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Columbus Auto Dealers Raise A Record-Breaking $165,000 For Charity

Columbus Auto Dealers Raise A

Record-Breaking $165,000 For Charity

2017 charity gala
From left to right: Representatives from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Columbus Speech & Hearing Center and A Kid Again with Jeff Brindley (Roush Ford and Roush Honda), Scott Thomas (Buckeye Automotive Family), Bruce Daniels (Honda Marysville, Toyota Direct and Performance Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM) and Rhett Ricart (Ricart Automotive)

 

COLUMBUS, OH- The Columbus Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) continued their tradition of giving back to the community through the annual Charity Gala at the Columbus Auto Show. The gala, presented by the Dispatch Media Group, was held on Friday, March 17th. Hundreds of people gathered together to support the cause, making this year a remarkable success! Columbus Auto Dealers raised a record-breaking $165,000 for three amazing charities: A Kid Again, Columbus Speech & Hearing Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

A Kid Again exists to foster hope, happiness and healing for families raising kids with life-threatening illnesses. A Kid Again helps families restore a sense of normalcy for their child and themselves. The organization strives to make life for these families feel more like “life” again by helping them gain back moments of solace and a sense of control over their circumstances.

The Columbus Speech & Hearing Center is a non-profit, United Way Agency, serving people of all ages and every income level. Their mission is to help all people improve communication and vocational independence for life. Each year, the Center serves more than 8,000 people.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s mission is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives. This is achieved by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

Each charity was presented with a check for $55,000 by Columbus Auto Show Committee Chairman Scott Thomas of Buckeye Automotive Family. In addition to record-breaking numbers, 2017 will also be remembered as the first year that the charities were presented with their checks on that same night.

The theme of the 2017 Columbus International Auto Show Charity Gala was casino night, sponsored by the CareWorks Family of Companies. Guests were given gaming vouchers to be used at the blackjack, roulette and craps tables, sponsored by Bob Caldwell Automotive, Lindsay Acura Honda, IGS Energy and the Bob-Boyd Auto Family. All proceeds benefited A Kid Again, the Columbus Speech & Hearing Center and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The CareWorks Family of Companies also sponsored a raffle where guests entered to win several prizes: a golf package at Muirfield Village Golf Club, a $500 gift card to the Woodhouse Day Spa, a YETI prize package, and an OSU football and dinner package.

Fred Ricart of Ricart Automotive was awarded the 2017 Automotive Achievement Award at the gala. Born into an ambitious auto dealer family, Fred learned early on from his father the value of community and the purpose of businesses to support it. Today, Ricart Automotive operates in Central Ohio and sells several retail lines including Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia.

Fred continues to support local businesses and events through creative partnerships of media and promotions. His Bio-Power educational program that teaches elementary-age students about the effects of drug use on the development of the brain was introduced to schools in Central Ohio via the D.A.R.E. program and has since become one of the most successful of its kind.

CADA whole-heartedly thanks Fred Ricart for all of his hard work and contributions to not only the automotive industry, but to the community as well.

CADA would also like send a huge thank you to all of the sponsors and contributors, especially the 2017 gala presenting sponsor the Dispatch Media Group, the casino sponsor the CareWorks Family of Companies, and the 2017 Columbus International Auto Show presenting sponsor Huntington Bank.

In addition to Chairman Scott Thomas, the 2017 Columbus Auto Show Committee included Rhett Ricart, Jeff Brindley, Bruce Daniels, Bobby Dawes, Rick Germain, Jim Gill, Laurie Gill, Chris Pettograsso, and Greg Swain.

Find the Columbus International Auto Show on Facebook to see photos and a quick recap of the 2017 Auto Show and Annual Charity Gala.

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2017 CAS

The Columbus International Auto Show is produced by the Columbus Automobile Dealers Association and held annually. Each year, top automobile manufacturers exhibit their newest makes and models to thousands of attendees. For more information on the event, visit www.columbusautoshow.com.

 

 

 

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