All posts by jon

Helping Hands – Surprising a 94-year-old woman that lost her home

Community,

Easterns Introduces Helping Hands Program

Easterns Automotive Group is known for their philanthropic efforts in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities. Yesterday, they announced their new Helping Hands segment partnership with ABC 7 (WJLA-TV). Helping Hands will be geared toward uplifting and helping those in need. To kick off the new segment, Robert and Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group decided they wanted to surprise a woman who was recently in the news. 94-year-old Rae Costanzo of Mechanicsville, Maryland made headlines last week for losing her home and dog in a tragic house fire. As if losing everything wasn?t already bad enough, her insurance company canceled her policy just days before the fire occurred. All of which happened without her knowledge. The insurance company did not warn or give Costanzo a heads up that the policy she had for 10 years was now canceled. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not have to send out cancellation letters in the state of Maryland. Costanzo?s son, Jimmy was unable to save their dog in the fire. It is such a tragic loss for the family because of course material things can be replaced but a loved pet cannot.
Easterns Automotive Group Donates to Local Fire Victim
When the team at Easterns Automotive Group saw Costanzo?s story on ABC 7, they wanted to step in and help. ABC 7 cameras were present when Robert Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised the entire Costanzo family at the site of the deadly fire. Bassam surprised Costanzo with a check for $5,000 to help with her and her family?s efforts to rebuild the home. The whole family was overwhelmed with joy and excitement by the generosity of Easterns. There is a Go Fund Me posted for those that wish to donate to this deserving family. Please click here to learn more and make a contribution to their rebuild fund.
Helping Hands, powered by, Click here to nominate them for Helping Hands.

Get Up Give Back – Howard University Cash Giveaway

Community,

Easterns Sponsors Get Up DC Segment

Free money anyone? Recently, Easterns Automotive Group teamed up with WUSA 9 to sponsor a very segment for Get Up DC. ?The Get Up Give Back series features Get Up DC?s own Reese Waters going out into the community and finding ways to help out others. This time, Waters decided to head down to Howard University in Washington D.C. with the camera crew to surprise students with a cash giveaway on their very first day of classes. He knew that all of the students would be in the library buying books so that was his first stop. Waters approached several students as they were heading to check out and gifted them each with the necessary funds to cover their purchases.

Howard University Donation

In total, Waters gave out $1,000 cash to the incredible students at Howard University courtesy of Easterns. Each and every single student was so grateful and appreciative of the money. They all had a sense of relief because those that were selected will now have some extra money to start the new semester. Joel Bassam and the lovely Easterns team wanted to get involved with this cause because they understand the stress around shopping for classes and wanted to make it easier on the students. It is great to help out the community and do great things for those working hard to accomplish their goals!
Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area that is worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact at @ReeseWaters on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack

Pay It Forward – Spreading Some Love on Valentine’s Day

Community,

Valentine?s Day Pay It Forward

Hopefully, you all had a wonderful and happy Valentine?s Day. This year, Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC decided to come together for their Pay It Forward segment in honor of the special day.? Recently in the news, there was a missing child in Elkridge, Maryland that was found by a USPS worker along I-95. Keith Rollins was en route to BWI Airport where he picks up mail when he discovered the little boy on the side of the road. Rollins? close observation potentially saved the little boy?s life. Fox 5 DC cameras followed Allison Seymour down to the USPS in Friendship Heights where she paid Rollins and his co-workers a visit. She gifted him with flowers, chocolate, and a Valentine?s Day dinner for two courtesy of Easterns Automotive Group. It was important for him to know how much he is appreciated by the community. However, the giving didn?t stop there; Seymour also gifted boxes of chocolate to his incredible USPS co-workers and thanked them for their hard work.

 

The Pay It Forward team went up the road to Wegmans in Lanham, Maryland to surprise Valentine?s Day shoppers with some treats. Mike Thomas of Fox 5 DC was on-site to pass out gift cards, flowers, and chocolate to customers as they were leaving the store. Thomas gave Easterns Automotive Group a huge shout-out for providing everything needed for the giveaway. It was truly refreshing to see all of the customers being so cheerful and kind to one another. It?s clear that love was in the air!

 

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 videos to see the way everything unfolded.

