Auto Dealers Back Charities Even in Uncertain Economic, Global Times

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 23, 2004 -- Despite a struggling economy and uncertain world events, U.S. new car and light truck dealers continue to help their communities nationwide through charitable giving.

Data compiled by the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) shows that nearly half, or 49 percent, of its 20,000 members have contributed to the association's charity foundation in the past five years. Forty-three percent of members have donated in the past three years.

"As the holidays approach, it is especially fitting to recognize the tremendous contributions America's new-car dealers make to their communities every day," said Robert P. Mallon, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (NADCF). "Dealers have a long history of charitable giving and service that goes far beyond the showroom, and this is further evidence of their generosity."

Since its founding in 1975, NADCF has assisted communities in a variety of ways, including:

    * Giving grants to private/independent colleges and universities to help
      students with emergency needs and to further the study of ethics;
    * Disbursing grants to dealership employees who have sustained loss to
      home and property due to natural disasters;
    * Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training equipment to a
      wide variety of health, civic and educational organizations;
    * Helping children with disabilities through canine assistance dogs;
    * Offering scholarships to families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist
      attacks.

The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917 and based in McLean, VA, represents approximately 20,000 franchised new car and truck dealers holding nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic and international.