New Jersey auto dealers care about their communities. From supporting and fundraising for local charities to engaging with elected officials at a grassroots level — they do it all! Giving back is a way of life for them, and New Jersey is better because of it.
Dealer Philanthropy
Great job, Frank’s GMC, for raising $7,000 to donate to several food pantries and helping give back to the community in a generous way.
At Lester Glenn Subaru, every drive means more. That’s why they’re proud to support the Point Pleasant Challenger Flag Football Program, which helps children with special needs learn the value of teamwork, inclusion, and building a brighter future. Since 2020, Subaru and Lester Glenn Subaru have donated over $67,000 to help foster these opportunities.
Since 2014, New Jersey’s franchised neighborhood new car and truck dealers have raised over $3.5 million to help support the more than 6,500 children with cancer and blood disorders treated at Valerie Fund Children’s Centers.
Read the article on how New Jersey auto retailers united on The Road Ahead for kids of The Valerie Fund in honor of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Great job, Raceway Nissan Kia, for giving back to your local community by supporting the following charitable organizations:
- Donated $15,000 to the Liv Like A Unicorn Gala
- Donated $10,000 to the Children’s Specialized Hospital
- Sponsored a 5K Heart Walk for the CentraState Healthcare Foundation
Congratulations to RK Chevrolet Kia Subaru — Vineland for raising over $1 million for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign! RK Chevrolet is the fourth group in Making Strides history to reach this momentous milestone, and NJ CAR is proud to recognize New Jersey dealers for all their philanthropic efforts.
Read the full article on this amazing feat.
Congratulations to Pine Belt Mazda on hosting a successful event where, for every test drive, $50 was donated to Point Pleasant Borough High School as a part of the Be Moved drive program. By the end of the event, Pine Belt Mazda raised $10,000 for the school’s Be On Point program!
Wonderful job, Dayton Toyota, for donating more than $21,000 to The Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad Inc. (MJFAS) of South Brunswick Township. MJFAS is a volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency care to residents and visitors as a courtesy service to the community.
Awesome job, Circle BMW, for supporting a local charitable cause in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October to help give back to the community you faithfully serve each and every day. Circle BMW pledged to donate $100 for every new BMW sold to the Breast Health Fund at Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey. A check in the amount of $12,400 was presented by Thomas J. DeFelice, III to Nicole Picaro, MBA (left) and Sheri A. Marino, MA, CCC-SLP (right).
Dealership Highlights
Congrats to New Jersey dealer Fred Beans (pictured center), a 50-year industry veteran and icon, as well as the third-ever recipient of Ford Motor Company’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Beth Beans Gilbert, VP of the Fred Beans Automotive Group, and her husband (and Group COO), Chris Gilbert, formally accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award in Las Vegas on behalf of her father. Representatives from Ford Motor Company also recently visited one of his 30 dealerships to honor Fred in person.
Congratulations to Miller Ford Lincoln on being recognized by Ford as a winner of the 2025 Salute to Dealers award for demonstrating exceptional dedication in their commitment to give back to the community they serve each day.
NJ CAR Engagement
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta and NADA Director/Former Chairman Rick DeSilva, Jr. (Liberty Subaru) spoke with NJ Spotlight News about how changes in state policy are negatively impacting EV sales.
They focused on the unrealistic Advanced Clean Car II (ACCII) mandate that New Jersey currently must meet, as well as the combined impact of cutting the EV incentive for many potential buyers, implementing a $1,000+ EV registration fee, phasing out the EV sales tax exemption and a slower-than-expected EV charging infrastructure.
NJ CAR attended ChargEVC’s Expo & Conference, including panel discussions on navigating the future of EV policies, incentives, charging, growth and servicing EVs. Attractions at the expo also included an EV showcase and EV Ride & Drive supported by New Jersey’s new car and truck dealers.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta discussed the good news on ending the sales ban on gas- and diesel-powered vehicles in the state of New Jersey. Read NJ CAR’s press release on this update.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta has been selected to be a part of Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill’s Interdisciplinary Advisory Task Force (IATF), bringing together voices representing labor, business, veterans, the environment, healthcare, education, and more. The IATF provides input for the new administration on a variety of statewide policy issues important to businesses and consumers.
Laura will ensure the new administration is made aware of the impact potential policies would have on the auto retail community AND New Jersey consumers.
NJ CAR President Laura Perrotta participated in the Sherrill-Caldwell Transition Team Policy Summit earlier today, where she had the opportunity to share some of New Jersey auto dealers’ priorities with the new administration.
Laura and the other attendees had the opportunity to hear from Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill, and Laura was able to speak with both Lieutenant Governor-Elect Dale G. Caldwell, MBA, Ed.D., and Chief of Staff Designee Alex Ball.
