Category Archives: Community

Road to a Better Community – Second Chance Wildlife of Gaithersburg

Community,

Animals have a very special place in the ecosystem.? For this reason, organizations and individuals that care for and help animals should be celebrated.? Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 found an incredible nonprofit that is doing wonders for animals in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community.? Located in Gaithersburg, Maryland (Montgomery County), Second Chance Wildlife Center helps to rehabilitate thousands of wild animals each year with the hopes of returning them to their natural habitat.? This is possible with the help of their incredible staff and volunteers that spend countless hours working to ensure that the animals receive proper care and attention.? Second Chance is a 501c3 nonprofit organization so they run solely on donations in order to stay afloat and cover the costs they need.?? Rehabilitating animals comes with many costs depending on the severity of a particular animal?s injury.?? Second Chance does not release the animals back to wildlife until they are completely healed and ready to take on nature.

 

WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group wanted to really make a difference in these animals? lives.? Known for giving back in the community, Easterns put their money where their mouth is once again.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group was on hand to present Maureen Smith of Second Chance Wildlife Center with a check for $2,000.? These funds will go a long way in terms of caring for the animals.? Hopefully this inspires you to give back in your own community.? Second Chance is always accepting donations, volunteers, and interns.? Please visit www.scwc.org to find out how you can get involved.

 

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

Easterns Automotive Group partners with Get Up DC to donate to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

Community, Easterns Automotive

Reese Waters and the wonderful Get Up DC staff are always looking for amazing ways to give back to the community.? This week was no exception.? They reached out to Easterns Automotive Group and the rest was history.? Together, they found the wonderful Lucky Dog Animal Rescue non-profit organization.? Waters went to their HQ in Arlington, VA to talk about the amazing work that they do.? The Lucky Dog staff him a brief run down of their organization.? Lucky Dog was founded in 2009 and since then has saved over 14,000 dogs and cats.? Animals that they rescue stay with volunteers until they find stable home for them.? Finding a match is important to them so they put the animal and potential owner through a match making process to ensure that there is a match.? Lucky Dog is a phenomenal organization that understands the importance of animals and their care.? After the visit, Waters walked the Lucky Dog team to his car where he had a trunk full of dog food.? Easterns Automotive Group thought it would be perfect to donate dog food because they know and understand the amount of dogs they are responsible for.? If you would like to learn more about Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, their animal services, and ways you can help ? please click here.

 

 

Easterns Automotive Group partners with Get Up DC to give back

Community

Thanks to the wonderful team at WUSA 9?s Get Up DC, Easterns Automotive Group was able to partner with them for another great cause.? Reese Waters of Get Up DC joined Donnie Simpson of Uprising Muffin Company in the District to help deliver some muffins to a few teachers.? They stopped by Cleveland Elementary School in Northwest DC to chat with teachers about the incredible impact that they have on their students.? After the chat, the teachers were pleased to enjoy their muffins.? The next stop was Bread for the City which is a nonprofit organization that helps Washington DC residents living with low income.? They provide food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to those in need.? The volunteers are so happy doing their job that it was nice for them to be recognized and celebrated for their hard work.? It is certainly wonderful when people of different walks of life can come together and accomplish a great task that benefits others.? If you would like to learn more about Bread for the City, their services, and ways you can help ? please click here.

 

Pay It Forward – Restoring the historic Woodlawn Cemetery

Community,

The District of Columbia is known for various historic African American historic grounds.? One of these places is the Woodlawn Cemetery located on Benning Road in Southeast DC.? The cemetery sits on 22 acres of land with about 36,000 people buried there.? Some notable figures that are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery include Blanche K. Bruce, Wilson Bruce Evans, and John Wesley Cromwell. ?Blanche K. Bruce was the very first black Republican senator to serve full term in Congress.? Wilson Bruce Evans was a prominent abolitionist that owned a house on the Underground Railroad.? His house was a frequent stop for travelers such as Harriet Tubman.? John Wesley Cromwell was a lawyer, teacher, civil servant, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist.? However, even though Woodlawn Cemetery was their final resting stop, the land was not well maintained over the years.? It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 but still nothing had been done about the land being overgrown and very dangerous.

