“Todd has that unbounded energy and drive when it comes to giving his time and resources to those in need,” said Rick Schroth, Ford Credit Philadelphia Dealer Account Manager. “Todd has endeared himself to thousands of families in the area where he lives and does business because he has a mission to give back.”

Buch is passionate about education and leadership. His efforts include the Covey for Teens time management program; Rising Stars Youth Leadership, which promotes healthy behaviors and fulfillment; and classroom presentations to educate future buyers on credit worthiness and the process of making a large purchase.

“The impact of these investments will be determined when the young adults we are hoping to inspire succeed, flourish and become the doctors, lawyers, educators, legislators and leading business owners of our communities in the future,” Buch said.

Buch also is president of the Middletown Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission includes area clean-up projects and getting students involved in community service at an early age. Buch’s dealership has donated vehicles to Towns Against Graffiti and committed to servicing vehicles donated by the community for the Bucks County Housing Group’s Wheelz to Work program.

When Buch discovered local youth were using his dealership parking lot for skateboarding, he contributed $100,000 to build a safe skate park. When funds raised for lights for the Pennsbury High School football field were stolen, Buch donated the $30,000 needed. When the Bristol Township Stadium Renovation Project was at risk of losing a $1 million matching grant, Buch donated $25,000 to the fund and challenged other businesses to contribute.

Buch was honored as 2003 Citizen of the Year by the local American Red Cross. In typical fashion, he used the opportunity as a springboard to urge others to become more involved.

“It is caring, compassionate people like Todd who are leaders in their industry as well as their community that give our young children a true role model to look up to,” said Jamie Kravcak, a member of the Bristol Township School District board and Bristol Township Stadium Renovation Committee.

“We believe many problems we see in society and large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles are rooted in a lack of knowledge,” said Conant, president of the Conant Auto Retail (CAR) Group. “Supporting our children through education means so much to our future, community and country.”

Conant and his wife, Cassie, founded the Conant Family Foundation to support public schools and other select nonprofits. The foundation has distributed more than $700,000 since 1997 for needs such as computers and other technology resources to supplementing a school’s budget to hire a science or music teacher.

The CAR Group’s employer-matched Employee Charitable Fund also has collected and distributed more than $500,000 since 1995 to a wide variety of causes, including the Boys and Girls Club of America, Hope for Homeless Youths, Salvation Army, Community Family Guidance and American Legions. Employee groups are regularly organized to build houses for the needy, volunteer at Special Olympics events and support other causes.

“Through the purchase of educational materials made possible by grants from the Conant Family Education Foundation, we are able to open the world to very deserving children,” said Ellen Nathan, National Program Director, BookPALS, Screen Actors Guild Foundation. “David Conant’s caring and generosity is a fine testament to the business community and the automobile industry.”

Conant and his team give in their communities because they think it is the right thing to do. “Being acknowledged for this is like the icing on the cake,” Conant said.

“The state’s school budget was being cut, the teacher contract was up and we needed the superintendent’s leadership,” Eck said. “So I proposed a concept that booster clubs use to keep coaches. I spearheaded businesses to raise private money to pay our ‘coach’ what he was worth to bring his pay in line with other superintendents in Kansas.”

Wichita Superintendent Winston Brooks appreciates Eck’s enthusiasm. “Les really has a passion for education,” Brooks said. “And he’s one of those business people who put their money where their mouth is.”

“Giving has been in the family for 50 years,” Eck said. “Charity comes from within, not as a weekly advertising promotion. Most people don't know how much ouremployees give back to the community.”

Eck and his team didn’t stop with the superintendent issue. He founded the Rusty Eck Ford Adopt-A-School program to match businesses with schools that need help with raising funds and collecting books. Eck and his employees also hold child safety seat seminars, car washes and bake sales; donate property, playground equipment and vehicles; and raise funds through their Neighborhood Maintenance coupon book program – all for causes such as the Red Cross, mobile mammograms, Walk for Diabetes and Race for the Cure.

“Les has a leading, coordinating and financial hand in almost every major charity in Wichita,” said Benjamin Creery, Ford Division Zone Manager. “His enormous and consistent support of the Wichita community over the last six years is unmatched.”

"For the nearly 80 years we have been a Ford Motor Company dealer, part of our mission has been to support our surrounding communities," Mindy Holman said. "Our employees embrace the opportunity to be involved, whether riding in a bike-a-thon, participating in a Day of Caring or contributing to the $500,000 we raise annually for our local United Way."

The Holmans' educational, charitable and community service efforts touch the numerous communities in New Jersey and south Florida where they operate. The Holmans' passion encourages others within Holman Enterprises to support more than 100 local causes by hosting or participating in activities such as blood drives, charity walks, toy collections, flu shot clinics and more.