Road to a Better Community – Easterseals

Community,

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are committed to making their Road to a Better Community segment one for the books. They have been supporting incredible nonprofits across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia for each segment. Of course, the latest one was no different. The team became aware of the incredible work that Easterseals was doing in the community and thought it would be important to bring awareness to such a great cause.? Easterseals is Americans largest nonprofit health care organization that serves over 1.4 million people a year. Their primary focus is those with disabilities but they also serve veterans, military, seniors, and caregivers. They offer a child development program where they bring children and seniors together.? For seniors this is an opportunity to get back in touch with their own inner child and have fun again.
Unfortunately, many of them don?t have the luxury of seeing or even remembering their own children or grandchildren. Easterseals provides a safe space for everyone to come together and enjoy each other?s company. They have 4 child development centers across the DMV where children can further their learning outside the classroom. What truly makes them a special organization is that they offer inclusion and work with children of all abilities. Many of which have made significant progress which is truly amazing.
Being a non-profit, Easterseals relies on volunteers and fundraising for their programming and scholarships. Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 were so inspired by their hard work that they decided to make a very special contribution. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented them with a $2,500 donation to help further their programs and continue their mission. He even stayed to watch the music program where the adults and kids come together for a jam session. This mission touched Bassam in a different way because he has a brother that has autism.? Therefore, he understands the importance of organizations like Easterseals and the huge impact that they have within the community.
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 – College Football Player Saves The Life of a Local Toddler

Community,

Selfless acts deserved to be recognized! Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC came together for yet another edition of their Pay It Forward segment.? This time, they chose to highlight and recognize a college football player by the name of Mike Mushaw.? Mushaw is a 19-year old college football player a Central Connecticut State University.? Recently, he participated in a national bone marrow drive that changed the life of a young girl in our area.

A two year old by the name of Eleanor had been suffering with severe immune deficiency since she was born.? Her doctors added her to the National Bone Marrow Registry during a hospital stay at Children?s National Hospital in Washington D.C.? They had no clue that they would soon receive a call saying that they found a match.? However, Mushaw wasn?t your typical donor.? He went above and beyond to keep in contact with the family.? When Eleanor was healed, she and her family went to visit Mike in Connecticut plus attend a few of his football games.? Mike even took it upon himself to travel to the District to surprise Eleanor for her birthday and the completion of her treatment.

Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group invited Eleanor and her family to a live taping of Good Day DC.? Allison Seymour had the opportunity to chat with Eleanor and her mom live on camera.? They even had Mushaw call in via Skype.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group arrived on set to surprise Mushaw by announcing that his team will be given a post season dinner party courtesy of Easterns.? Bassam also gifted Eleanor with a subscription to Koala and a $1,000 donation in each of their names to Be The Match: The National Marrow Donor Program.

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 article ? https://www.fox5dc.com/good-day-dc/college-football-player-donates-bone-marrow-to-save-little-girl-creates-lifelong-connection

Pay It Forward – Capital Caring Health

Community,

The giving just doesn?t stop in the world of Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC.? The pair recently came together to support a great cause by the amazing folks over at Capital Caring Health.? Capital Caring has been helping patients cope with serious illnesses by offering 24/7 compassionate care.? They also provide art therapy to help children deal with the loss of a parent. Unfortunately, there are children of two families that have recently lost their fathers to sickness.? Capital Caring has vowed to create an outlet for them to cope, heal, and deal with their grief and trauma is extremely important.?

Until recently, art therapist Monica Delaney was packing up and traveling to the children at their home so she can help turn their pain into creativity.? However, the Capital Caring team decided to create a special room that would be for art therapy at their headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.? The idea sounded great but there were no funds to complete this passion project.? This is where Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive stepped up to help out with the room and surprise the children.? Easterns Automotive Group was able to complete the room by purchasing over $7,000 of art supplies, furniture, and books.? Fox 5 DC cameras captured Allison Seymour and Joel Bassam as they showed children the room for the very first time.? They were so excited to know that they have a safe space to show off their artistic skills.? Joel also gifted one of the kids an art set and the $50 dollar e-gift cards for the other two to purchase new games.? Their smiles were priceless!

Special thanks to Jerry and Drew of the Easterns team and the staff at Capital Caring Health for helping transform this room in such a short amount of time!?

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 article ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/pay-it-forward-capital-caring-health-helps-children-cope-with-the-loss-of-a-parent

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.

Easterns joins NBC Sports Washington in surprising coach Chris Samuels of Northwest High School

Community


NBC Sports Washington recently shadowed Chris Samuels who is now the offensive coordinator for the Northwest High School football team.? Many may know Samuels from his time playing in the NFL for the Washington Redskins from 2000-2009.? This is his very first season with Northwest H.S. but his sixth season coaching high school football overall.? He is so excited to work with the talented young men of Montgomery County.? Samuels plans to pass down some of the lessons he learned while in the NFL to inspire and prepare them for what is to come.

The budget for the football program is limited.? However, as a coach, Samuels is going above and beyond to raise money so he can help develop the players into young men.? Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group heard about his story and wanted to help out.? Bassam surprised Samuels at Northwest H.S. to present him with a $2,000 donation to help out their program.? Easterns is no stranger to giving back in the community as they have been doing it for over 30 years.? At this point, it?s in their DNA!

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/3LQLC5CDacE