Thanks to Tyrone Carter and the Woodlawn Cemetery Association, they took it upon themselves to step up and revitalize the historic cemetery.? It was important to them to have the families of deceased loved ones to make the land clean and neat for tourists.? Something that is a tremendous part of history like shouldn?t just be left untreated.? For this reason, Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up to Pay It Forward by helping the Woodlawn Cemetery Association continue the restoration process.? Joel Bassam of Easterns announced that they will be donating $5,000 worth of landscaping courtesy of SML services.? With these funds, they will be able to clear debris and replace headstones.? It is important that Woodlawn Cemetery gets back to its original condition.? Shout out to both Tyrone Carter and the Wood lawn Cemetery Association for their incredible work!

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

Pay It Forward – Celebrating Teacher Celebration Week in Southeast DC

Community,

Teacher Appreciation Week took place from May 5th through the 11th.? Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC connected to Pay It Forward to a group of incredible educators at Randle Highlands Elementary School in Southeast DC.? Being a teacher in America is one of the hardest jobs anyone can have.? The level of patience, care, and knowledge that it takes to educate children is truly remarkable.? Many times, teachers are not appreciated and celebrated on the level that they should be.? Mike Thomas of Fox 5 DC was on hand to highlight all of the wonderful teachers and the impact that they have on their students.? Mrs. Wilson was one of the teachers that allowed cameras in her classroom during a short presentation that she did for her students.? Like many teachers, her goal overall is to ensure that the children are having fun throughout the process of learning.

 

The group of teachers at Randle Highlands Elementary School is truly an incredible bunch because they operate as a family.? This is not an easy feat while serving over 350 students but they remain dedicated to their craft.? For their tremendous contributions, Easterns and Fox 5 DC surprised them all with a catered breakfast, notebooks, and a $50 dollar gift card for every teacher.? It is extremely important that teachers everywhere know how much they mean to the community.? They are the leading force in pushing our children to be the best they can be.

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

Pay It Forward – Military mom rewarded with a Mother’s Day Brunch

Community,

Mother?s Day is just around the corner!? This is a special time of the year for mothers across the world to be recognized, appreciated, and celebrated for all of their hard work.? Being a mother is a hard job but being a mother in the military is another level of difficulty.? Fox 5 DC captured a very special moment last month when they followed Shadia Everett of Fairfax County, Virginia to surprise her son, James at his school.? James is a student at Riverside Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia.? As a Navy petty officer, Everett was only given one week to visit the U.S. and leave her station at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa.? The joy and excitement on both of their faces spoke volumes.? Small moments like that become memories that last a lifetime especially when you are unable to see your loved ones everyday.

 

Easterns Automotive Group was so inspired by the clip that they decided to partner with Fox 5 DC to Pay It Forward.? Initially, Everett was the one trying to surprise her son but this time she was the one ?to get surprised.? Easterns and Fox 5 DC came together to provide Everett, James, and close family members with a limo ride to the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.? The family was treated to an early Mother?s Day brunch since Everett won?t be home the actual holiday.? It was a very special day for the family because it truly does take a village to raise a child.? While Everett is deployed, James is in the loving care of his ?grandparents, aunt, cousins, and even church members.? Mother figures are extremely important because James is still able to receive that love even though his mom is not always able to be present. ?All of these wonderful people did not hesitate to step up to the plate and help while Everett is hard at work hoping to provide a nice future for both her and James.? We would like to send a special shout out to each and every single mother that works tirelessly to provide for their family.? You are loved and appreciated!

