Est. 1988
Est. 1988
Est. 1988
The District of Columbia is known for various historic African American historic grounds. One of these places is the Woodlawn Cemetery located on Benning Road in Southeast DC. The cemetery sits on 22 acres of land with about 36,000 people buried there. Some notable figures that are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery include Blanche K. Bruce, Wilson Bruce Evans, and John Wesley Cromwell. Blanche K. Bruce was the very first black Republican senator to serve full term in Congress. Wilson Bruce Evans was a prominent abolitionist that owned a house on the Underground Railroad. His house was a frequent stop for travelers such as Harriet Tubman. John Wesley Cromwell was a lawyer, teacher, civil servant, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist. However, even though Woodlawn Cemetery was their final resting stop, the land was not well maintained over the years. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 but still nothing had been done about the land being overgrown and very dangerous.
Thanks to Tyrone Carter and the Woodlawn Cemetery Association, they took it upon themselves to step up and revitalize the historic cemetery. It was important to them to have the families of deceased loved ones to make the land clean and neat for tourists. Something that is a tremendous part of history like shouldn’t just be left untreated. For this reason, Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group teamed up to Pay It Forward by helping the Woodlawn Cemetery Association continue the restoration process. Joel Bassam of Easterns announced that they will be donating $5,000 worth of landscaping courtesy of SML services. With these funds, they will be able to clear debris and replace headstones. It is important that Woodlawn Cemetery gets back to its original condition. Shout out to both Tyrone Carter and the Wood lawn Cemetery Association for their incredible work!
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.
Teacher Appreciation Week took place from May 5th through the 11th. Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC connected to Pay It Forward to a group of incredible educators at Randle Highlands Elementary School in Southeast DC. Being a teacher in America is one of the hardest jobs anyone can have. The level of patience, care, and knowledge that it takes to educate children is truly remarkable. Many times, teachers are not appreciated and celebrated on the level that they should be. Mike Thomas of Fox 5 DC was on hand to highlight all of the wonderful teachers and the impact that they have on their students. Mrs. Wilson was one of the teachers that allowed cameras in her classroom during a short presentation that she did for her students. Like many teachers, her goal overall is to ensure that the children are having fun throughout the process of learning.
The group of teachers at Randle Highlands Elementary School is truly an incredible bunch because they operate as a family. This is not an easy feat while serving over 350 students but they remain dedicated to their craft. For their tremendous contributions, Easterns and Fox 5 DC surprised them all with a catered breakfast, notebooks, and a $50 dollar gift card for every teacher. It is extremely important that teachers everywhere know how much they mean to the community. They are the leading force in pushing our children to be the best they can be.
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.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! This is a special time of the year for mothers across the world to be recognized, appreciated, and celebrated for all of their hard work. Being a mother is a hard job but being a mother in the military is another level of difficulty. Fox 5 DC captured a very special moment last month when they followed Shadia Everett of Fairfax County, Virginia to surprise her son, James at his school. James is a student at Riverside Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia. As a Navy petty officer, Everett was only given one week to visit the U.S. and leave her station at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa. The joy and excitement on both of their faces spoke volumes. Small moments like that become memories that last a lifetime especially when you are unable to see your loved ones everyday.
Easterns Automotive Group was so inspired by the clip that they decided to partner with Fox 5 DC to Pay It Forward. Initially, Everett was the one trying to surprise her son but this time she was the one to get surprised. Easterns and Fox 5 DC came together to provide Everett, James, and close family members with a limo ride to the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The family was treated to an early Mother’s Day brunch since Everett won’t be home the actual holiday. It was a very special day for the family because it truly does take a village to raise a child. While Everett is deployed, James is in the loving care of his grandparents, aunt, cousins, and even church members. Mother figures are extremely important because James is still able to receive that love even though his mom is not always able to be present. All of these wonderful people did not hesitate to step up to the plate and help while Everett is hard at work hoping to provide a nice future for both her and James. We would like to send a special shout out to each and every single mother that works tirelessly to provide for their family. You are 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.
Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.
Easterns and WUSA 9 are back! They pair recently joined forces to do a brand segment of their Road to a Better Community series. It was important for them to end the month of April on a positive yet inspirational note. Both were able to accomplish this by finding and highlighting Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc (LARS). LARS is 501c3 non-profit organization that serves both homeless and low-income families in Laurel, Maryland. With Laurel stretching across 3 counties, they are able to impact the residents of Prince George’s, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties. An incredible team of local social workers run the program and keep it going. Being that LARS is a non-profit, they survive on financial donations and volunteer support from their faith-based partner organizations. Some of their stats for March 2019 include 469 bags of food distributed, 77 referrals, and 5 households assisted with rent (just to name a few). They are doing such great work helping people in the community achieve stability. We need organizations like LARS all across the county to help those in need. Sometimes, all people need is someone to show them love and compassion that can be used as motivation to move in a positive direction.
