Tag Archives: Community

Road to a Better Community – New Futures

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At 17, Cristian Perrera migrated from El Salvador to the United States in search of better education. Cristian wasn’t familiar with the English language or culture, making his transition to the US difficult, but he didn’t allow these hurdles to stop him. Once he was able to finish high school, he received help from an organization called New Futures.

New Futures’ mission is to provide educational opportunities for rewarding careers. They provide academic scholarships, academic and career advising, skill-building workshops, and career readiness. Most of the students that come into their program are first-generation immigrants or low-income students, and their approach is to provide equitable support across the board.

New Futures helped Cristian prepare for college with the help of his advisor, Allie Sirrine. She was there for him when he graduated from Montgomery College with his associate’s degree, and she is still helping him as he pursues his dream of becoming a teacher.

Inspired by New Futures’ mission to change lives, Easterns wanted to help as well. Easterns Automotive Group surprised New Futures with a donation of $2,000 to support their Power On fundraiser. Completely shocked and grateful, Allie shared that this is enough to cover a school semester for one of their scholars. We are honored to support this remarkable initiative.

The Give – The Laughlin Family Foundation

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Craig is a former NHL player and currently NBC Sports Washington Capitals TV analyst. In April 2018 his wife, April Laughlin, was diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer, uterine serous carcinoma, which only affects approximately 6,000 women per year in the United States.

It started with the Hockey fights cancer in the NHL initiative, and at that point, the Laughlin family decided they needed to do more. They started the Laughlin Family Foundation. Their non-profit is on a mission to fund initiatives to advance the care and research around rare cancers.

Easterns was honored to support this incredible foundation in their fight to fund and advance the treatment and study of rare cancers.

Road To a Better Community – Rainbow Families

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For LGBTQ plus families often, support when it comes to raising a family is hard to find. However, the organization Rainbow Families has been doing fantastic work that is now being recognized and awarded.

Sequoia and Shay Taylor El began looking for an option to create the family they always dreamed of in 2015. It may seem easy for parents to create families; however, that’s not the case. They often have to go through a different legal process and pay more money to get the same protection as regular parents.

They were introduced to Darren Paul Vance, the executive director of Rainbow Families, as a support system during their difficult journey. Rainbow Families’ goal is to continue evolving and growing to make sure that they are meeting the needs of the LGBTQ plus community.

For 40 years now, Rainbow Families have celebrated LGBTQ plus families with educational classes parrot for training workshops, picnics, play dates, and its annual family conference. To continue their fantastic work in the community, Easterns Automotive Group surprised Rainbow Families with $2,000.

Helping Hands – Laptop Surprise for Rose Valley Elementary School Students

Community,

As children begin to make it back to school after a challenging year, we surprised Prince George’s County families with something special to help kick off their school year. With the help of Rose Valley Elementary School Principal Dr. Sharon Porter, Kidd O’Shea revealed the surprise live last Wednesday on 7 News. Ten students from Rose Valley Elementary received brand new laptops.

“Our theme is ‘Strive For 5.’ With that, we strive for five-star academics, five-star performance, five-star attendance, behavior, and character,” explained Rose Valley Elementary School Principal Dr. Sharon Porter. “So these students were part of that ‘Strive for 5’ third quarter last year. We’re really excited to have them for this big surprise.”

Joel Bassam, joined to share a special message, ‘We wanted to support Prince George’s County schools once again this year by donating 10 laptops to your students to use as they see fit. Continue doing the amazing work, and you’re going to have an amazing school year once again.”

We are always want to help others in our community. If you know a person or organization that deserves a “7News Helping Hand,” contact 7News, today!

Pay It Forward – For The Kids

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Crofton, Maryland natives, Mike Thomas and Gary Heldt, got together to form For The Kids MD, an organization that helps support local families who have critically ill children. Every year, their team selects a deserving family and holds fundraisers and a charity golf tournament where 100% of the proceeds goes to assist them with medical costs. For the last 22 years, they have raised almost half of a million dollars for children every year. 

It’s important to them that they help someone local and this year’s beneficiary is Sabrina, a 1-year-old girl battling many serious illnesses. Her mother Gianna has been unable to work the past few years because her focus has been caring for her daughter. For The Kids MD along with Truman Charities kicked off this year’s fundraising efforts with a Happy Hour at Tommy Joe’s in Bethesda on July 15th. 

Joel Bassam joined with a special message for For The Kids. In awe of what they have been able to achieve every year to help families in need, Easterns donated $2,000 to support Sabrina and their family’s medical expenses. 

If you know someone who should be featured on Pay It Forward, you can nominate them here. In your email, be sure to include who they are and why they deserve to be recognized.

Helping Hands – Fountain Community Enrichment

Community,

The pandemic has drastically changed lives leaving some searching for assistance, and a nonprofit in upper Marlboro, Maryland, has been supporting thousands since the beginning.

