OpenRoad Auto Group Steps Up to Support Local Food Banks in B.C. and Ontario With Inaugural OpenRoad Walkathon
January 6, 2021 (Richmond, B.C.) – OpenRoad Auto Group is proud to announce that dealership staff and corporate employees raised close to $47,000 for local food banks in British Columbia and Ontario during the company’s inaugural OpenRoad Walkathon. Hundreds of OpenRoad staff associates from dealerships in the GTA and Metro Vancouver as well as head office employees in Richmond, B.C., participated in the charitable endeavour from December 2-14th which saw OpenRoad donate $5 for every kilometre walked based on staff donations and company matching funds.
“We’re so proud of our entire team for hitting the pavement to raise funds for their local food banks,” said Christian Chia, CEO, OpenRoad Auto Group. “We’re really pleased to step up and do our part to help feed families that are in need of nutritious meals. It’s been a challenging year for local food banks due to increased demand resulting from the pandemic.”
A national total of $46,800 was raised for regional food banks. OpenRoad’s B.C. teams in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley raised $41,800 for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, while OpenRoad’s two Brampton stores raised $5,000 for the GTA Food Banks.
Food banks in all regions are experiencing a significant decline in contributions while the need for support has increased during the pandemic. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) supports around 6,000 people every week through their direct distribution across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore. In the same communities, the GVFB also provides food support to around 21,000 people through their community agency partners which includes after school programs, homeless shelters, transition houses and more. A quarter of GVFB clients are children and youth, and 18% are seniors. The GVFB often has twice the purchasing power, and sometimes even four times the power when they purchase items like eggs, apples and onions.
The Greater Toronto Area Food Banks serve a combined 200,000 clients every year with contributions down and clients in need up by 22-200% by region. The GTA Food Banks report that 67% of clients skip meals each day to pay for other necessities like rent. For every dollar donated, the Greater Toronto Area food banks will be able to provide food to hungry children, seniors, families and neighbours.
OpenRoad’s food bank donations were allocated to local food banks based on funds raised per region. On January 4th, OpenRoad’s Vancouver team presented a donation of $41,800 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (see photo), while OpenRoad’s Brampton team will present $5,000 to the GTA Food Banks later this month.
To make a food bank donation or for more information visit: Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Greater Toronto Food Banks
Photos and interviews available upon request.
About OpenRoad Auto Group
Founded in 2000, OpenRoad Auto Group is B.C.’s largest automotive dealership group with over 1,400 associates representing 22 quality automotive brands at 35 full-service retail locations, including 30 Canadian auto retailers in B.C. and Ontario, five collision centres, and four luxury automotive brands in Bellevue, Washington. OpenRoad Auto Group offers car buyers and owners an experiential automotive retail service. With sales and service in multiple languages, OpenRoad Auto Group encourages a car buying experience based on Unlimited Possibilities Ahead. With a focus on innovation and lifelong relationships, OpenRoad offers free memberships in the Club OpenRoad loyalty points program. OpenRoad is proud to be one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, a CADA Laureate, and the recipient of multiple Canadian Best Employer Awards. openroadautogroup.com
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Tanis Sullivan
Tanis Sullivan Communications
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