Pub. 56 2015-2016 Issue 1

20  COMMUNITY LIVES — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 mentoring programs, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gifts for families in need, and many other programs. Faithbridge United Methodist Church Elswick is very active in his church, having been a lay elder since 2010. He also serves on the finance committee, and in 2011 was the Capital Campaign chair to raise needed funds for the building of a new sanctuary. He also leads the “Grow Group” and teaches 1st grade Sunday School. Other Organizations As well as those highlighted organizations, Community Toyota*Honda*KIA also supports the following organizations with either funding, volunteerism, or both: Northland Christian School Education Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Baytown, West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce, Highlands/Lynch- burg Chamber of Commerce, North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce, Lee College Foundation, Service League of Baytown, American Diabetes Association, Bay Area Relay for Life, ABC13 “Share Your Holidays” Food Drive, Toys for Tots, Trinity Valley Exposition, GatorFest, Crosby Fair and Rodeo, Baytown Youth Fair, and Communities in Schools. Additionally, from 2006 through 2009, Community awarded five new cars to GCCISD students with perfect attendance from the previous year. That people understand that Community Toyota*Honda*Kia truly does care about the communities they serve was proven in 2012, when Roger Elswick was named Baytown’s “Citizen of the Year”, and again in 2014 when JimWadzinski received the same honor. Community has also been named Business of the Year by various organizations such as Communities in Schools, the West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce, and the Highlands/Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce. Of course, the question is: does this work as it relates to busi- ness? The answer is a resounding yes. “As with all dealerships, the economic downturn a few years ago had an impact on our business” says Elswick. “However, the effect on our business was nowhere near as dramatic as it was with other dealerships, and since 2009, our business has grown exponentially. Our involvement in the community has played a huge role in that growth.” This growth has allowed reinvestment in the business, with a new state-of-the-art 55,000 square foot Toyota facility opening in May of 2014, a 35,000 square foot expansion of Community’s collision center, and planned renovations at both Honda and Kia beginning in the 3rd quarter of 2015. 