Est. 1988
Est. 1988
Est. 1988
As a staple in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community, Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) is known for being a charitable organization that gives back. Usually Easterns tends to help out local people and organizations but this time their reach went overseas. The Firm Foundations Romania organization caught the attention of Director of Marketing at Easterns, Joel Bassam. This non profit is on a mission to transform the lives of disadvantaged Romanian children and families. They do this by providing physical and educational guidance and sharing the Gospel. No one should want to see any child suffering or in need of attention. All children need unconditional love and support in order to prosper, grow, and be successful in life despite their upbringing or financial status. Firm Foundations Romania is committed to providing educational opportunities for the youth and equipping them with the tools they need to serve others. Easterns made a donation of $500 but of our course there are numerous ways to help out that aren’t monetary. They are in search of short and long term volunteers. Donations such as clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies are welcome and appreciated. Please click here to find out how you can help.
Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC recently found an incredible organization to Pay It Forward to. William Craig, Antonio Beard, and Jalen Thomas created the Lead By Example non-profit foundation to teach children the importance of health and fitness. The is done by mentoring, educating, and keeping children of the District active to combat childhood obesity and help develop healthy eating habits while they are young. The three of them are working to implement their program into schools, which would in turn replace detention, suspension, or school punishment. Children would learn various workout programs to reduce stress.
Easterns and Fox 5 DC came together to Pay It Forward the wonderful founders of Lead By Example so that they can continue their tremendous efforts. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented $1,500 to the foundation so that 200 students can go to the Universoul Circus. This will be a fun experience for the kids to bond and catch up with eachother out of school. The volunteers were also given $20 gas card to help transport the children. You too can be a part of the Lead By Example Foundation. Please click here to see how you 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.
Happy June! Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) teamed up with Fox 5 DC once again for another segment of Pay It Forward. The two came across a young 10-year-old girl from Maryland that is doing some great things in the community by helping to save animals. Addy Barrett created her own non-profit organization by the name of Gorilla Heroes to help the endangered mountain gorillas in Africa. She came up with the idea to start a pie-face challenge that will help raise money for this cause. The initial campaign took off due to Addy’s mom Sarah taking a picture of the poster that Addy created and sharing it on social media. In the photo, Addy is holding a poster that says “Save the Gorillas!” Addy’s site has since raised over $1,000 due to the impact of the pie-face challenge. She got the inspiration for the challenge from the ALS Bucket Challenge. Addy got a pie in her face every time a donation was made or a t-shirt was purchased. People were eager to support the cause because they can see she is doing something extremely clever and charitable for her age. While other kids her age are playing on video games or on the computer, Addy is continuing to create awareness about her cause.
Addy’s efforts caught the attention of David Singer, a member of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Singer praised Addy for her generous efforts and even gave her a keepsake from his trip to Rwanda where he got to see the mountain gorillas. It’s only the beginning for Addy and her philanthropic ways. She is set to host a Gorilla Gala on Sunday, June 23rd at A Bit Better Farm in Brookville, Maryland. The event is intended to get kids and their families excited about the gorillas and of course learn more. There will be games, crafts, VR Gorilla Tours, and some pie-face fun. All proceeds from this event will go directly to The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Ellen Degeneres Wildlife Fund.
Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC got wind of the remarkable things that Addy is doing with Gorilla Heroes and wanted to do their part and contributing. Easterns donated $500 to the Gorilla Gala along with t-shirts and a gift-card to Sakura. Addy and her mother Sarah are looking forward to eating at their favorite restaurant. Allison Seymour of Fox 5 DC and Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group were such great sports that the two decided to take a pie in the face on live tv. It’s all about having fun! If you would like to donate
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.
Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up once again, but this time in honor of Military Appreciation Month. The military is the heart of this country because they continue risk their own lives to fight for us civilians on a daily basis. Often times, we forget to honor them and really show them the love and respect that they deserve. Fox 5 DC and Easterns decided that they were going to change things. Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing at Easterns Automotive Group, met with Mike Thomas of Fox 5 DC to pass out gift cards to both retired and active members of the military. The overall goal was just to bring a smile to veterans’ faces and show veterans genuine appreciation for protecting this country and keeping us all safe.
