Auto Dealers Look to Raise $2 Million for Dealership Families Affected by Louisiana Flooding

Email to a friend Permalink

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

President of the National Automobile Dealers Association Peter Welch, and Anette Sykora, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation announced that they would look to raise $2 million for new car dealership families who were displaced by the flooding.

"At NADA, we view our dealerships as one big family. When a member of our family hurts, we all hurt. That's why it's time to come together and help our dealership family members who are hurting in Louisiana by contributing to the NADA Foundation's Emergency Relief Fund. We call on auto dealers across America to help raise funds to help families through the NADA Foundation's Emergency Relief Fund," Welch said.

Both Welch and Sykora are meeting this week with dealers and dealership employees in order to assess the need for financial assistance. Initial estimates indicate that there are over 1,200 dealership families from 60 new-car dealerships in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas have been flooded out of their homes and desperately need financial assistance.

"The flooding in Louisiana has been described as the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy. Now that the flood waters have receded the real work of rebuilding begins. Thousands of dealership employees and their families have suffered devastating losses from the recent flooding," Sykora added. "The need for financial assistance will be significant and will last for months to come," said Sykora.

The Emergency Relief Fund provides dealership families with funds up to $1,500 affected by natural disasters. Dealership employees can apply for financial assistance through the NADA Foundation's Emergency Relief Fund. To date, the fund has supported more than 8,700 dealership families affected by natural disasters. To apply for assistance or to contribute to the fund, call 703.821.7102 or visit www.nada.org/emergencyrelief.

NADA is calling on its members to donate online to the Emergency Relief Fund. Checks can be made payable to NADCF Emergency Fund, c/o NADCF, 8400 Westpark Drive, MS 7, Tysons, VA 22102. For more information, call 703.821.7233.