The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

CarMax Cares Community Service Award Winners Are Honored


car max (select to view enlarged photo)

RICHMOND, VA--Janaury 24, 2012: CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today that The CarMax Foundation has recognized nine CarMax Associates for the second annual CarMax Cares Community Service Award.

Associates across the country were nominated for the CarMax Cares Community Service Award for their personal volunteer efforts and leadership in CarMax community giving. Winners of the award were honored at the company's largest recognition event of the year. Each has selected a non-profit organization to receive a $5,000 grant on their behalf from The CarMax Foundation.

The CarMax Cares Community Service Award winners and the non-profits selected are as follows:

  • Ed Clapper, sales manager, Charleston, S.C. Ed has led CarMax teams in countless charity walk and run events, and he has managed store donation drives and other volunteer efforts with organizations like American Cancer Society and Habitat for Humanity. Ed selected the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge to receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Mark Covey, buyer, Kansas City, Mo. Mark led CarMax associates from Kansas City, Independence and Wichita, Kan. in efforts to assist the Area Agency on Aging Region X after the tornado in Joplin, Mo. Mark has chosen this organization to receive the $5,000 grant as well.
  • Danielle Gibson, service advisor, Charlottesville, Va. Danielle has coordinated blood drives for her store with great participation rates, as well as toy drives and food drives. She also works closely with Boys & Girls Clubs, and spent a week in Joplin, Mo. helping with tornado clean-up efforts. She has chosen the Central Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross to receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Melissa Golden, sales operations manager, Richmond, Va. Melissa has been dedicated to the mission of the Henrico Humane Society for 14 years. She has served as the president and secretary, and has been the fundraising chair for the past 12 years. Henrico Humane Society, which helps place homeless animals, will receive the $5,000 grant on her behalf, which will be used to help cover medical expenses.
  • Vicky Platt, business office associate, East Haven, Conn. Vicky received this award for leading her CarMax team in donation drives and volunteer efforts supporting organizations like Make A Wish, Susan G. Komen, and the Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Toy Closet. Vicky selected Friends of Karen, which provides support to children and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses, to receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Eddie Regan, business office manager, Modesto, Calif. Since 2008, Eddie has led CarMax teams in reading to children, helping with school events and participating in career days through Stanislaus Partners in Education (SPIE). Eddie is an active board member for SPIE and has also chosen the organization to receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Ryan Russek, buyer, Buena Park, Calif. For nearly ten years, Ryan has made sure that children battling cancer at the City of Hope Cancer Hospital had the best Christmas possible. His efforts grew into a community-wide toy drive called Wish Upon a Toy. He and his family also helped create the Relay for Life of Azusa, which will receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Jon Stephens, sales manager, Fort Worth, Texas Jon has managed team volunteer efforts with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House and Tarrant Area Food Bank. Jon chose Wipe Out Kids' Cancer to receive the $5,000 grant.
  • Esther Tedesco, management assistant, Miami Lakes, Fla. Esther has led countless CarMax volunteer projects in Florida and actively volunteers with her church. She has built a strong relationship with organizations like Ronald McDonald House, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Susan G. Komen, Miami Rescue Mission and the YMCA. She chose Autism Speaks to receive the $5,000 grant.

About The CarMax Foundation

The CarMax Foundation is designed to enrich the communities where our associates live and work and has donated more than $10 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a percentage of CarMax, Inc.'s net income from the prior years. CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the FORTUNE 2011 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 107 used car superstores in 52 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2011, the company retailed 396,181 used cars and sold 263,061 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information on The CarMax Foundation, visit CarMax Cares.