Sgt. Matt Wilkes stopped by to chat and help Pay It Forward to other veterans. He is currently retired after serving 3 tours. According to Sgt. Wilkes, life as a member of the military is much more structured and discipline than life as a civilian. Unlike many of us, he has been able to be both in his lifetime. The key to surviving in the military is having a strong support system. His wife was just that as she raised the kids and handled everything at home when he was away. Sgt. Wilkes just recently received his degree from George Mason University in Cyber Security Engineering and is in the process of transitioning fields. He is proof that there is another life after retiring from the military. It really comes down to what you want in life.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group gave out over $3,000 in gift cards to active and retired military around the Washington Naval Yard. Hopefully you feel inspired to do something nice for any military personnel that you know. We must continue to let our military know they are 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.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up once again but this time to celebrate. Tuesday, May 8th was National Teacher Appreciation Day so the two Pay It Forward partners teamed up to surprise the incredible educators at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School. The day started off with free breakfast courtesy of Easterns. Mike Thomas was able to speak with several teachers to discuss their important role in kids’ lives and understand the reason that inspired them to teach. Joel Bassam, Director of Marketing at Easterns, was got on the mic to address the teachers and also give each of them a $50 Amazon to in honor of their selfless contributions to their students’ day in and day out.
Allison Seymour came to the school later in the day where she met with the principal of Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School, Dr. Clint Mitchell. The two helped surprise a standout 3rd grade teacher by the name of Jamelle Adamson. Ms. Adamson was singled out for going above and beyond to accommodate all her students and always bringing her A game in the classroom. As a community, we should do our best to always make sure teachers make sure they feel 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.
For years, Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) has been a generous organization that loves giving back to others and helping the people of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community. Eastern Motors, founded by Robert Bassam, recently teamed up to donate to the Fairfax County Police Association (FCPA) in Virginia. The FCPA represents more than 1,000 police officers in Fairfax County, both active and retired. The mission of the FCPA is to reach common goals of both the men and women of the Fairfax County Police Department. With everything going on in this country involving police, it’s good to know that unity is at the core of this group. FCPA holds several events throughout the year to celebrate and bring the community together as one.
Donations play a large role in helping organizations like FCPA because it takes funds to continue making an impact. They also help provide benefits to police officers and support staff. It’s important to them that they continue to promote unity and bring people together during times of crisis. The lovely people of the FCPA do so much good for Fairfax County that the people of Easterns decided to make a $750 donation for their generous contributions to the community. If you would like to find out more about FCPA or make a donation of your own, click here.
Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group have teamed up again to do some good in the community. April 30th was National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. The two decided that it was only right that the two celebrate and highlight an incredible local organization that continues to help animals in the area. The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) was formed by the Washington Humane Society and the Washington Animal Rescue League to help animals find forever homes. Each year, HRA manages to help over 60,000 area animals.
HRA has a unique set up because they house everything under one roof, including low-cost veterinary services, behavioral training, and animal care. The donations and support from the community is the reason that HRA has been so successful at this. Easterns and Fox 5 DC got wind of the incredible things that HRA is doing and volunteered to help out. In honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, they made a donation of $3,000 to cover the cost of all pet adoptions on Tuesday, May 1st. It was a success! People definitely came out to support and several now have new additions to their families. The remainder of the money will go to HRA’s vet care fund. The vet care fund was set up to pay for the additional care needed after the animals find a home. HRA is such an incredible organization for going beyond the call of duty to help these animals. We hope that you too are inspired to get involved.
To find out more about Humane Rescue Alliance and to learn how you can adopt a pet, 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.
Earth Lady Programs were founded by the amazing Izolda Trakhtenberg to teach students about Earth Science and natural resources. Trakhtenberg or “Earth Lady” is a science collaborator at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. With all of her experience, she has made it her job to share her environmental-friendly experience with others and encourage people to go green, especially children. If you start teaching children young, they learn and carry those teachings with them throughout the rest of their life. The major reason for going green is to save the Earth and keep it as clean as possible for the generations to come. Trakhtenberg teaches a variety of workshops and programs to students to students in Greenbelt and Prince Georges County, Maryland but also travels all over the world.
Easterns Automotive Group got wind of some of the fabulous work that Earth Lady is doing with the students in the community and wanted to help out. With all the programs and workshops coming up, Earth Lady was in need of some supplies for her students. Easterns donated several items including educational thermometers, beakers, and paint. The students will get to use all of these during their upcoming workshop at Watkins Park. If you would like to find out more about Earth Lady and her workshops/programs for students, Click Here.
For the fourth year in a row, Easterns Automotive Group is supporting Loudoun County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 69. With over 325,000 members and 2,100 lodges worldwide, the FOP is in fact the world’s biggest organization of sworn law enforcement officers. The purpose of the FOP is to protect the police officers from the dangers faced in today’s world. They continue to be a voice for officers that dedicate their lives to protective and serving the community. The FOP also fights for police officers to have better overall working conditions.