WUSA 9 and their camera crew went to the LARS Headquarters to meet the staff. The LARS team received a huge surprise when Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented the organization with a check donation of $2,500. This money will be used to help atleast 2-3 households with rent along with adding food to the food pantry. More people will now be helped which is truly amazing. If you would like to learn more about LARS and see how you can get involved by volunteering or making a monetary donation, please click here.
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
When it comes to Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group, giving back to the community is a year-round activity. Through their Pay It Forward campaign, they are able to highlight individuals who show selfless acts of kindness and those working to bring the community closer together. The government shutdown affected hundreds of thousands of people back in January. Many families suffered during this time because federal workers were not getting paid. Without pay it makes it very hard to provide basic necessities such as food. Prince William County teen resident, Eric McKay stepped up to the plate and donated his lifetime supply of peanut butter to furloughed government workers. McKay suffers from Autism but everyday he chooses to fight through his obstacles like a champ and find ways to impact the lives of others.
Lidl, a local grocery store with several locations in Virginia saw McKay’s generosity along with his good deeds and wanted to get involved. They decided to partner with McKay in honor of National Autism Awareness Month by adding his picture to the front of their brand peanut butter. His nickname is Bean so the jar will say “Lidl Beanut Butter”. For the entire month of April, you will be able to purchase his limited addition peanut butter at Lidl. 10 cents of every jar purchased will go towards the Autism Awareness Society of America. Fox 5 DC went to Lidl’s in Dumfries, VA to support Mckay and be a platform to help spread the word. While there, Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group surprised him with a check for $2,000 which is equivalent to about 20,000 jars of Lidl’s Beanut Butter. This money will be donated to the Autism Society of America as well. Good deeds like Bean’s never go unnoticed. It is truly great to see that so many others will benefit from his spirit of giving. Please click here to learn more about Autism as a whole and find ways that you too 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.
Watch the video to see the way everything unfolded.
There is nothing worse than seeing worse than seeing an innocent child left hungry. Unfortunately in the District, this became a problem saw more and more frequently. Stoddert Elementary School decided to step in and do something about it. The students of their 5-grade class created the idea of a Share Table. Every day at the end of lunch, students can put any remaining food that is unopened around in baskets that are conveniently placed around the lunchroom. This makes food readily available for any students that are still hungry or want a snack.
Three parents got wind of the Share Table from their very own DC Public School students. Lucie Leblois, Alysa MacClellan, and Krista Weymouth came together to create the DC Food Project. They plan to implement both their Share Table and Backpack Program into several schools with hopes to expand it throughout the entire school system. Stoddert Elementary of course inspired the Share Table while the Backpack Program was an original idea that these three ladies sat down and created together. The Backpack Program sends food home with students in need on Fridays so that they will have food to eat over the weekend.
There is no way that Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group could not step in and help their amazing program. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented a check for $2,700 to the DC Food Project to allow these three moms to continue doing their great work.
If you would like to learn more about the DC Food Project and find out how you too can get involved, 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.
Pay It Forward partners Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC give to deserving people and organizations all year round. However, this particular nonprofit organization is very special because it enriches the lives of individuals with physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges. Loudoun Therapeutic Riding (LTR) at Morven Park continues to help both veterans and people with disabilities free of charge to fulfill their mission. For many people, it is their very first time riding a horse when working with LTR. They have been able to make tremendous progress in the lives of many. Loudoun Therapeutic Riding helps more than 100 people each week through their herd of 14 horses.
Easterns and Fox 5 DC decided to help step in because they want Loudoun Therapeutic Riding to be able to continue their amazing work. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented Loudoun Therapeutic Riding with a check for $2,000 to help with their upcoming 2018 Ride-A-Thon.
Please click here to learn more about Loudoun Therapeutic Riding.
