Businesses are often asked for financial help on various fund raising projects throughout the year.
Kutztown Auto Company was approached to fund a well in Africa and while it seemed like a good idea, it required an investment of $10,000. At some point, a business has to make a hard decision of how they can help and where its help is best served in the community.
‘It’s a tough thing when you’re looking at it in the year. What do you do?’ asked Rick Dietrich, general sales manager. ‘You’re hoping to make enough of a profit to be able to give and help out in the community.’
Kutztown Auto made the decision to focus on local community organizations such as Relay For Life, Kutztown, Keystone Wounded Warriors, and local schools.
‘Wounded Warriors raises money for wounded veterans that got hurt in war. There are two programs. Around here the Keystone Wounded Warriors broke away from the National Wounded Warriors. It’s a non-profit organization, but everything stays in Pennsylvania,’ said Dietrich. ‘That way you see soldiers that are helped here.’
It was the same situation for Kutztown Relay For Life. Dietrich believes in the cause and likes being able to see the results of helping on a local level.
This time, seeing the benefit went a little deeper when he got involved with Relay after being approached by his sister-in-law, Joyce Dietrich. Joyce is a survivor who benefited from the support given by the American Cancer Society.
Dietrich remembered how quiet and shy Joyce had been prior to her fight and now she fearlessly fights back as leader of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fleetwood, Relay For Life team.
Aside from allowing the team to sell baked goods for its cause, the dealership pledged $25 for every car sold on May 25 as well as having donated $1,000 and eight cases of water for the survivor dinner held at Relay in Kutztown May 30.
Kutztown Auto has also supported United Way and local sport teams such as those at Kutztown and Fleetwood school districts.
‘That was kind of unique because we had trouble finding a school that wanted to take tickets for nothing. GMC donated all the tickets they could sell and raise funds for the school and GMC sponsored it,’ said Dietrich.
The tickets were for a raffle to win a car donated by GMC. It was difficult to find schools willing to sell something that was a lottery and what it would look like being connected to a school. The schools had the option of setting its own prices for the tickets.
For the 2013 annual Relay For Life, Kutztown, Kutztown Auto was able to contribute $1,300 and eight cases of water for the survivor tent.
The bake sale the Relay team held at the dealership netted over $100 with shoofly pie coming in as the favorite treat of the day. A tasty reputation from last year’s bake sale drew repeat business.
And to top that off, Lamar Turman, senior product consultant and certified technology expert at Kutztown Auto, grilled hotdogs for a festive picnic in honor of Memorial Day.
Go to http://keystonewarriors.com/ to learn more about Keystone Wounded Warriors.
