Category Archives: Community

Get Up Give Back – Kindness Community

Community,

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Easterns Sponsors Get Up DC Segment

Coronavirus has affected not only the lives of Americans but millions across the nation. However, the ones directly affected each and every day are those on the front lines. Hospital workers put their lives in the line every day to care for these sick patients who are still highly contagious. This inspired Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 ? Get Up DC to join forces for a very special edition of Get Up Give Back.

Five women from the Spring Valley neighborhood in Washington D.C. came together to form the Kindness Community. They are raising money to buy food from local restaurants to feed hospital employees during this pandemic. According to them, all of the doctors and nurses that they have fed thus far have been extremely appreciative. They have fed about 1500 people to date. A small gesture like a free meal can mean the world to someone working hard around the clock.

Both the teams at Easterns Automotive Group and Get Up DC were so impressed that they decided to help their mission. Typically, all Get Up Give Back segments are filmed in person but all parties are practicing social distancing to flatten the curve of COVID-19. Reese Waters joined Kathleen Norris of Kindness Community on a video call to discuss their work and also a surprise gift.

Kindness Community Donation

On camera, the announced that the Kindness Community would be receiving a $1,000 donation on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 Get Up DC. The money will help them continue their amazing work of feeding doctors and nurses around the district. Today, May 6th is #NationalNursesDay so please send them some love and remind them that they are appreciated and irreplaceable.

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 ?

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/MYwcWm6_M9Q

Link to original article ? https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/outreach/get-up-give-back/getupgivebackkindesscommunity/65-39aec7ac-2287-4bdd-85c1-65abda48efc8

Pay It Forward – Virtual Hugs for Heroes

Community,

 

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC have kicked their philanthropic efforts into overdrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has truly been a rough time for people in general but especially healthcare professionals and first responders. There has been a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) around the country that has affected the way doctors and nurses do their job. However, they have remained strong and united in fighting this disease.

As partners, Easterns and Fox 5 DC recognizes the numerous sacrifices that healthcare professionals have made during the pandemic. The pair made the choice to Pay It Forward by providing free meals from HalfSmoke to over 200 nurses and staff at Howard University Hospital In Washington D.C. It is important that they are properly nourished while working these long shifts. Fox 5 DC cameras were on site to capture the meals being dropped off to Chief Nursing Officer of Howard University Hospital, Dr. India Medley. She took some time to speak with both Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC and Joel Bassam of Easterns on a video call. Dr. Medley discussed the dangers of coronavirus, steps that her team is taking, and ways to flatten the curve. As a country, we are truly lucky to have such great healthcare workers that risk their lives each and every day to keep Americans healthy and safe.?

 

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/Tx28l8jbblI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/community-comes-together-to-provide-enough-food-to-feed-200-hospital-workers

Road to a Better Community – Feeding Families Affected by COVID-19

Community,
There is absolutely no doubt that this current COVID-19 pandemic has shifted America as we know it.? With the unemployment rate at more than 20 percent and millions struggling, there are many in need of assistance right now.? Easterns Automotive Group came together with WUSA 9 once again to sponsor their Road to a Better Community segment and help those directly affected by COVID-19.? According to the CDC, Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an illness caused by a virus that can spread from person to person.? One of the amazing non-profit organizations that stepped up during this unprecedented time was Manna Food Center located in Montgomery County, Maryland.? They have been serving their Maryland community since 1983 through food distribution, education, and advocacy.   When COVID-19 hit, Manna Food Center had to shift their attention and adapt to how quickly things were changing.? They are in the process of developing a solution that is more efficient for those in need during this tough time.? One way that they are adapting is by doing home deliveries to the homes of seniors and medical conditions.? Each pack that goes out includes about a week?s worth of grocery for those that can?t currently leave their home.? A drive-thru for food pickup has also been started as a convenient and safe way for families in need to get food yet still practice social distancing.? A huge focus of Manna Food Center has also been feeding students that are out of school due to this virus.? Many children count on those meals given during the school day.   Easterns Automotive Group made the choice to support by donating $2,500 to Manna Food Center for their incredible work in the community.? Joel Bassam of Easterns was happy to do this because giving back as always been a part of their DNA.? They are a company that truly believes in helping the people that have in turn helped them stay in business for 30+ years.? Manna Food Center has so many ways that people can get involved.? If you would like to find out more, please visit www.mannafood.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

Pay It Forward – Supporting Montgomery County Hospitals and Restaurants

Community,

Unfortunately, COVID-19 aka coronavirus has affected over 5,000 people to date just in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia alone.? With all non-essential businesses closed in the area many businesses have begun to suffer.? All restaurants are closed for dine-in but still remain open for takeout and delivery.? A Montgomery County woman by the name of Julie Sapper joined Mandy Starley Coelho?s Facebook group that supports Montgomery County restaurants during this economically tough time.? They order takeout from local area restaurants and donate the meals to the staff at local hospitals.? By doing this, they are able to help keep certain restaurants afloat while still helping the healthcare workers working day and day out to help patients with this virus.

The success of Heidi Forster Gertner inspired Sapper after finding out that she raised almost $9,000 to feed the staff at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.? Sapper reached out to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland to set up the same thing with them.? She had the help of a great sponsor, Mitch Wool of the Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company who is helping them to deliver 1,400 meals to their emergency room staff.

Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC got wind of this and decided to Pay It Forward.? Normally, this segment is done in person but due to coronavirus and social distancing, all parties decided to do a video conference.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group joined Sapper and Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC to make a donation for $2,000 to keep their wonderful work going. If you would like to join this Facebook group to support Montgomery County restaurants, 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.

 

YouTube Link ? https://youtu.be/WnGYO04ZwxI

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-county-residents-come-together-on-facebook-to-feed-hospital-staff

 

Pay It Forward – OnSide Soccer Diplomacy

Community,

Easterns and Fox 5 DC Pay It Forwards to OnSide

Easterns Automotive Group loves joining their Pay It Forward family at Fox 5 DC to give back to get people in the DMV community.? The pair are always looking for people and non-profit organizations that are worthy of being recognized.? They came across Zayd Ali who is the founder of OnSide, a soccer diplomacy program that brings refugee children together through the game of soccer.? Ali was a well-traveled as a child because he and his family used to travel to different countries.? It was during that time that he discovered how big the massive yet universal the game of soccer is around the world.? Of course, this helped and inspired him to develop his own love for the sport. ?

About OnSide

Ali came up with the idea for OnSide after a conversation with an Uber driver from Brazil.? They talked for the whole ride about soccer which ended up being 25 minutes.? He realized the impact of soccer and how much it could affect the lives of young children.? OnSide is a group that brings together refugee children through the game of soccer and teaches them about different cultures and backgrounds.? They also raise awareness through their programs about critical issues affecting the community and teach children the power of tolerance and acceptance. ?

Easterns and Fox 5 DC Donate to OnSide

Corey Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised Ali and the OnSide team along with Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC.? Bassam gifted Ali with 50 soccer balls for the kids of OnSide along with a check for $1,000 to go towards their upcoming events.? OnSide is always accepting donations as they are a non-profit organization that serves the youth in the community.? If you would like to learn more about OnSide or how you can help their mission, please visit www.onside.world for more information. ?

 

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/p2YBe6PVOTM ?

Link to original post ? https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-teen-connecting-refugees-to-communities-through-soccer ?

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