Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 are kicking off 2020 in a major way! They recently partnered up for their first Road to a Better Community segment of the year. A local photographer by the name of Don Baker has captured the history of Washington D.C. and is on a mission to preserve it for future generations. He has had the pleasure of snapping photos of athletes, musicians, and politicians over his 40 years of being a photographer. Baker’s love for photos inspired him to turn his art into a documentary that he is working on called “The Trappe”. It will be a look back at the famous Foxtrappe which was private black night club in Washington D.C residing at 1601 R St. NW. After the 1968 riots in DC, the Foxtrappe became a place where African Americans could go to enjoy themselves and have fun. Members of the Congress had their own room where they could also discuss business. This was the go to spot for many celebrities and elite as well. Baker is determined to showcase the impact that this now famous club had on the city of Washington. He feels that a documentary would be the perfect form of preservation so that the legacy, memories, and stories can continue to be passed down and shared.

“The Trappe” has been 10 years in the making so Baker created a Go Fund Me to help fund this passion project. He was able to raise $7,500 of his $10,000 goal. This was until Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 decided to come together and give Baker the surprise of a lifetime. WUSA 9 cameras captured Joel Bassam presenting Baker with a $3,000 check on behalf of Easterns Automotive Group. With Baker’s goal now complete, he will be able to finish his documentary and share the wonderful history and culture of Washington D.C. with the entire world.

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

Easterns Automotive Supports Food for Others Food Bank

The holiday season is officially upon us! For some, this is an exciting time of the year to celebrate with family and friends over food.? Many others, unfortunately, do not have the same luxury.? There are more than 75,000 people living in poverty in Fairfax County, Virginia.? A statistic that seems almost unreliable due to the fact that this is one of the Nation?s wealthiest regions.? Food for Others is a local nonprofit food bank that has been helping to serve those less fortunate since 1995.? Many families find it quite hard to make ends meet in general but especially during the holiday season.? Each week, they serve more than 1,800 local families with the help of their food drives and wonderful staff/volunteers.? The ultimate goal of Food for Others is to eliminate food insecurity.

Learn More About Food for Others

WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group got word of their incredible work.? They chose to highlight Food for Others in their Road to a Better Community segment.? A box truck courtesy of Easterns surprised their entire team by delivering 1,009 pounds of food to help pack their warehouse.? As a company, Easterns is no stranger to providing food to the community.? Earlier this year, Easterns supported furloughed federal workers in the government shutdown by donating 10,000 each week to local food banks until the end of the shutdown.? 2019 has certainly been tough but it?s great to know that many families will have great meals for Thanksgiving.? Please visit www.foodforothers.org to learn more and find ways in which you too could donate or volunteer to such a great cause.? Let?s help one another!

It?s important to recognize both incredible people and organizations that work very hard to help others in the community.? This idea is the reason that WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group came together to form their Road to a Better Community series.? They search the entire DC, Maryland, and Virginia community to find great causes to shine a spotlight on and contribute to.? Recently, they got word of a wonderful therapeutic horseback riding inclusion program that also provides equine therapy.? Lift Me Up is located in Great Falls, Virginia and is committed to teaching riding skills to both children and adults with various disabilities.? They are able to help people improve their balance, core strength, and flexibility.? Riders at Lift Me Up range from ages 3 to 60 years old.? Kim Buseman suffers from multiple sclerosis but has been coming to Lift Me Up for 23 years.? ?If I can?t see, feel, tough, or smell a horse I?m not a happy person,? she said.? The impact that Lift Me Up has on the community on its riders speaks volumes.? Thanks to their lovely volunteers and instructors, they have been able to continue growing and teaching more than 100 riders each week.

WUSA 9 and their camera crew recently joined Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group at Lift Me Up.? Bassam presented them with a check for $2,500 to support their 100 for 100 program which will go a very long way.? If you would like to learn more about Life Me Up and how you can either support or volunteer, please visit: www.liftmeup.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

October is upon us which means that it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.? Breast cancer affects more woman than any other cancer.? Before the end of 2019, over 300,000 women in the United States will have been diagnosed with breast cancer along with 2,670 men.? Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 decided to come together for their Road to a Better Community segment in a major way.? They wanted to highlight and give back to those directly affected by breast cancer.? They chose StyleEsteem Wardrobe, a business that creates head wraps for women fighting cancer.? Sonya Keshwani created StyleEsteem after suffering from breast cancer herself.? Going to chemotherapy resulted in her losing her hair which inspired her to get creative with her look.? She began to shop at the fabric store and sew her own head wraps as an alternative to wearing a hat.? It was important to her that she was still fashionable even while going through such a dark time in her life.? Keshwani grew her new found passion into a business when she realized that many others are faced with the same journey.? StyleEsteem Wardrobe has a head wrap collection for every season.

