All posts by jon

Pay It Forward – Generous teen from Virginia surprised with a $2,000 donation for his good deeds

Community,

When it comes to Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group, giving back to the community is a year-round activity.? Through their Pay It Forward campaign, they are able to highlight individuals who show selfless acts of kindness and those working to bring the community closer together.? The government shutdown affected hundreds of thousands of people back in January.? Many families suffered during this time because federal workers were not getting paid.? Without pay it makes it very hard to provide basic necessities such as food.? Prince William County teen resident, Eric McKay stepped up to the plate and donated his lifetime supply of peanut butter to furloughed government workers.? McKay suffers from Autism but everyday he chooses to fight through his obstacles like a champ and find ways to impact the lives of others.

Lidl, a local grocery store with several locations in Virginia saw McKay?s generosity along with his good deeds and wanted to get involved.? They decided to partner with McKay in honor of National Autism Awareness Month by adding his picture to the front of their brand peanut butter.? His nickname is Bean so the jar will say ?Lidl Beanut Butter?.? For the entire month of April, you will be able to purchase his limited addition peanut butter at Lidl.? 10 cents of every jar purchased will go towards the Autism Awareness Society of America.? Fox 5 DC went to Lidl?s in Dumfries, VA to support Mckay and be a platform to help spread the word.? While there, Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised him with a check for $2,000 which is equivalent to about 20,000 jars of Lidl?s Beanut Butter.? This money will be donated to the Autism Society of America as well.? Good deeds like Bean?s never go unnoticed.? It is truly great to see that so many others will benefit from his spirit of giving.? Please click here to learn more about Autism as a whole and find ways that 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 – The Miracle Foundation

Community,

Easterns Automotive Group has been on a roll with WUSA 9 for their series, Road to a Better Community.? The goal of the series is to empower nonprofits and various individuals who are going above and beyond to bring the community together. ??This week, the two came together to highlight The Miracle Foundation who is doing wonders not just locally but globally. The Miracle Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is committed to reuniting orphaned children with their families.? The term orphan is used a lot but many people don?t know that there are approximately 8 million children worldwide that are living in orphanages across the world.? The mission of The Miracle Foundation is to abolish this number by the year 2040.? Of course, that year is a while away but it will take much time and many resources to accomplish this.

Every child needs a loving family to provide unconditional love and support along with a stable safe home.? However, it costs to keep the children safe, healthy, and educated until they find a home.? The Miracle Foundation is a nonprofit so therefore they rely on government funds, donors, and other non-profits to help provide the children with their necessities.? Easterns Automotive Group decided to step up to the plate and donate $2,500 to their incredible organization.? The Miracle Foundation is always accepting donations to get them closer to their goal.? They need support from people who care and understand how orphan lives are affected and hope to see a change.? Help doesn?t only come in the form of money.? The Miracle Foundation is always looking for volunteers and interns who are committed to empowering orphans to reach their full potential.? Please click here to learn more about The Miracle Foundation and see all the ways that you can get involved if this is a nonprofit organization that interests you.

 

If you want to learn more about Easterns Automotive Group?s partnership with WUSA 9 and how they come together to empower the community, please visit www.wusa9.com/BetterCommunity

 

Link to original WUSA 9 article

Pay It Forward – Good Samaritan Gets Rewarded With A Shopping Spree

Community,

It is very hard to find kind people in this world who don?t turn a blind eye to situations that do not directly affect them.? A good Samaritan in Washington D.C. by the name of Donnita Scott was with Jacqueline Elliott in late February.? The two witnessed a man steal a car with a child inside.? The car belonged to Tamara Richardson who stopped to fix a seatbelt hanging from her back door.? A man hopped in the driver?s seat while her back was turned and carjacked her. ?The man involved in the theft has been identified as Matthew Walker.? Both Scott and Elliott wasted no time telling Richardson to get into their car so that they could follow the carjacker.? Shortly after they dialed 911, Walker pulled over and escaped the vehicle leaving Richardson?s son untouched.? DC Police charged walker with kidnapping and unarmed carjacking.

