Press Release : October 2013

Crown Automotive Group Partners with Habitat for Humanity to Build Two New Homes in Pinellas County

Crown Automotive Group, a leading national auto dealer group, is sponsoring two new home builds with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. Located at 2834 and 2818 35th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, both Habitat for Humanity houses will be completed by the end of the year and Pinellas County will include two more proud new homeowners: the Millwater and Jocelyn families.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Crown Automotive Group, a leading national auto dealer group, is sponsoring two new home builds with Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County. Located at 2834 and 2818 35th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, both Habitat for Humanity houses will be completed by the end of the year and Pinellas County will include two more proud new homeowners: the Millwater and Jocelyn families. In addition to financial sponsorship, Crown Automotive Group will also provide teams of volunteers to help build both homes. All community members are invited to participate.

Jim Myers, Crown Automotive Group president and COO, commented, “Habitat for Humanity is an incredibly noble organization with a purpose that benefits individuals, families and communities. Every day, Habitat helps hardworking, deserving families realize the dream of home ownership. Working with Habitat for Humanity is a truly uplifting experience for everyone involved in the home building process. We couldn’t be more excited to help.”

Habitat homeowner candidates build their futures by building homes of their own. In addition, they invest hundreds of hours of labor into building homes for others. They also attend extensive homeowner classes (such as financial planning and home maintenance) that help them increase their independence and success. After completing this extensive home ownership program, Habitat then sells the new homes to approved candidates for no profit and with interest-free loans. Habitat for Humanity home owners also continue to give back to the community because their mortgage payments help fund the building of more homes.

From now through the beginning of December, the Crown sponsored job sites will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select days during the builds. All skill levels are needed and no experience is necessary; there is a job for everyone. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to work on the houses, and volunteers aged 14 and 15 can help with landscaping events.

Interested community members can volunteer to help build one or both Crown sponsored homes by taking the following steps.

1) Register

Visit: http://cm2pinellas.neworg.com/default.asp?PageNum=29

Scroll down to complete the volunteer form and make sure to click “Save.”

2) Sign up as part of a volunteer group (Crown)

Visit: http://cm2pinellas.neworg.com/default.asp?PageNum=15

Type in the group name “Crown” and click search.

Click “Join” next to “Crown Automotive.”

3) Sign up for a volunteer day

Visit: http://cm2pinellas.neworg.com/default.asp?PageNum=6

Crown Automotive will be working on the houses at 2834 and 2818 35th Avenue North Street, St. Petersburg.

Choose the day you wish to volunteer and click “Register/More Info.”

Ensure the date is correct and click “Register.”

About Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County:

Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County has constructed 279 homes for struggling families in Pinellas County, using locally raised funds. Volunteers and the future homeowners construct the homes, which are sold at no profit and financed with a zero-interest loan. Habitat Pinellas homeowner candidates earn 30 to 80 percent of area median income. For Pinellas County, that translates to as little as $22,500 a year for a family of four. Candidates must also demonstrate need for adequate shelter; ability to pay back a zero-interest loan and willingness to partner with Habitat Pinellas to invest 250 to 350 sweat equity hours. Mortgage monies are used to build even more homes, making each donation to Habitat a perpetual legacy to the community. Habitat believes that home ownership contributes to family stability, leading in turn to community stability. Additionally, Habitat Pinellas raises funds through their ReStore, a home improvement outlet where donated household and building items are sold to the public. For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County, contact 727-536-4755 or visit http://www.HabitatPinellas.org.

Crown Automotive of Chattanooga to Sponsor Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project

Crown Automotive of Chattanooga, part of the Crown Automotive Group, today announced that it will sponsor a Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project to help Chattanooga area children in need. The event will be held at the Crown Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram showroom in Chattanooga on Saturday, December 14, when hundreds of volunteers will form assembly lines to package nutritious meals for hungry children in the local area.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. Crown Automotive of Chattanooga, part of the Crown Automotive Group, today announced that it will sponsor a Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project to help Chattanooga area children in need. The event will be held at the Crown Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram showroom in Chattanooga on Saturday, December 14, when hundreds of volunteers will form assembly lines to package nutritious meals for hungry children in the local area. All volunteers are welcome and community members can register to participate or donate at: Crown Feeding Children Everywhere.

The Hunger Project will include two 90 minute packaging sessions beginning at 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. 140 volunteers are needed at each session to meet the goal of filling 50,000 food packages. Crown staff members will volunteer, working side-by-side with Crown customers and other giving members of the community. Feeding Children Everywhere workers will also be on hand to form the assembly lines and create excitement with music and entertainment.

The packaged meals are a healthy and delicious blend of easily digestible sources of protein, necessary carbohydrates, vitamins A, B6, C, D and E, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, trace minerals and amino acids. The meals are scientifically formulated to help combat the effects of hunger on the human body. The addition of boiling water to the packages is all that is needed to cook the meals.