The best part about the Loudoun County FOP is their conscious effort to help other organizations to better the community as a whole. They support several organizations throughout the Loudoun County, Virginia community. One of the organizations is called Police Benevolent Foundation (FBF) whose job is protecting those behind the badge. They provide financial support to families of fallen law enforcement officers whose deaths occur in the line of duty. This is extremely important because many of us don’t think about how a family is supposed to move on financially after an officer is killed. The Cops and Kids Foundation is also supported by the FOP. The mission of the Cops and Kids Foundation is to bridge the gap between the community and the police by bringing law enforcement agencies together to start community programs for children.
Another organization that is supported by the FOP is the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS). LAWS provides free, confidential services to anyone who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse. Through LAWS, victims now have an outlet to get advice and seek help. The FOP supports the Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation (LTRF) also. The purpose of LTFR is to improve the lives of people suffering with cognitive, physical, and psychological disabilities through a wide range of activities and therapies.
The FOP helps such a wide range of people through the various organizations mentioned above. It’s clear that the donation made by Easterns will be put to good use. Hopefully others are inspired to give back and do what they can to help others. If you would like to make a donation to the Loudoun County FOP, Click Here.
Over the course of 30+ years in business, Easterns Automotive Group continues to play an instrumental role in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area through their philanthropic and community integration efforts.
Capital Caring is a bereavement program with several locations throughout the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. The organization is based in Northern Virginia and specializes in providing bereavement services for families who have suffered a loss. They also provide care to people suffering with serious illnesses. Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group decided to team up and lend Capital Caring a helping hand since they do so much for the community.
Back in December, the two came together to help the Parkland family who lost their daughter in a horrible car accident in Alabama. Capital Caring was helping the family at the time so Fox 5 DC and Easterns stepped in to give them a vehicle. The Parklands needed transportation to get around so a car is just what they needed. Everything went so well that the two partners didn’t want to stop there. Recently, Fox 5 DC and Easterns got word that the organization was in need of a truck. They stepped in to gift Capital Caring with a Dodge Ram so they can continue their mission to serve people in their community. Capital Caring delivers supplies and serves 1,400 patients in the region so this truck will definitely be put to good use.
“We want to help the community that has helped us for 30 years now. We worked with Capital Caring late last year and gave the Parkland family a car and fell in love with the organization, love what they are doing and found out they were in need of a truck and we want to fulfill that need and help them out and keep them going,” Joel Bassam with Easterns Automotive Group said.
To learn more about Capital Caring and their mission, please Click Here.
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.
Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) serves the hard working men and women of the DC, Maryland, Virginia community. Please visit www.easterns.com to view the inventory and view all 6 locations. Find out why they are the #1 car dealership in the DMV!
Pay It Forward partners Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC partnered up once again to give back in the community. The non-profit organization that they chose to help is called HER Resiliency Center in Washington D.C. The overall mission for this center is to help local women find a second chance at life. Many of the members of HER have faced various struggles throughout their lives including living in shelters, non-stable families, and even homelessness. These are obstacles that no one should have to handle alone.
Natasha Guynes created HER Resiliency Center because she herself has faced life obstacles including being in the commercial sex industry, frequent drinking, drugs/homelessness. Guynes was able to overcome her difficult time with the help of DC’s social service agencies. The community of women there were able to help her get on her feet and make positive changes in her life. Once she got on her feet, she knew that there were other women in the same situation that she wanted to help. Guynes is now the CEO of her own non-profit organization that really does make a difference in people’s lives. The young women in the HER Resiliency Center program are assigned mentors to assist them with finding jobs and housing.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) heard about the great things Guynes was doing with HER Resiliency Center and wanted to Pay It Forward. They teamed by by donating $2,000 and an SUV filled the supplies that were needed for the program. This will definitely go a long way.
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.
Seasoned Settlers is a D.C.-based nonprofit organization that was created by Sweetz LaBamba. The organization provides entertainment and specialty entertainment for the youth as well as senior citizens. Whether it is range of motion, minute meditation, or reinforcing their therapeutic aspects, LaBamba knows the importance of helping others in the community. The live entertainment events hosted by Seasoned Settlers bring smiles to many faces all different ages and cultural backgrounds. The events are able to able to teach and inform as well as bring everyone attending together through music – the universal language. Seasoned Settlers hosts events at a variety of locations including schools, churches, universities, and various facilities. Through the organization, LaBamba has been able to open doors and provide unique volunteer opportunities for individuals looking to give back and make a difference in the community. However, in order to keep this great organization LaBamba needs donations from other members of the community. The donations would help Seasoned Setters get the supplies they need in order to continue providing entertainment.
