Pub. 60 2019-2020 Issue 4

Making a Difference Unprecedented times call for extraordinary action! These challenging times have placed an enormous amount of pressure on our community's small- to medium-sized locally owned businesses. Many have been forced to make difficult decisions as they were mandated to close as “non-essential” businesses under our county's stay-at-home order. These local businesses were born out of the determination and hard work of their founders, who often started with a good idea and found creative ways to bring their dreams to reality! One way to help drive some revenue into their hands when their doors are closed is through the support of gift card and gift certificate purchases. Putting much-needed cash in the business owner’s hands today can make a huge difference as they manage their finances through the unknown duration of the current crisis. The Hicks Automotive Group launched the “Shop Local Support Campaign” for April with a $10,000 commitment to match any gift card or gift certificate purchased in support of a small- to medium-sized locally-owned business located within 100 miles of Corpus Christi. Any supporter of a locally owned business would purchase a gift card/gift certificate, email us a copy of the receipt and the gift card/gift certificate and we would match their support with a gift card/gift certificate of equal value from the same business! The “Shop Local Support Campaign” was launched on social media and through local television news coverage on April 7th and within one week had already driven $20,000 of much- needed liquidity ($10,000 from the Hicks Automotive Group and $10,000 from local supporters) into the hands of the local businesses! Over 45 locally owned businesses received support during the first wave of the campaign. Hicks Auto Group “Shop Local Support” Campaign: One local supporter captured the true essence of the campaign by posting, “Your event on Facebook gave me so much inspi- ration to give back to our community and small businesses ... y'all are amazing!” A local registered nurse on the front lines offered up her thoughts with, “this is an amazing incentive your company is doing! Way to support our local people! God bless you all!” April 14th, the Hicks Automotive Group extended the cam- paign by committing an additional $10,000 in support of the “Shop Local Support Campaign” to broaden the reach to more locally owned businesses in need of our community's support. Through the end of April, the campaign had supported 85 local businesses through gift card purchases and matching Hicks Auto Group funds for a total impact of over $45,000 in much- needed liquidity to these locally owned businesses. After the campaign, the Hicks Automotive Group will present all of the matching gift cards/gift certificates purchased through our donation to our local first responders and the essential workers working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy during this health crisis. The Hicks Automotive Group and our family of employees are grateful for your support of our family business since 1973 and we are proud of this “Shop Local Support Campaign” helping us pull each other through these challenging times ... together! Cavender Auto Group We provided financial assistance to a creative initiative called “Lots of Love.” A friend of mine had a great idea. As a developer for large retail centers, he decided to build a program that will feed up to 40,000 families by enlisting other landowners, business owners and developers to provide their empty parking lots for another purpose. Now, these lots are being used as food distribution centers on our city’s south side where the need is great. The Waco Police Department at University Kia. We are so thankful for local businesses like University Kia of Waco for taking care of all first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. As you can see in the photos, employees are sanitizing our patrol cars to help protect all of our officers who are still out working every call they are sent on. Thank you, University Kia, for taking care of our blue family here at Waco PD! Ofc. Bynum, Central Texas Living Thank you so much, University Kia, for taking care of our first responders during the COVID-19 pan- demic! Deep cleaning and sanitizing the Waco Police Department’s fleet goes a long way in keeping those on the front line safe. Local businesses like this help remind us that we will all get through this together! University KIA - Waco, TX Miller-Starnes Chevrolet Buick—Rockdale, TX We gave away a $25.00 or $50.00 coupon every weekday during the month of April. People regis- tered by going on Facebook. Every day at 5 p.m., we would get on Facebook Live, spin the wheel with that day’s entries, and whoever’s name it stopped on, won the prize. In May, we are doing the same thing with a twist. You can register all week for the prize that will be given away every Friday at 4 p.m. I have had lots of positive re- sponses and thank you’s for doing this.