One woman who in particular that StyleEsteem Wardrobe was able to help is Maggie Kudirka aka Bald Ballerina.? As a dancer, her life was affected drastically by breast cancer but she refused to give up.? She continues to go through chemotherapy and dance through the pain.? Her head wrap keeps her stylish and confident when she goes out into the world.? Keshwani has done so much to support the community through her business that Easterns Automotive Group was inspired to make a donation.? Joel Bassam of Easterns presented StyleEsteem Wardrobe with a check for $2,500 to continue their incredible efforts.? Not only will this money be used to create new head wrap collections but it will also be used for their one for one donations.? If you would like to learn more about StyleEsteem, order a head wrap, or make a donation ? please visit www.styleesteemshop.com

Please also educate yourself and those around you on the topic of Breast Cancer. ?When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 100%. www.nationalbreastcancer.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

Easterns Automotive Group and WUSA 9 Recognize Camp Kesem

These days, it seems as though most people have been affected by cancer in some way. There are more than 100 types of cancer to date that of course have various causes. While cancer affects people of all ages, many times the trauma that children experience in relation to cancer goes unnoticed. WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group saw the tremendous work that Camp Kesem was doing for children affected by cancer and wanted to get involved.

Camp Kesem – Supporting Children of Parents with Cancer

Camp Kesem is the largest national organization dedicated to supporting children impacted by a parent?s cancer at no cost to families. They serve children that have lost a parent to cancer, have a parent undergoing cancer treatment, or whose parent is a cancer survivor. Over 5 million children have been impacted by the parent having cancer so this foundation is needed. The camps are run by passionate college volunteers that sacrifice their personal time to invest and empower children. Kids just want to have fun during the summer and Camp Kesem gives them the chance do to just that. They are also provided a safe place and a proper outlet to talk about their various experiences without feeling judged. Many of the volunteers have been directly affected by cancer themselves so they are able to share their personal experiences and offer insight and advice. In 2018, Kesem served nearly 9,000 children which is incredible being a nonprofit organization that relies strictly on fundraising and donations. Children and teens ages 6 to 18 are welcome to attend each summer free-of-charge. They offer a wide network of camps across the United States that is attended by kids coast-to-coast.

Joel Bassam and Easterns Donates to Camp Kesem

WUSA 9 and Easterns Automotive Group invited staff from Camp Kesem to the studio where they presented them with a very special surprise. Joel Bassam donated $2,500 on behalf of Easterns to help continue their incredible mission. Giving back is necessary especially when wonderful organizations like this are doing the right thing and making such a great impact in the community. If you would like to find out more information about Camp Kesem or about how you can get involved, please visit www.campkesem.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

Easterns Automotive Donates to Local School’s Effort to Go Green

Why Go Green?

The concept of going green has been a hot topic for years now. It means making better decisions when it comes to the environment such as reducing pollution, conserving energy and resources, and reducing consumption and waste. The overall goal is to save our planet and keep our earth as clean as possible. The changes one can make can be big or small including shopping in bulk, bringing your own bag while shopping, and avoiding products with microbeads. The principle of reduce reuse recycle is also a very important aspect of going green. When we reduce our waste, we use less energy and resources. Reusing items helps us reduce consumption of new materials and reduce our waste. Recycling is key as that allows us to reuse materials to make new items.

Local Prince Georges County School Goes Green

Buck Lodge Middle School in Prince Georges County, Maryland has implemented going green into their school culture. They are a PGCPS certified green school where both students and teachers work hard to keep our planet clean. There is a gardening program at Buck Lodge that teaches students how to grow produce and educates them on the importance of eating healthy. Programs like this encourage students to get up and be active. As a school, Buck Lodge has many goals and ideas for future projects but they require funding. Some of the many upcoming projects include invasive species removal, creating a sensory garden, and adding benches for teachers and students.

Easterns Automotive Group Pitches In

WUSA 9 and Fox 5 DC got wind of their incredible work and decided to pitch in. WUSA 9 cameras visited Buck Lodge Middle School for their Road to a Better Community segment. They are very big on highlighting people or groups in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community that are making a difference. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) donated a total of $2,000 in Lowe?s gift cards to support their wonderful efforts and help kick off their future projects. As a community, we must continue to invest in and support our youth.

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 Supports Congressional Award Foundation

What does the Congressional Award Foundation do?

The youth play a critical role in shaping the future of this country.? Congress created a foundation and charity called The Congressional Award Foundation to highlight and encourage young people to stretch into the areas of volunteerism, physical fitness, personal development, and expedition/exploration.? Awards are given out to honor those that have reached their goals and surpassed expectations.? The overall goal is to show young people how to be well-rounded and diverse individuals in many aspects of life.? There are over 54,000 young people currently enrolled in the foundation.? It is truly incredible to see so many students pushing themselves to new heights while motivating and inspiring others in the process.? The foundation has a partnership with the Washington Nationals that allows participating youth to come to games and see their photos on the jumbotron.

Joel Bassam Presents Donation to the Foundation

WUSA 9 and Fox 5 DC thought that it would only make sense to highlight The Congressional Award Foundation and discuss their amazing work.? The two have created the Road to a Better Community segment where they find people and organizations that are making a difference in the D.C. metro community.? Paxton Baker, Chairman of The Congressional Award Foundation was joined by Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group at WUSA 9 studio for a very special surprise.? Bassam presented Baker with a 2,500 check donation for the foundation on behalf of Easterns.? This money will go back into the foundation to continue enriching the lives of the youth.? Bassam also promised to match any additional donations until July 17^th.? If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to The Congressional Award Foundation, please click here.

Learn about the Easterns / WUSA 9 Partnership

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

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 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