Pub. 57 2016-2017 Issue 1

13 FALL 2016 F ranchised car and truck dealers throughout the state contribute more than any other business to the quality of life of 27 million Texans. Principally family owned and community centered, 1300 plus dealers in 284 cities and towns are committed to their families, their faith, their customers and the institutions that drive their communities. One of the most important community services is healthcare; the institution… our hospitals. Texas is fortunate in having one of the most outstanding hospital networks in the world. One of the most iconic is Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas. A member of one of Austin’s premier dealer families, Taylor Harper is a volunteer leader for the Seton family of hospitals. This year Taylor is President of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board of Directors, a tremendous honor but also a significant opportunity to benefit babies who need the services of Seton Hospital’s highly regardedNeo-Natal ICU. With Taylor and T Harper, the opportunity was personal, as their twin boys, born prematurely, spent 21 days in the NICU. Today the rambunctious, healthy Harper twins, the fifth generation of the Capitol Chevrolet family, are examples of the miraculous work done by the Seton Neo-Natal Unit. It is extremely expensive to operate such a special service for babies in need. That is why fundraising and dedicated volunteer leaders from the community are essential to the success of any Texas hospital. Just like other dealers and their families all over the state, Taylor Harper raised her hand and said, ‘I accept the challenge to raise funds for Seton,’ in this instance, the NICU. One of Taylor’s tasks was to lead a team of volunteers in staging Austin’s premier philanthropic event, EASB Live! Twenty Five!, the 25th anniversary gala for Seton’s NICU. Some of the first calls Taylor made were to other Austin dealers, family friends for years, working together in Austin for generations to make it one of the best places to live and raise a family. The dealers, as they always do, came through big-time, not just with contributions but they were in atten- dance at the gala, buying auction items and providing their own donated prizes to be auctioned. Taylor Harper’s hard work and leadership culminated in an extravaganza on the grounds of Camp Mabry, a military base on the west side of Austin, which 1,000 plus revelers will never forget. Capitol Chevrolet was in evidence as well with a display of magnificent trucks and a Nash-Harper table with family matriarch Dorothy Nash and Taylor’s mother-in-law, dealer Nancy Harper, a member of the TADA Executive Com- mittee. An evening of wonderful food, great entertainment and danc- ing to the Bellamy Brothers under the stars resulted in Taylor and her volunteers raising over $800,000.00 net for the Seton Hospital Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit. An extraordinary effort that will save lives and give babies a future that they might not have otherwise had. Dealers working together accomplish so much for so many and Taylor Harper expresses it best, saying: It was such an honor to serve as the Elizabeth Ann Seton Board president this year! Having been a member of the EASB board for the past 4 years, I have worked to support the Seton mission of serving the poor and vulnerable. I was very excited to learn that this year, my year as president, we would be fundraising for the tiniest and most vulnerable by providing building and equipment needs for theMarialice Shivers Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and mother/baby services at Seton Medical Center Austin. Having had my own NICU experience of delivering our twins Tommy and Ferrell at 33 weeks, I could relate in so many ways to the families whomwe would be helping with the funds we raised. It gave T and I the opportunity to pay forward the love and care we received at such a vulnerable time in our own lives. It was so rewarding to be a part of a community that came together to raise an all-time high net of over $804,000.00 The automotive community certainly played a large role by joining together that evening in sponsorships, auction item purchases and direct dona- tions! Thank you to our friends at Capitol Chevrolet, TheMaund Companies, The Covert Family, Mercedes Benz of Austin and Jaguar Land Rover Austin!  of a Loving Mother