Our Very Own Hometown Hero

Rick Hendrick Donates 10 Chevy Impalas To The Good News Garage

With a turbulent economy and unsurpassed nation-wide stress, there is always one thing we can count on- the Oprah effect.  From the Kindle to Barack Obama, Oprah’s endorsements actually mean something to people and have shown to instantly provide positive publicity.

On her show, Oprah recently  saluted “heroes in hard times.”  One such guest was Hal Colston, owner of the Good News Garage in Burlington, Vermont.  He asserts that when someone’s car breaks down, they cannot get to work, so they lose their job and things just spiral out of control.  To combat this financial kamikaze effect, Colston runs his community garage, fixing up old donated cars and selling them to families in need at a low cost.

When Rick Hendrick, an automotive dealer from Charlotte, heard about Colston’s Good News Garage, he contacted the Oprah Show producers and offered to help.  “HendrickCars.com wants to pitch in,” he said.  To help a few families get back on the road, Hendrick donated 10 2008 Chevy Impalas. “They all get 29 miles to the gallon.  They’ve got 100,000-mile warranties. They’ve all been serviced.  They’re certified, so there’s no maintenance.”  But our very own hometown hero did not stop there.  He also agreed to buy gas for each of the cars for one year.

Everyday heroes do not always make the headlines, but fortunately Hendrick has.  His generous donation and appearance on the Oprah Show was a brilliant public relations strategy.  Car dealerships are getting hit hard right now, especially with GM recently filing for bankruptcy, but Rick Hendrick Chevrolet is managing to stay optimistic, stay charitable and stay in the news.  This message is much more beneficial than any television promotion or newspaper advertisement, as it portrays the dealership not as a power-hungry corporation, but a  company based on compassion and community involvement.