Don Campbell, CEO of Feeding Children Everywhere, commented, “Crown Automotive Group cares about the community, and is demonstrating this by supporting at least 50,000 meals for children in need in the Chattanooga area during the holiday season, when everyone should have a nutritious meal. We are grateful for their generous support and excited about the event on December 14.”

T.C. Staton, general manager of Crown Automotive of Chattanooga, also commented, "One in four children in our area is at risk of going hungry today. Crown will do everything we can to help alleviate this terrible problem. Feeding Children Everywhere is an outstanding organization with a goal that everyone can stand behind: feeding hungry children. In addition to being an incredibly worthy cause, participating in a food packing event is an emotionally uplifting experience. We expect a great turn out from our staff members, customers and the community."

Crown will also donate funds from each car sold between now and the event, in addition to customers' sales and service donations, and employee contributions. The packaged meals will be distributed to needy school children in Chattanooga just before Christmas. Community members can volunteer or donate to help feed hungry children at: Crown Feeding Children Everywhere.

Crown Automotive Dublin to Sponsor Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project

Crown Automotive Dublin, part of the Crown Automotive Group, today announced that it will sponsor a Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project to help Columbus area children in need. The event will be held at the Crown Automotive dealership located at 6500 Perimeter Loop Road in Dublin on Saturday, December 7.

DUBLIN, OH Crown Automotive Dublin, part of the Crown Automotive Group, today announced that it will sponsor a Feeding Children Everywhere Hunger Project to help Columbus area children in need. The event will be held at the Crown Automotive dealership located at 6500 Perimeter Loop Road in Dublin on Saturday, December 7. Hundreds of volunteers will form assembly lines to package nutritious meals for hungry children in the local area. All volunteers are welcome and community members can register to participate or donate at: Crown Feeding Children Everywhere.

Don Campbell, CEO of Feeding Children Everywhere, commented, “Crown Automotive Group cares about the community, and is demonstrating this by supporting at least 50,000 meals for children in need in the Columbus area during the holiday season, when everyone should have a nutritious meal. We are grateful for their generous support and excited about the event on December 7.”

Mark Wigler, president and general manager of Crown Automotive Dublin, also commented, "One in three children in our area live with hunger due to poverty. We want to do everything we can to help alleviate this terrible problem. Feeding Children Everywhere is a wonderful organization with a goal that everyone can stand behind: feeding hungry children. In addition to being an incredibly worthy cause, participating in a food packing event is an emotionally uplifting experience. We expect a great turn out from our staff members, customers and the community."

Crown will also donate funds from each car sold between now and the event, in addition to customers' sales and service donations, and employee contributions. The packaged meals will be distributed to needy school children in the Columbus area just before Christmas. Community members can volunteer or donate to help feed hungry children at: Crown Feeding Children Everywhere.

Capital Eurocars Partners with Habitat for Humanity to Build a New Home in Tallahassee

Capital Eurocars, part of the Crown Automotive Group, is sponsoring a new home build in Tallahassee with Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Located at 1336 Victoria Street, the Habitat for Humanity house will be completed by the end of the year and Tallahassee will include another proud new home owner: the Baker family.

Tallahassee, FL Capital Eurocars, part of the Crown Automotive Group, is sponsoring a new home build in Tallahassee with Big Bend Habitat for Humanity. Located at 1336 Victoria Street, the Habitat for Humanity house will be completed by the end of the year and Tallahassee will include another proud new home owner: the Baker family. In addition to financial sponsorship, Capital Eurocars will also provide teams of volunteers to help build the new home. All community members are invited to participate.

Crawford Atkins, general manager of Capital Eurocars, commented, “Home ownership is a huge part of the American dream. Habitat for Humanity exists to help hard-working, deserving people make that dream a reality. It’s an honor to partner with this amazing organization that benefits individuals, families and communities. Tallahassee, and the nation at large, is better for the work that Habitat does and we’re proud to support their mission.”

From now through the beginning of December, the Capital Eurocars sponsored job site will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on select days during the build. All skill levels are needed and no experience is necessary; there is a job for everyone. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to work on the houses, and volunteers aged 14 and 15 can help with landscaping events.

Interested community members can volunteer to help build the Capital Eurocars sponsored home by contacting Lorraine Head (LHead(at)crowncars(dot)com or 850-580-8602) to sign up for a shift. A shift is from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Light breakfast and lunch are included during the day.

About Big Bend Habitat for Humanity:

Big Bend Habitat for Humanity is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness in Gadsden and Leon Counties. Habitat selects homeowners based on each family's needs and income. Homeowners help with the construction of their homes by contributing 400 hours of "sweat equity." After moving into their new homes, homeowners make monthly mortgage payments to Habitat. Unlike other lenders, Habitat provides 30 year, 0 interest mortgages.