December 7, 2011
The Holiday Fundraiser is a Spirited Tradition at Classic of Denton
Being connected with the local community is a fundamental priority for all of the Classic family of dealerships. And for Classic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Mazda in Denton, that connection with the local Denton community becomes even more focused during the holiday season. Explains Richard Allen, owner of Classic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Mazda, “Our success as a business hinges on our local community, so giving back to that community is extremely important to us throughout the year and especially during the holidays.” Since they opened in 2004, Classic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Mazda’s employees have raised money during the Christmas season for the under privileged children of Denton County. This year, the dealership has collected $15,000 to stock the pantries and stuff the Christmas stockings for 150 local children and their families. Says Richard Allen, “Our employees get a lot of personal satisfaction by helping these kids and they really get into the spirit and encourage each other to dig a little deeper. Local churches provide us with the names of families in need and we take it from there. Then shortly before Christmas we’ll use those donations to purchase gifts, toys, food and other necessary items and hand deliver them directly to the families. We know that without our help they may not have a present to unwrap or a Christmas meal.”
The tradition of a holiday fundraiser goes back to when Richard Allen was the used car manager at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine. “I wanted to get our employees to rally together so in 1995 we started adopting families. On the night before Christmas Eve, after the dealership had closed, we would pack up box trucks full of presents, food and other needed items on the families’ wish list and deliver them directly to their door.” Apparently, the fundraiser did not stop at just raising money and collecting items. It also included a little creative thievery. Explains Richard, “One year a 50 year old man told me that he had never had a Christmas tree, so after the dealership had closed on the night we were delivering the gifts, I stole the one we had in the body shop. You’ve never seen a bigger smile when we brought him a fully decorated tree.” The body shop manager was not smiling the next morning, however, when he discovered the missing Christmas tree and quickly figured out who the culprit was. “Tom Durant (owner of Classic Chevrolet) called me into his office and asked me if I had stolen a Christmas tree from the body shop. I told him ‘yes, I did.’ He asked me why did I steal a Christmas tree? And I told him that someone else needed it more than we did. That’s the only explanation he needed to hear.”
This year, Classic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Mazda will not only deliver $15,000 in gifts, toys, food and other essential items to Denton County families in need, but you never know…there may just be a missing Christmas tree at the dealership the next day.
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