A sincere thank you to all of the New Car Dealers and supporters who contributed to the rousing success of the 2018 New Car Dealers Foundation / Special Olympics BC Auction! This year’s event raised more than $182,000, raising the three-decade total to more than $4.9 million in support of Special Olympics BC and the work of the New Car Dealers Foundation.
The 2018 auction included 248 popular prizes in the following categories: Automotive and Business, Food and Wine, Lifestyle, Media, and Sport and Travel.
A heartfelt thank you to the many dealers who generously supported this year’s auction by making a cash pledge, donating auction items, soliciting donations, and/or bidding on items – please see the sidebar. Our deepest thanks also go to the dedicated auction committee, who so generously give countless hours to make this event a success for the charities:
- Manse Binkley, Harmony Honda and Harmony Acura
- Doug Bower, Vancouver Sun and The Province
- Marnie Carter, Carter Auto Family
- John Chesman
- Pamela Keith, Dueck Auto Group
- Christina Hadley, Special Olympics BC
- Dan Howe, Special Olympics BC
- Joe Mitchell, Carter Auto Family
- Blair Qualey, New Car Dealers Association
- John Wynia, Harbourview Volkswagen
This year’s fundraising total will help SOBC support both its 18 summer and winter sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The funds are also vital to helping SOBC’s year-round fitness program, and it’s Healthy Athletes’ initiatives.
Through Healthy Athletes, health care professionals receive training about the specific health care concerns of people with intellectual disabilities and how to ask the right questions, helping them draw out issues. Their interactions with Special Olympics athletes lead to referrals back into the health care system that ensures the individuals will get the treatment they need.
Sarah Russell, Health and Engagement Coordinator for SOBC, recently made the trip to Prince Rupert for a Healthy Athletes screening.
“There’s a real appetite for these events in the communities,” said Russell. “The coaches and athletes that came through were really engaged in the program.”
Russell said the athletes were particularly interested in better food nutrition information.
“It’s important to be able to get information like nutrition and healthy food choices into the athlete’s hands. Sometimes they are surprised to find out what’s wrong with some of their favourite foods.”
People with intellectual disabilities experience more difficulty accessing services than others in their communities. Globally, millions of people with intellectual disabilities lack access to quality healthcare and experience dramatically higher rates of preventable disease, chronic pain and suffering, and premature death in every country around the world.
Fundraising from the New Car Dealers Foundation auction goes a long way to improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in B.C.
B.C.’s New Car Dealers have been helping Special Olympics BC change lives through the power of sport since 1984. The annual auction began in 1987 as the popular Casino Auction in support of SOBC, chaired by Sherrold Haddad. Over the last three decades, the auction has continually grown and changed, adopting new technology and tools to strengthen the event to provide significant funding to the New Car Dealers Foundation and Special Olympics BC.
The funds raised by the auction also supports the work of the New Car Dealers Foundation. The Foundation awards CarCareerBC education grants to eligible students in B.C. who wish to pursue post-secondary education or training leading to a career in the automotive industry.
CarCareerBC grants provide financial support towards the cost of tuition and books for recipients enrolled in applicable apprenticeship, training or education with institutions including Vancouver Island University, BCIT, and Okanagan College.
Special Olympics BC and the New Car Dealers Foundation extend sincere thanks to everyone who supported the 2018 auction and looks forward to further growth in 2019.
To get involved, contact Christina Hadley, SOBC Vice President, Fund Development & Communications, at 604-737-3073 / 1-888-854-2276 toll-free or email at chadley@specialolympics.bc.ca.
The 2018 New Car Dealers Foundation / Special Olympics BC Auction Update
A special thank you to the following dealers for making a cash pledge and or donating an auction item:
• Applewood Auto Group
• Auto West BMW
• Bannister Cadillac Buick GMC Ltd.
• Barnes Wheaton Group
• Brian Jessel BMW
• Brian McLean Chevrolet Buick GMC
• Cam Clark Ford Lincoln
• Carter Auto Family
• Dueck on Marine
• Dueck Richmond
• Dueck Terminal
• GAIN Group
• Harmony Acura
• Harmony Honda
• Harris Auto Group
• Jacobsen Excellence
• Jenner Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd.
• Jim Pattison Chrysler Jeep Dodge
• Jim Pattison Hyundai
• Jim Pattison Subaru
• Jim Pattison Volkswagen
• Jim Pattison Volvo
• E.J. Klassen Motorcade Ltd.
• Laird Wheaton GM
• MacCarthy Motors (Terrace) Ltd.
• Metrotown Mazda
• Mini Richmond
• Pacific Honda
• Park Shore Motors Ltd.
• Preston Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac Ltd.
• Smith Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd.
• Tyee Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd.
• Wheaton Chevrolet Buick Cadillac GMC Ltd.
Special Olympics BC is so grateful for the ongoing support of the New Car Dealers who make the auction happen and who bid for the betterment of the charities. Please stay tuned early May 2019 for the Special Olympics BC Auction dates.