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 Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) are back with a brand new episode and this one is a tearjerker. Cynthia Cogdell is a retired teacher from the Prince Georges County School district. Many times when teachers retire, they cannot wait to relax and get away from children. This is not the case for Ms. Cogdell who still dedicates her life to helping children without a paycheck being attached. Every morning before school, she meets and greets the children in her neighborhood at the bus stop. Her main goal is to help keep them safe and provide snacks to the kids so they can start their day right. Ms. Cogdell’s daughter uploaded a video to social media of her mother tending to the children at the bus stop and it went viral on social media.
Easterns Automotive Group and Fox 5 DC got wind of what Ms. Cogdell was doing and knew they wanted to do something nice for her. It takes a selfless individual to sacrifice their time, energy, and money to help others. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented Ms. Cogdell with tickets up an upcoming Washington Redskins games, a signed Ryan Kerrigan jersey, a certificate for a spa day, and more snacks for the students at the bus stop. She was overjoyed by the surprise. It’s clear that Ms. Cogdell has a lot to look forward to. With all the time and effort that she puts into the children, she too deserves to enjoy herself!
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 (Eastern Motors) have teamed up yet again to help out a deserving nonprofit foundation. With September being pediatric cancer awareness month, the pair figured that it would only make sense to help and highlight a nonprofit built on helping kids fight childhood cancer. Sharday Richardson of Virginia created the Forever Moriah Foundation this year in honor of losing her oldest daughter. Moriah, Richardson’s daughter, passed in 2013 just shy of her fifth birthday. She was given between nine months to a year to live. The pain of losing a child is near and dear to her heart because she went through this first hand. Many do not know that the survival rate for pediatric cancer is 85 percent yet many children still lose their lives.
Richardson and her family went through such a hard time losing her daughter. She knew that she wanted to help other people on their journeys as well. This resulted in the birth of the Forever Moriah Foundation. Fovever Moriah works closely with young cancer patients at Children’s National Hospital to celebrate their birthdays and completion of treatment with a big party for them and their family. Richardson’s courage and strength to turn her pain into something so selfless and amazing is a true testament of paying it forward. Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group came into this with a goal of not only helping the foundation but also putting a smile on Richardson’s face. She will be enjoying a Spa Day courtesy of Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group. Well deserved! Easterns will also be covering the next party thrown by the Forever Moriah Foundation at Children’s National Hospital. Click here to learn more about the Forever Moriah Foundation and find out how you too can get involved and help.
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.
Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) have teamed up yet again to Pay It Forward to a very special cause. The W.I.R.E. stands for Women Involved in Reentry Efforts and is a DC based nonprofit organization is doing great work in the community by helping both families and children of incarcerated women. Depending on the situation or circumstance, children don’t get to see their mothers while they are incarnated so this organization steps in to make sure incarcerated mothers see and have a relationship with their children. The group offers financial assistance as well as transportation for children to see their mothers. The W.I.R.E. also offers peer support for women that are returning from being incarcerated.
The W.I.R.E is led by Tanisha Murden and Cheleta Tuckson who turned their pain into purpose because they too were previously incarcerated. It is an ongoing struggle to keep the organization going because it is run solely on donations from generous people. Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group stepped in to help this amazing nonprofit for the hard work and good that they do in the community. Joel Bassam of Easterns Automotive Group presented the group a check for $2,000 to help them with their cause. He also gift $250 in gift cards to Donnell Chapman who shared his own personal story on the Fox 5 DC segment about growing up with an incarcerated mother. If you would like to learn more about The W.I.R.E. and also see how you too can make a donation, 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.
Pay It Forward partners Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group (Eastern Motors) have teamed up yet again. The pair found a very special organization to give back to. A 7-year-old girl by the name of Myanna created her own non-profit organization named MyannasHeart based off a personal experience. When Myanna was just 5 months old, she had her very first open heart surgery and has undergone several surgeries since. After enduring such a traumatic experience both mentally and physically, she made it her purpose to help other children with their own hospital experience.
MyannasHeart is a non-profit organization that gives tote bags filled with goodies to children at Inova Children’s Hospital. Some of the goodies included in the tote toys, blankets, and puzzles. These small things can make a child’s hospital stay that much more comfortable. Kudos to Myanna’s mother Sheri Kempton for stepping up to the plate and taking the steps to ensure that her daughter’s dream came to life. When Fox 5 DC and Easterns Automotive Group got wind of this they immediately wanted to help. Fox 5 DC invited Myanna and her family on Good Day DC where Joel Bassam of Easterns surprised them live on air with toys, supplies for their bags, and a check for $1,000 to help them on their mission. If you would like to learn more about MyannaHeart 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 (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.
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.
© 2019 Easterns Automotive Group - All Rights Reserved.