Easterns Automotive Group heard about the great things that LaBamba is doing with Seasoned Setters and wanted to help out. LaBamba was in need additional supplies for her volunteers to fully execute the live events and provide exceptional quality. Easterns donated a Fender portable PA system, an HP laptop, and a Canon camera bundle. LaBamba, her incredible team, and students were so grateful for the items received that they decided to make Easterns a thank you video. Take a look below!
Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC recently came together to highlight a local woman who is helping to pay it forward to seniors of Washington D.C. Norma Hardie is the founder of a non-profit organization called Embracing Our Pearls of Wisdom. Hardie’s purpose for creating this non-profit was to help seniors in the District and surrounding areas with assistance or small things that they need. One great thing is that Hardie has loyal volunteers to help the seniors cook meals, run errors, and even clean. Older people need help sometimes and don’t always have the luxury of having a family member or friend to assist them.
It’s very important to recognize the needs of the elderly because they are the ones who raised the youth. A woman by the name of Arthalia Pumphrey receives excellent care from the volunteers that help her clean and keep her home in good shape. She suffers from really bad arthritis so it is difficult to walk at times. The volunteers believe in being patient with the seniors and take pride in showing them that they will forever be loved. We definitely could use more people like Hardie and her incredible volunteers in this world.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group caught wind of Hardie and what she has been doing with her volunteers at Our Pearls of Wisdom and wanted to pitch in and help. The Pay It Forward partners donated a $1,000 check, gifts for the seniors, and even gas cards to help with the volunteers travel.
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 how everything unfolded.
Today was a very special day for both Eastnerns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC alike. The two Pay It Forward partners teamed up to highlight and give back to an amazing non-profit organization doing amazing work in the Maryland community. Unfortunately, every child does not have the luxury of just going in the fridge and grabbing something to eat. Many kids are not as fortunate depending on their parents’ financial situation and sometimes even other reasons. A group of dedicated volunteers came up with the idea to help feed the children in Montgomery County, Maryland that do not have enough to eat.
Katheen Sierra moved to Montgomery County from Prince George’s County close to two years ago. Since the move, her family has been struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living increase. Luckily, the Sierras do receive free lunch at Highland Elementary School like many other families. The problem comes into play when these children are not in school because many of them are in homes with little to no food. However, the local volunteers from the Kids in Need Distributors (KIND) non-profit set out to change that. Jeremy Lichtenstein is a Montgomery County native that started KIND after hearing stories of children sometimes going an entire weekend without food. Both he and his volunteers thought this was unacceptable so every six weeks a group of volunteers go shopping at Costco and deliver food to 25 different schools. The food is packaged and put into students’ backpacks on Friday afternoons so they are able to eat during the weekends. Last year, KIND gave over 250,000 meals to 1,700 kids last year.
Although KIND is always seeking new volunteers, Lichtenstein said the biggest thing that they need right now is money to continue buying the food. Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group joined forces on Good Day DC to pay it forward to the volunteers of KIND for their dedication by feeding them, getting custom t-shirts made, and gifting them with gas cards to help out with travel expenses. Easterns also donated $1,000 to help KIND continue purchasing the food needed for the program.
For more information on how to help Kids In Need Distributors (KIND), 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.
Pay It Forward partners Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC came together in the beginning of February to help out and highlight a great cause an a person that is doing great things in the community. They decided to Pay It Forward to Erica Sansing who is in charge of the “We The People” competition club for children at NE D.C’s Kelly Miller Middle School. The purpose of this club is around for schools around Washington D.C. to come together and discuss, and make arguments both for and against the supreme law of the United States. Students are encouraged to participate during their lunch period to prepare for the upcoming competition but are not required. Sansing selflessly gives up her personal lunch time to offer her expertise and spend this time with the children to discuss worldly issues. It’s a great chance for the children to get hands on experience and know what it is like to debate, argue their points, and listen to one another.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Motors (Easterns Automotive Group) wanted to celebrate Sansing for her hard work. They presented her with a gift card to a spa for her to have some personal time and relax. The two Pay It Forward partners also rewarded her with a subscription to a snack delivery service. She was thrilled to receive this especially with her working during lunchtime. Joel Bassam of Easterns thought it was only right to also recognize the students of the cub as well. Each student was awarded a $200 gift card so they can look their best during the competition. The competition was just held on Februrary 13th at the Hill Center in SE, Washington, DC.
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 how everything unfolded.
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