are always looking for people and organizations who are going above and beyond to help those in need.? A nonprofit that is doing an incredible job of this is called Here for A Reason.? This organization focuses on providing educational and financial assistance to individuals living with a disability or a rare condition.? Their vision is to completely eliminate the financial impact that is tied to one?s medical condition due to limited resources and guidelines associated with health insurance.? Melanie Oates is both the founder and Executive Director of Here for A Reason.? Oates developed a passion for helping families of special needs children because she has a special needs child herself.

As a single mother of twins, Oates is committed to doing everything she can to assist them.? She even had to quit her job due to her twins needing 24-hour supervision.? This decision caused a huge financial strain on the family but as a mother, Oates had to do what was in the best interest of her children.? At one point, she had almost lost her home, but she ended up getting the help that she needed.? It was at that moment that she realized other families were facing the same struggles. This inspired her to create Here for A Reason.

Oates was surprised by the Pay It Forward crew ? Maureen Umeh Fox 5 DC and Joel Bassam of Easterns during her latest GasGiving 2020 initiative.? The goal of the campaign is to raise enough money to gift gas cards to 100 families undergoing treatment at Children?s National in Washington D.C.? The price of gas is quite expensive especially when traveling back and forth from the hospital.? Bassam was able to speak with Oates virtually about his admiration for her and her nonprofit and wanted to celebrate by donating $2,000 to the organization.? This money will help reach the goal of the campaign and more.? If you would like to learn more, get involved, or apply for assistance ? please visit: www.hereforareason.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.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/XmE4HGNNFYQ

 

Road to a Better Community – For 3 Sisters

Community,

 

October of each year is breast cancer awareness month.? Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 had their mindset on highlighting a non-profit organization that helps breast cancer patients and survivors for their Road to a Better Community segment.? The one that stuck out to them the most is called For 3 Sisters, which is an Olney, Maryland based national grassroots organization dedicated to raising awareness and improving the lives of both men and women affected by breast cancer.

F3S was founded by a retired firefighter named Marshall Moneymaker and his wife Shannon.? Marshall has been nicknamed ?The Pink Firefighter? after dedicating the rest of his life to supporting breast cancer which impacted his family greatly.? He lost his three older sisters in a span of two years to breast cancer.? Their journey as a family was tough coping with multiple losses in such a short amount of time.? Therefore, he knows and understands the obstacles and burdens that many of these families have had to endure.? Finances and lack of resources can certainly be a burden in a time of need.? What?s great is that the Moneymaker?s don?t discriminate.? It is their mission to help every person possible to ensure that they feel a sense of support.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, F3S has received an increase in the demand for services but a decrease in funding.? Easterns Automotive Group?s Joel Bassam decided to surprise the Moneymaker family live on WUSA 9.? Bassam presented the couple with a check donation of $2,000.? They will be able to do wonderful things with the money including assisting and reaching more people in need.? The mission was started out of love and family which shows throughout their tremendous efforts. If you would like to learn more about For 3 Sisters or know someone in particular that can benefit from what they have to offer, please visit: www.f3s.org

 

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

Helping Hands – She Believes in Me

Community,

 

Local nonprofit organizations across the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area have been stepping up to assist those affected by COVID-19.? One, in particular, is ?She Believes in Me? located in Herndon, Virginia that is founded by Renee Gorman.? ?She Believes in Me? offers elementary age at-risk girls the opportunity to participate in events designed to encourage, inspire, and empower through field trips and monthly events. Gorman is an elementary school counselor herself so she has a background in caring, listening, and understanding young girls.? Schools only provide support while students are in class, but it was Gorman that knew that young girls needed more.

Prior to COVID-19, ?She Believes in Me? held one of their largest events to date.? These monthly events were about providing young girls with life skills.? When girls are given these tools at a young age it allows them to be better equipped to handle things that arise in the future.? Some of the skills included relationship skills, self-esteem, mental health, physical health, and emotional health.

Once COVID-19 hit, everything changed.? Gorman was unable to meet the girls like she was used to which led her to revamp her strategy.? She began to notice the need for food in the community with so many families out of work with very little income.? Gorman put together several packs of food which turned into way more than she anticipated.? She moved the setup into her garage for a while and eventually to Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, VA.

Gorman and her volunteers have been able to supply food and household items for over 6,000 local families and consistently serve close to 50 families a week.? Her husband, Victor Gorman, nominated her for ABC 7?s Helping Hands segment with Easterns Automotive Group.? Helping Hands highlights individuals who are doing great work within the community.? ABC 7 WJLA cameras were able to surprise her with a $1,500 donation from Easterns Automotive Group.? Joel Bassam of Easterns was able to deliver the message to Gorman and volunteers.? This money will allow ?She Believes in Me? her to continue supporting young girls and also feed families in need affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

 

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance.? If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/cPjI_E-GSbI

Helping Hands – Horton’s Kids

Community,

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has really given wonderful nonprofit organizations across the DMV region to step up and help those in need. One organization is Horton?s Kids located in the poverty-stricken Wellington Park community of Washington D.C.? Horton?s Kids empowers children grades K through 12 in the District to overcome life?s obstacles so they can succeed in life.? They push the youth to graduate from high school by offering academic support and social-emotional development.

The unfortunate part about the pandemic is that many schools are participating in virtual learning.? This means that children are attending class and learning online.? With that said, each child needs the necessary digital tools to be successful and bridge the academic gap.? Horton?s Kids has been working to provide students with internet and tablets to be able to complete their schoolwork.? They have also been working to provide food and hygiene products.

The ABC 7 WJLA-TV team was so moved by the efforts of Horton?s Kids that they featured them on Good Morning Washington back in August.? This caught the attention of Easterns Automotive Group so they two decided to come together to highlight Horton?s Kids on their Helping Hands segment.? Easterns Automotive Group was able to surprise the nonprofit organization with a check for $1,500.? The donation will allow Horton?s Kids to continue helping children and supporting those in the community that needs it the most.

Horton’s Kids has a number of ways for people to get involved including – donating, volunteering, and joining their team. For more information, please visit www.hortonskids.org

 

Watch the video to see how everything unfolded.

 

Helping Hands, powered by ABC 7 is always looking to help out people or organizations in need that are worthy of assistance.? If you know someone that fits this description, please click here to nominate them.

 

YouTube Link – https://youtu.be/DyizInqHc1U