Thanks to the help of Scott and Elliott, Richardson was able to get both her son and car back in one piece.? Unfortunately, Scott recently experienced some hard times that left her homeless for a short period of time.? All of her furniture was lost due to bug and mold infestation where she was staying.? It was time for someone to go out of their way for her just like she did for Richardson.? Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC teamed up with Value City Furniture to surprise Scott during their Pay It Forward segment with Allison Seymour.? Scott received $5,700 worth of furniture courtesy of Easterns and Value City Furniture.? Value City Furniture discounted the total and applied their $1,000 to the cost while Easterns covered the difference.? Joel Bassam of Easterns also presented Scott with a $1,000 Target gift card on site so she can do some shopping for her family.? The moral of the story is, when you do good things for others it truly does come back to you.? We need more people in this world like the lovely Donnita Scott!

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

Road To A Better Community – Metropolitan Tennis and Education Group

Community,

Easterns Automotive Group is back at it with WUSA 9 for their Road to a Better Community segment.? The pair is extremely committed to highlighting those in the area who are choosing to promote positivity and unity.? One nonprofit organization who is doing this very well is the Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group (MTEG).? MTEG is mixing tennis with education reaching a diverse group of at risk youth and teaching them life and tennis skills.? This group of kids in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area normally would not be exposed to the sport.? There are over 200 students in the program and over 30 on the excellence team.? The impact that tennis has on them is quite outstanding.? A few students have received scholarships from major colleges to play the sport.? Thanks to MTEG, this group of students is receiving various opportunities that they may have never been presented otherwise.

 

With MTEG being a nonprofit, they are always accepting donations.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised Jeri Ingram of MTEG with a $2,000 check donation.? Easterns aka Eastern Motors has always been a company that loves giving back to the community.? This money will be used to fund travel for an upcoming tournament.? It?s imperative that we invest, empower, and support our youth.? They need to know that the people of their community are behind them one hundred percent.? Please click here to learn more about MTEG and find ways that you can get involved if this is an organization that interests you.

Link to original WUSA 9 article
 

Easterns donates to Suited for Change w/ WUSA 9

Community

Thanks to the amazing folks over at WSUA 9, Easterns Automotive Group was able to be a part of a great cause.? The Suited for Change nonprofit is a wonderful Washington D.C. based organization founded in 1992 that empowers women and encourages them to reach their full potential in life.? They help low income women in need of professional clothing attire as they enter the workforce and also offer mentoring and job-readiness education.? Suited for Change is available at no cost to local women that would like their services.? Reese Waters of WUSA 9 stopped by their office to drop off some clothes provided by Easterns Automotive Group.? Everyone from the staff to the women they were helping were so appreciative of the donation.? The Easterns team just knew they had to get involved after hearing the incredible things that the organization is doing.? Easterns has a strong history of giving back to those in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community.? There is nothing better than being able to help put a smile on someone?s face, especially one that needs it.? Suited for Change is always looking for new volunteers and donations to be able to continue their mission.? If you would like to learn more about their services and ways you can help, please click here.

 

Pay It Forward – Helping the Homeless of Woodbridge, VA

Community,

The winter months are definitely upon us here in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.? We have experienced bitter cold temperatures accompanied by freezing rain and snow just within the last couple of weeks.? Many people have the luxury of traveling to work in a warm car only to arrive to a home filled with heat, blankets, and warm clothes to be comfortable.? However, everyone is not always this fortunate.? Often times, we forget about those that have no home and are forced to endure such cold temperatures and precipitation.? A man by the name of Rich Garon is helping those who are homeless in his Woodbridge, Virginia community by helping them stay warm during the winter.? He takes his own funds and provides propane tanks for the homeless so they can have heat to survive.? Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC decided to step up to the plate and Pay It Forward as soon as they heard about the selfless service that he is doing in the community.

 

Garon and members of his community church established their homeless ministry seven years ago.? They took notice of the amount of homeless people in their community especially during the winter months.? Throughout the journey, they have been touched by many homeless people who shared their story.? Garon became so touched that he was inspired to write a book called, ?Lee Fitts?.? The book sales allow him to generate funds that he donates to the Bill Mehr Drop-in Center in Woodbridge.? His partnership with the Bill The center?s mission is to provide ?chronically homeless? a place where they can receive medical assistance, employment referrals, and basic physical needs.? It?s a great environment to help homeless people put the pieces together and get their life back on track.? The only issue is that this incredible organization is in need of some funding to continue their work.? Joel Bassam and Easterns Automotive Group donated $2,000 to help their amazing cause.? Please click here to learn more about the Bill Mehr Drop-in Center and find ways that you too can help out.

