Right Toyota is in again this year to help buy backpacks and supplies. Last year we provided over 450 full backpacks all over AZ. Our donation will go toward gift cards for shoes for each child and pizza parties with the cops and kids to get to know each other on a personal level. Valley and State wide event to reach kids in need. We also help Veterans’ families as well working with Helping Hands for Freedom and Munds Park volunteers who help raise donations. MCCCD PD Officers work with officers from all over the valley to select the locations. Exchange Club of Scottsdale, Valley Lions Clubs and AZLEOS volunteers fill all the backpacks at Right Toyota. We will be looking for additional donations, sponsors and volunteers for this event. Date TBD.
And, for the service dogs of Canine Companions for Independence that day was Saturday, December 9, 2018.
Right Toyota partnered up the charity as a participant in this 2018 Fiesta Bowl Parade. The parade participants included local businesses, dance groups, college bands, youth clubs and a Sea of White Labradors Service Dogs accompanied by their handlers or foster family along the 2 mile route down central Ave in Phoenix.
The Fiesta Bowl Parade is one of the most popular Fiesta Bowl events that take place in the Valley of the Sun in the days preceding the annual football game.
Right Toyota has been a proud supporter of Canine Companions for Independence for over 5 years. If you are ever at Right Toyota on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, you might wonder… Why are there so many service dogs in our customer lounge? It’s because as a part of our support for the charity we opened up the dealership to be use as a training facility for the service dogs. A potential service dog is placed with a foster family at approximately 10 weeks old to start off on their journey to become a licensed service animal. These pups acquired by Canine Companions for Independence require 1-2 years of training to become a service dog and to be fully trained in public access skills.
The parade was the first opportunity for me actually meet some of the Handlers (Hander is the proper term to describe a person in need of or using a service dog). Meeting the handers, their family’s and hear the stories of how the service dogs have enriched the lives was truly heartwarming and a ROI that is unmeasurable.
Often in businesses we donate, sponsor or partner up with a charity for marketing purposed and expect a monitory return on the investment. Businesses expect increase sales, higher traffic, referrals and growth to come out of something that was meant to be a sincere gesture of giving.
As the Director Philanthropy for Right Toyota, I have always set out on a journey to learn more about a charity’s needs, mission, and use my expertise to host community fundraising campaigns to increase awareness for smaller charities in the valley. I have never expected a ROI on our giving. I always felt that it would eventually come organically and not measured in dollars and cents.
The training cost for these pets is over $45,000. We are honored to play a small role in helping to prepare the pups to help people who have disabilities, such as visual impairment, hearing impairments, mental disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorder), seizures, and mobility impairment. When a handler is approved for a service dog, they pays absolutely ZERO cost to obtain the life changing gift!
Formed in 2002, the Valley of the Sun Chapter is a dynamic volunteer chapter of Canine Companions for Independence and they are truly making a difference in the community!
To learn more about Canine Companions for Independence, AZ go to http://www.cci.org/locations/southwest/valley-of-the-sun-chapter/
Remember, the purpose of life is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and to make a difference!
Right Toyota in partnership with the Toyota Denver Region and the Arizona Tundra’s Group joined forces to get Brendan Davies, 8 and his brother Wesley, 12 a once in a lifetime NASCAR experience.
I Met Brendan Davies and his family back in April 2018 at a charity fundraiser.
Brendan has been battling illness since he was a few weeks old. At 18 months he was a heart transplant recipient, a few years later he developed a form of cancer most recipients are prone to. Brendan went into remission and was cancer free for the past few years. As of 2017 Brendan’s health has declined and he is now battling lung disease and cancer in his lungs. Brendan is now on Palliative care and classified as terminally ill. Palliative care keeps Brendan as comfortable as possible, by managing his pain and other distressing symptoms. It also involves psychological, social and spiritual support.
When I met Brendan, I was told that his brothers are involved with the Big Brother program but Brendan isn’t a part of any programs due to his illness and the fact people are afraid to bring him out socially. I volunteered to become the families “WISH BUDDY”. I spend time with Brendan and his siblings working on a wish list they complied. The list gets longer every week! I was able to take the boys to their first COMICON, AZ Diamond Backs baseball game where they got the meet the players, countless movies, dinners & dessert outings! We were also successful in raising enough money through a GoFundMe campaign to get mom a New (used) Toyota Camry.
Recently, the kids wish was to go go-cart racing. I tried to find a location locally to make this wish come true but wasn’t able to find a location that would allow Brendan to drive in a go-cart. So, we came up with a plan to take Brendan and Wesley to NASCAR. Brendan has a passion for 3 things, Motorcycle, Trucks and fast cars. It took a few weeks of planning but we were able to get Brendan to NASCAR.
The day included all the things he loved! Brendan was escorted to NASCAR on November 9TH to ISM Raceway by a dozen Motorcycle officers from three different agencies, 75+ lifted Toyota Tundra trucks convoy. Did I mention they shut down the freeway to transport the boys? Well, yes that happened! Once we got to NASCAR the boys were able to do some burnouts in a Police racecar and meet their favorite Marvel Comic Character Dead-Pool. The day ended with the boys being able to meet all the drivers, get some autographs, give some autographs and finishing off the night playing videos games in the campgrounds with our friends from a local radio station. The day was magical for everyone involved! I am truly blessed that Mom trust me to be the kids “Wish Buddy”. Next wishes on the list include: Guitar lessons, WWE in January to hopefully meet his favorite wrestler John Cena.
Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this happen. Please keep Brendan & his family in your prayers and remember wishes do come true!
Sincerely, Jane D’Amelio
7701 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
(855) 754-6966
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