Est. 1988
Est. 1988
Est. 1988
Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) have been very busy lately paying it forward in the DMV community. They recently found out about a woman named Connie Gilmore who turned her own traumatic experience into a nonprofit organization to empower other women. In 2015, Gimore lost her husband unexpectedly which left her to be a widow. This not only was a shock but an unimaginable loss. Gilmore knew that there had to be women out there facing the same harsh reality. This is how she came up with the idea and formed her non-profit organization, Premature Widows. Gilmore made it her mission to help by creating a support group of widows. They have monthly events where all the women can come together and discuss their life, feelings, and personal struggles in a safe and comfortable place all while still having fun. The women are able to feel comfortable because they have all been through the same journey. There is complete respect and absolutely no judgment.
Through Premature Widows, Gilmore gives back and helps widows on a daily basis. Fox 5 DC an Easterns Automotive Group made it their quest to Pay It Forward to them this time since so much is done for others. Joel Bassam of Easterns donated $200 in gift cards to help with their next pizza party. In addition to that, Easterns will be paying for and sponsoring the rest of their monthly meet-ups in 2018. If you would like to learn more about Premature Widows and how you can help, please 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.
Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.
Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 Dc and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up once again for a special cause. Both parties got wind of an amazing non-profit corporation in Montgomery County, Maryland that was and still is in need of some financial assistance. The mission of Hero Dogs, Inc. is to help our very own United States heroes (veterans) by providing service dogs to them free of charge. This directly affects veterans of the U.S. military and first responders suffering from disabilities. It’s nice to know that this corporation is doing such great work to help our nation’s heroes who have already been through and witnessed so much. Hero Dogs also assists patients that are in need at local hospitals.
Ultimately, nobody wants to be ill or in the hospital. Inova Loudoun Hospital has its very own Hero Dog named Jeremiah that works well with children and is specifically trained to work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Animals bring a sense of comfort to patients because they are so warm and affectionate. They bring out the joy patients need to realize that everything will be okay.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group just knew they had to help out once they heard about all the wonderful things they are doing to bring smiles to those in need. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented a $5,000 check to Hero Dogs to help the organization continue its amazing mission. Hero Dogs, Inc. is always looking for people to give whether it is monetary or hands on. Click here to learn more about Hero Dogs and how you too can volunteer or donate to this great cause.
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.
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!
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!
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