?

?

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

Pay It Forward – Final Round of Chemotherapy

Community,

With 2019 in full effect, Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC continue to push the envelope and find new ways to make an impact in the community.? As soon as the Pay It Forward partners got wind of a Prince George?s County woman by the name of Rhonda Stewart, they wanted to help.? Stewart was diagnosed with cancer and has just finished her final round of chemotherapy at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington DC.? She was there for over a month and during that time she was able to process her thoughts and put many things into prospective.? We hear about people having cancer all the time but it is impossible to understand the severity until It affects you or someone close.? Luckily for Stewart, she was surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones who gave her the support and encouragement she needed to overcome this tough time in her life.? ?My message would be to be thankful for everything and be thankful for the love and support,? Stewart said.? Hearing her words reminds us all to be grateful for any and everything because what happened to her can happen to anyone.

 

 

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC decided to Pay It Forward to Stewart on the last day of her chemo treatment.? Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC and Joel Bassam of Easterns met Stewart at Sibley Memorial Hospital where they surprised her with a girl?s trip to the National Harbor with a spa day, dinner, and a Ferris wheel ride.? Hopefully this fun time out will be the extra boost she needs after fighting so hard for her life.? We wish Stewart and her family all the best and encourage anyone facing obstacles or going through a hard time to never give up.? Tough times don?t last forever!

 

 

 

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

Get Up DC – Helping Out Furloughed Federal Workers w/ WUSA 9

Community

The government shutdown is over (temporarily)!? This is such great news to the tens of thousands of federal workers that were affected by this.? Federal employees were expected to work during the 35 day shutdown without receiving any pay.? Many had to take out loans and open new credit cards just to live, eat, and keep their bills paid.? A few weeks ago, Easterns Automotive Group teamed up to donate $10,000 a week to two Loudoun County food pantries to help feed local families that were in need due to the shutdown.? Even though the shutdown is over for now, the recovery process does not stop.? Families still need time to get back on their feet.? Easterns partnered with WUSA 9 on their Get Up DC segment to surprise several former furloughed workers in the District with gift cards.? In total, $1,000 in gift cards were given away.? Reese Waters from WUSA 9 did a great job chatting with federal workers and hearing their furloughed stories.? It was great to see so many smiling faces.? Little things go a long way especially in a time of need.

 

If you know someone in need please visit www.wusa9.com and let them know!

Pay It Forward – Law and Literacy Program at Arcola Elementary School

Community,

For Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC, the act of giving back is year round.? The Pay It Forward partners teamed up for the second time in 2019 to do some good in the community.? They came across Kelly Rogan who is a reading specialist at Arcola Elementary School in Aldie, Virginia.? Rogan created the Law and Literacy Program at Arcola Elementary where Loudoun County deputy sheriffs come out to read and do other literacy activities with the students.? She was inspired to create this program after seeing the deputy sheriffs that were shot in Dallas back in 2017.? It touched her because she sees how police in general put their lives on the line for the safety of civilians.? Her Law and Literacy program idea sparked conversation and led to change because the Loudoun County Sheriff?s Office was very receptive and willing to be a part of the program when she reached out.? The Law and Literacy program is for students in Kindergarten to second grade at Arcola Elementary School.? It?s great for children to have a relationship with law enforcement to bridge the gap within the community.

 

It was such a smart idea for Rogan to come up with this concept.? The children are able to be comfortable around the deputies and understand that they are only there to help them.? Doing small activities like this with young children go a long way especially in the real world.? This group of children won?t grow up fearing the police in their community because they already have a relationship with them.? Easterns and Fox 5 DC decided to gift Rogan with a $1,000 Amazon gift card to purchase more books for the students as well as bean bag chairs.? The kids will definitely feel cozy during reading time now!

 

?

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

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.