 

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 – Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS)

Award, Community,

Easterns and WUSA 9 are back! They pair recently joined forces to do a brand segment of their Road to a Better Community series.? It was important for them to end the month of April on a positive yet inspirational note.? Both were able to accomplish this by finding and highlighting Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc (LARS).? LARS is 501c3 non-profit organization that serves both homeless and low-income families in Laurel, Maryland.? With Laurel stretching across 3 counties, they are able to impact the residents of Prince George?s, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties.? An incredible team of local social workers run the program and keep it going.? Being that LARS is a non-profit, they survive on financial donations and volunteer support from their faith-based partner organizations.? Some of their stats for March 2019 include 469 bags of food distributed, 77 referrals, and 5 households assisted with rent (just to name a few).? They are doing such great work helping people in the community achieve stability.? We need organizations like LARS all across the county to help those in need.? Sometimes, all people need is someone to show them love and compassion that can be used as motivation to move in a positive direction.

WUSA 9 and their camera crew went to the LARS Headquarters to meet the staff.? The LARS team received a huge surprise when Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented the organization with a check donation of $2,500.? This money will be used to help atleast 2-3 households with rent along with adding food to the food pantry.? More people will now be helped which is truly amazing.? If you would like to learn more about LARS and see how you can get involved by volunteering or making a monetary donation, please click here.

 

 

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 – Surprising long-term Prince George’s County volunteer

Community,

Easterns and Fox 5 DC are still on their mission to Pay It Forward to deserving people who are committed to working selflessly to help others and better the community. ?This week, Prince George?s County resident, Charlene McCall is being highlighted for her efforts.? McCall has been volunteering for the Fuller Center for Housing in Brentwood, Maryland for 23 years.? She spends 8 hours a day volunteering and working to serve others in the community.? The Fuller Center for Housing is a faith driven non-profit organization that works to end poverty housing by promoting partnerships with individuals and community groups to build and rehabilitate homes for people in need.?? They are able to help seniors and veterans especially because many are on a fixed income and have limited funds for any possible repairs needed.? McCall?s role has been sorting donations, answering calls, and assisting the thrift store.? For all her time there, she has managed to go above and beyond for nothing in return.? Even when she was offered a salary, she turned it down.? McCall is someone who truly loves and enjoys sharing her time and services with others.? The joy that she is able to bring people is the reason that she?s been able to keep going.

Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group recently went to the Fuller Center of Housing Thrift Store in Brentwood, MD to personally Pay It Forward to McCall for her amazing work.? Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised her with a check for $1,500 along with a spa day a Cosmedica Natural Day Spa.? What a well deserved treat for her incredible work!? This day was also special because it was Fox 5 DC?s own, Allison Seymour?s birthday.? Bassam gifted her with flowers and cupcakes to show her some birthday love on behalf of the Easterns family.? If you would like to learn more about The Fuller Center for Housing and find ways that you too can get involved to help others, 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.

 

Link to original post

Easterns Automotive Group Shows Continued Support of Fairfax County Police Association

Community

The Fairfax County Police Association (FCPA) represents over 1,000 police officers in Fairfax County, Virginia.? Their overall mission is to reach the various goals and objectives for the men and women in the police force.? Unity is very important to them because technically they are a family.? Most of them spend more time with each other than their actual families so it is important to have a close bond.? It makes policing much better when they are operating from a place of love, compassion, and understanding.? During times of crisis, the association is able to respond to members and their families to assist where they can.? The FCPA also provides benefits to police offers and support staff.? They are able to be the standard for what an association should be especially with the negative media narrative surrounding police as a whole in this country.

With the FCPA being a not-for-profit organization, it relies on donations to continue to help the men and women of the Fairfax County Police Department and the communities that they serve. ?The donations received make it possible for them to continue bringing people in the communities together along with promoting positivity and kindness.? We need organizations like this to change the negative stereotypes of police officers in America.? Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) is one of the DMV?s premier car dealerships offering 7 locations throughout Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.? Since Easterns started over 30 years ago, they have always been a company that is big on philanthropy and finding ways to better the community.? Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing at Easterns, presented the FCPA with a donation of $1,000 to continue their great work uniting not only the police department but also people in the community.?? Please click here to learn more about the FCPA and find ways that you can contribute.

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