All posts by marketing@easterns.com

Pay It Forward: ScholarCHIPS

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At Easterns Automotive Group, we believe in uplifting those who dedicate their lives to strengthening our communities. On this Pay It Forward with Fox 5 DC, we were honored to highlight ScholarCHIPS, a nonprofit founded by Yasmine Arrington Brooks.

Yasmine’s vision was born from her own life experience. Growing up with an incarcerated parent, she realized there were few resources specifically designed to support children like her. In 2010, while still a junior in high school, Yasmine launched ScholarCHIPS to provide scholarships, mentorship, and a strong sense of community for students with incarcerated parents.

What began as a simple idea has grown into a powerful support system. ScholarCHIPS not only helps students pursue higher education, but also creates a family-like environment where young people can connect with others who share their struggles. One recipient described how the program changed her life — from receiving scholarships and care baskets to mentorship that continues even after graduation. She’s now preparing to start her master’s program, proof of the long-term impact ScholarCHIPS has.

With exciting initiatives ahead, ScholarCHIPS continues to expand its reach and strengthen its advocacy. To support their mission and recognize their impact, Easterns surprised them with a $2,200 donation.

We are proud to stand with Yasmine and ScholarCHIPS as they open doors of opportunity and hope for the next generation.

Pay It Forward: Beautiful As I Am

Community

At Easterns Automotive Group, giving back to our community is at the heart of who we are. Through our partnership with Fox 5 DC’s Pay It Forward series, we were honored to highlight the incredible work of Beautiful As I Am, a nonprofit founded by Tamika Williams.

Tamika’s story is one of resilience and transformation. As a child, she was unfairly labeled and told she would never amount to anything. Instead of letting those words define her, she found strength in the support of a village of women who encouraged her to rise above. She went from struggling in school to excelling with a 3.6 GPA in high school and eventually continuing her education in college.

Inspired by her own journey, Tamika created Beautiful As I Am to empower local women and girls to see their worth and reach their full potential. The organization uplifts its community through three impactful programs: a book club, a teen mentoring program, and an adult mentoring program. All of their services are provided free of charge, and they are always looking for more volunteers to help expand their mission.

The future of Beautiful As I Am is bright, as they continue to grow and seek a new building to expand their programs. To support their vision and honor their dedication, Easterns Automotive Group surprised them with a $2,200 donation.

We are inspired by Tamika’s journey and proud to stand alongside organizations like Beautiful As I Am that are changing lives from the inside out.

Pay It Forward: Goodie Girl Bags

Community,

At Easterns Automotive Group, giving back to the community is at the heart of who we are. That’s why we’re proud to partner with FOX5 in their Pay It Forward initiative—spotlighting local heroes making a real difference.

This time, we had the honor of surprising Felicia Biles, Founder and President of Goodie Girl Bags, with a $2,200 donation to help her continue her life-changing work.

Founded in 2016, Goodie Girl Bags is dedicated to serving women facing homelessness by providing personal care items—with dignity. Each bag contains essentials like bras, feminine hygiene products, wipes, and liners, along with handwritten notes of encouragement from volunteers. The organization also supports breast cancer awareness, spreading kindness and compassion through every delivery.

Their outreach stretches from shelters to direct street outreach, meeting women where they are and making sure they feel seen and supported. Many recipients are moved to tears when they receive a bag—proof that the smallest acts of care can have the biggest impact.

Felicia was shocked and grateful when we presented her with our donation, which will help her purchase more inventory and secure a utility vehicle to distribute even more bags throughout the community.

Easterns Automotive Group is honored to support Goodie Girl Bags and their mission to restore dignity, hope, and confidence to women in need. Together, we can make a difference—one bag at a time.

Learn more about Goodie Girl Bags and how you can get involved. Your support can help change lives.

Helping Hands: Sweet Julia Grace

Community,

At Easterns Automotive Group, our mission has always gone beyond cars. We believe in driving hope, lifting our community, and standing by those who need it most. That is why we are honored to support the incredible work of the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation.

Recently, 7News Helping Hands introduced us to Sara Knight, a mother who turned unimaginable loss into a lifeline for others. In 2014, after losing her 12 year-old daughter Julia Grace to a rare genetic condition, Sara launched a foundation in her honor.

Through her grief, Sara saw a clear purpose. She wanted to walk alongside families of medically fragile children and ask one powerful question: how can we help?

The answers are never the same. Sometimes it means granting a wish. More often, it means meeting basic needs that other systems cannot always support. And it is not just about one-time help. These families need consistent support and connection with others who understand their journey.

When we learned about Julia’s story, we knew we wanted to be part of it. As a small gesture, we presented Sara with a donation of 1,100 dollars to help keep their mission going strong.

Her response said it all.
“Wow, thank you so much, you surprised me.”

To learn more about the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation and how you can support their work, visit sweetjuliagrace.org

Helping Hands: Clothesline Arlington

Community,

At Easterns Automotive Group, we’ve always believed that confidence drives success on the road and in life. Recently, we were moved by the incredible work of a local nonprofit making a life‑changing impact in Arlington: The Clothesline for Arlington Kids.

This organization was born out of a simple but heartbreaking observation. Co‑founder Ellen Moy noticed a little boy at her child’s school arriving every day in the dead of winter wearing only a blanket, flip‑flops, and socks. He couldn’t join his classmates for recess. He didn’t have what most of us consider basic clothing.

Ellen donated her son’s clothes to him, and overnight his world changed. He came to school with a coat, shoes, and the freedom to learn and play.That act of kindness became a mission. Together with Ben Sessions, Ellen co‑founded The Clothesline for Arlington Kids, a store‑like space where children from low‑income families can shop for a week’s worth of clothes. Privacy and dignity are at the heart of the experience. These children aren’t just handed garments—they get to choose what makes them feel good, strong, and ready to thrive in the classroom.

When we heard this story, we knew we had to step in. Easterns Automotive Group proudly extended a Helping Hand with an $1,100 donation to support their mission. It’s about more than clothes—it’s about giving kids the confidence to show up and shine.

To learn more about how you can help, visit clotheslinearlington.org. Let’s keep building brighter futures together.

Giving A Lift: Our Kids Read

Community,


At Easterns Automotive Group, we believe investing in our community means investing in the future. And there’s no future without literacy.

Recent studies paint a stark picture. In some school systems, up to 75% of students of color are reading below grade level. That’s not just a statistic. It’s a crisis. And it’s one Our Kids Read is tackling with heart, purpose, and results.

We recently had the chance to learn more about this mission from Jahmal Lake, Executive Director of Our Kids Read, during his interview with Shannon Lilly. What they’re doing is revolutionary. From virtual reading mentorships to brick-and-mortar access to free books, this nonprofit is reshaping what literacy access can look like in underserved communities.

In partnership with Scholastic and the Baltimore Community Foundation, Our Kids Read opened the nation’s first free bookstore at Eastpoint Mall in Dundalk. Already, it has served nearly 600 children, and they plan to reach 500 more by summer’s end. This isn’t charity. It’s change.

Their secret weapon? A data-driven model and two core programs. One of them, Community Buddies, matches students with volunteers who read with them virtually. Want to help? You can sign up to be a reading buddy directly on their website. Just a few minutes a week could change a child’s future.

The big question they’re asking is one we all should be: How do we get kids to put down the tablets and pick up a book? Their answer? Meet them where they are with stories that reflect their identities and passions.

At Easterns, we love to shine a spotlight on people doing the real work. That’s why we donated $2,200 to help Our Kids Read continue fueling their mission. When it comes to literacy, we’re not just turning the page. We’re helping write a better chapter.