Promoting the ‘buy local’ philosophy when you’re asking people to purchase new or used vehicles is a ‘give-give’ relationship, says one Port Alberni car dealer.
“It’s our responsibility not just as auto dealerships, but businesses in general to support the community that supports us,” says Will Pulford, dealer principal at Van Isle Ford and owner of Pacific Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd., both in Port Alberni.
Pulford is only one example of an auto dealer who is giving back to his community. Pulford moved to the Alberni Valley and opened Van Isle Ford in May 2010, then purchased the Chevrolet dealership and renamed it in November 2012. He has been contributing to the community since he moved here—bringing his philanthropic ideals with him from Kelowna, where as part of the Kelowna Auto Dealers Association he was able to help many charities.
Three and a half years ago Pulford decided he wanted to try and make a large impact with charities in the Alberni Valley. He was already sponsoring minor hockey teams and other charities with different small contributions, but felt he could do more.
He decided every time someone bought a new or used car from his lots, he would donate $50 to one of three charities: Ty Watson House hospice, the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad or the Alberni Valley Charity Golf Classic (which in turn helps the BC Children’s Hospital as well as four or five other local charities).
“In three and a half years we’ve donated just over $95,000 to those three charities,” he said.
The Ford dealership has also seen success with the corporately promoted program, Drive One 4 UR Community. Van Isle Ford has held seven such drives in the past five years: $20 per eligible test drive (to a maximum of $6,000) is donated to a charity.
Ford will hold another such drive on Saturday, May 7 in conjunction with National We Day and are looking to partner with a community charity, he said.
Pulford said donations are also made in terms of time—employees who work at his two dealerships are often involved in local volunteering efforts, and their schedules are arranged around their volunteering as best as possible.
“We’re totally on board with helping make those things happen,” he said.
Lee McNabb, owner at Nexcar Sales Ltd. on 10th Avenue, stays involved in the community through silent auction donations as well as working around employees’ volunteering time.
McNabb opened Nexcar four years ago, and says he is still building his business.
“Groups come in to see us on a regular basis for silent auction donations,” says McNabb. He comes prepared, with detailing packages for them to auction off.
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Some of the groups he has supported recently include the Rotary clubs, minor hockey and the Alberni Charity Golf Classic.
McNabb is also amenable to giving his employees the time off they need for volunteer endeavours. Nexcar mechanic Darren Bondue, for example, is the head of the tech department for Thunder in the Valley.
That is Port Alberni’s annual drag racing weekend.
“We re-arrange his schedule for the time needed for the event,” says McNabb.
“He’s also a referee for hockey. For example, he had a week off for the midget hockey provincials in town.”
Shawn Elder, general manager with the Alberni Auto Group, says the staff at Alberni Chrysler, Alberni Toyota and Cap-It prefer to fly under the radar when it comes to donating to the community.
“We do a whole bunch of stuff but we don’t advertise it,” he said. “A lot of the stuff we’ve done is for people in the community who have needed a helping hand. We’ve had people whose kids are really sick, and we’ll do a fundraiser at the dealerships.”
They also open their space to minor hockey and other sports teams or non-profit organizations who want to host hotdog sales, car washes or even bottle drives.
“We could literally have a department at the dealership for donations,” because they receive so many calls for help, he said. Everyone’s request is considered individually, and they can’t help everyone. But they try.
“My first priority is sick kids or someone who is sick in the community,” Elder said.
“I’ve never been in that position. I have three boys and I’m fortunate nothing has happened to them. When I hear something has happened (to someone else’s child), it breaks my heart.”
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