The Fountain Community Enrichment has been doing fantastic work to provide food for those in need for the past 16 weeks. As they continue to help within the community, they found a need for more than food. Their food pantry has a unique approach to support other areas of need, such as counseling to help deal with everyday life situations such as debt, job loss, divorce, and substance abuse. They also host a community health fair,

Jose Gonzalez had a special surprise for Pastor John. Jose pulled out a large check from Easterns for $2,000 just for the Fountain Enrichment Community. Joel Bassam even joined to share how amazed he and the Eastern team were by their hard work.

Helping Hands – Helen Zurita

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The community has been overwhelmed with the work of a woman in the Manassas community. Helen Zurita has been a lifesaver for the East End mobile Home Trailer Park.

The trailer park would close four years ago, but Zurita assembled a team to make sure that did not happen. If the Manassas-based nonprofit, Catholics for Housing, had not rescued the property with 58 homes, many people would have been homeless.

Zurita shared that she has experienced homelessness and had to go without food before, and she did not want to see them go through what she once went through. Her work in the community goes far beyond saving homes. She also feeds, clothes, and prepares children for school. She also hosts back-to-school and toy drives for children in the community. On most Fridays, she gives away almost 300 to 400 boxes of food to those in need.

Inspired by the selfless acts of Helen, we had something special for her.

“Hey, I am Joel Bassam from Easterns Automotive,” Bassam explained to Zurita. “We were touched by the story 7News shared about you saving this community and feeding others without any consideration for yourself but only for others. We want to donate $2,000, so you can continue to help others.”

In shock, Zurita expressed how honored she was for this contribution. Zurita said the money would help her buy gas cards, provide backpacks for children, and start her free pantry.

Pay It Forward – Glen Mourning

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Glen Mourning is paying it forward by creating literary diversity for children all over. Glen Mourning, a former teacher, created the Crunchy Life book series so that kids could see themselves in stories and want to read more.

Glen can remember being bullied as a child for not being the best reader, and he is now a 5th-grade language teacher whose goal is to make literacy and reading fun for kids that are reluctant to read.

His book series is called Crunchy Life. The name was created as a way to encourage kids to keep going even when life gets hard or, as he likes to describe it, “crunchy.”

Lamont Geddis, the director of the Freedom School, expressed that having the books like Glen Mourning’s Crunchy Life helps the students to see an African American teacher and author with relatable books and brings the school alive. Students find it empowering to see other children in books that look like them.

Glen was completely shocked when Joel Bassam joined virtually to surprise him with a check for $1,500. Glen was so excited he announced, “Pizza for EVERYBODY!” as the Freedom School students jumped for joy.

Get Up Give Back – Step VA

Community,

Jan Monroe, the President of Step VA, joined to share more about the organization and what it does for the community. Monroe explained, “Step VA is a nonprofit that was founded back in 2013. And it supports people with varying levels of disability. We focus on Theatre Arts because we understand how empowering they are for all people, particularly those with varying disabilities and or particular challenges in day-to-day life.”

Their mission is to empower people with special needs through artistic expression and sensory exploration. Monroe shared that this program allows for freedom of expression, so they can meet people where they are, and they are easily able to adapt so that others feel comfortable.

Partnered with WUSA9, we were inspired by Step Va and its commitment to helping others in the community. We wanted to donate $1,000 to help towards their initiative.

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are always here to help. If you know someone in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area worthy of being helped or recognized, please contact Allison Seymour on social media. #GetUpDC #GetUpGiveBack

Helping Hands – Rustic Love Vienna

Community

After mother, Michelle Davila, saw an excellent idea on social media, she wanted to try it with her children and friends in her town of Vienna, and it has now blossomed into a way to improve the lives of their neighbors in need. Her children Lucas, Lia, and Ava, and a myriad of other friends started building small yard signs embellished with the outline of a heart. Their project is called Rustic Love Vienna, and they use proceeds to help others in need.

They started with only 12 and didn’t think people would want them, but it has grown to cause them and their mother to make more. People usually put the small signs in their front yard so everyone can see them throughout Vienna.

They give their proceeds to Lydia Russo, who runs a Facebook page called Vienna VA Foodies. When COVID-19 hit, she turned her once restaurant review site into a way to help struggling businesses, first responders, and food-insecure families. Vienna VA Foodies donates the money to eateries that then turned around to make and deliver meals to food-insecure families.

It has gotten so popular; they are now selling other heart-shaped items like shirts. They’ve even collaborated with Vienna Vinter owner, Victor Mendes, to create Rustic Love Vienna wine. For every bottle sold, he donates $10 to their cause.

In a year, they have raised more than $100,000 and have more than 2,500 signs throughout the Vienna community. In awe of the fantastic work, they are doing Joel Bassam stopped by with a special surprise. “We were touched by your story and the amazing thing you’ve been able to do with your kids, so we actually wanted to purchase a sign from you for $1,500 to continue what you are doing to support your community,” Bassam said.

Davila was stunned by Easterns’ surprise. “I’ve never gotten a big check before,” Davila said as she received the giant check to signify the donation from the Helping Hands program.

“It’s people helping people for no reason other than they saw a need and they are serving it and doing it in a creative way, and they are helping the community support each other. It’s really beautiful what you all have been able to do,” Bassam said to Davila and “Rustic Love Vienna.”