The Holmans also understand the importance of education for a better life. In addition to the Steward C. Holman scholarship program for children of their employees, they support the "Reach Out" High School Graduation Program, Rowen University Foundation, Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, Coriell Institute, Westfield Friends School and Ford Motor Company's Salute to Education scholarship program. Joe and Mindy Holman have received numerous honors and awards as a result of their dedication.

"There are many Ford Motor Company dealers who are very generous with both their time and their financial resources, so it makes us proud to be honored among them," Joe Holman said.

Mindy and Joe Holman set the standard for civic engagement and corporate community responsibility, said Michael Moynihan, president of United Way of Camden County (N.J.). "Whether it is through gifts of time, talent or treasure, the Holmans have established a culture of giving back that is respected and revered among all leaders within the corporate community," Moynihan said.

The Johnsons don’t limit themselves to just one cause. When they relocated to Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1996 they dove right into a variety of community causes and activities.

“Deb and Casey are truly a team that leads by example,” said Barbara J. Michaels, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Lakota Council. “They give their heart and soul to every project they get involved in and encourage their staff to do the same.”

“The Johnsons’ positive impact on the community is not just financial, but social as well with their volunteer work for many local organizations,” Branch Manager Tom Evans said. “For example, when the Johnsons had a grand opening for their new facility in July, not only were they showcasing their financial commitment to the community, but they raised $8,000 for the Girl Scouts of Lakota Council and the local Domestic Sexual Abuse Outreach Center.”

Other causes and community activities in which the Johnsons are involved include the Public School Foundation to raise funds for projects that do not fall within schools’ budgets, Community Action Network “Character Counts” program to build youth leadership, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Friendship Haven Foundation and Iowa Central Community College Foundation.

“The Johnsons are dedicated to promoting positive character development in our homes, schools, businesses and community to help our youth reach their full potential and become productive citizens,” said Pam Bunte, Character Counts coordinator.

To complement his work with youth programs such as the Boys and Girls Club and DARE, Korum and his wife, Germaine, established the Korum for Kids Foundation in 1994 to improve the health, welfare and future of young people. The foundation, run by the Korums’ daughter, Sophia, donates about $250,000 each year to causes such as local endowment funds for children with learning disabilities and a school computer lab.

At the Korum Activity Center at Life Christian School and Academy, up to 800 minority young people in “The Super Club” have a place to gather to learn people and life skills, play sports, learn about nutrition and gain spiritual values. Korum is active at Tacoma’s Life Center Church and the YMCA, where he played a significant role in raising funds to build the Mel Korum Family YMCA dedicated to his father. At Pierce College, Korum is leading the effort to raise money for a child care facility and works with the PierceWorks! job skills program to train and support older people re-entering the workforce.

Korum’s good deeds do not go unnoticed.

“Mr. Korum gives not only in monetary contributions, but in words, thoughts and deeds as he encourages students to believe in themselves as they dream and find their passion,” said Evelyn Brooks, Worker Retraining program coordinator for PierceWorks!

“Jerry is totally committed to helping his fellow man. He has never refused anything I have asked of him for the YMCA and he is usually asking me what more he can do,” said Roy Kimbel, vice president, financial development, YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County, Wash.

As for Korum, he is grateful for the chance to help. “I have had the opportunity and privilege to witness the results of our contributions to the many youth organizations and individuals in need,” he said. “I look forward to continuing my involvement with the community that has given so much to me.”

“My greatest pleasure is having a young person give me a hug and say thanks for caring and providing them an opportunity,” Shoemaker said. “Henry Ford once said, ‘Business must be run at a profit … else it will die. But when anyone attempts to run a business solely for profit and thinks not at all of the service to the community, then also the business must die, for it no longer has a reason for existence.’ ”

Shoemaker has worked with the Theatre Macon for several years to grow its youth program, especially minority participation. Shoemaker conducts seminars on how to produce a live play, including topics such as advertising, guest appearances, fund raising and producing a live play. Shoemaker also seeded $50,000 for the Riverside Ford Youth Performing Arts Center in Macon and is a longtime board member of the Mercer University Grand Opera House.

“John Shoemaker has supported us not only through his generous donations but through his belief in our efforts to entertain and challenge middle Georgia audiences with quality theatre productions,” said Jim Crisp, Theatre Macon’s artistic director. “John has raised the bar as a challenge to all businesses in the middle Georgia area to become sponsors of arts organizations.”

Shoemaker also boosted the struggling Ocmulgee Indian Celebration, which educates visitors about Native American culture. What six years ago was in danger of closing now enjoys more than 20,000 visitors to the annual three-day event at the local Ocmulgee National Monument.

“John Shoemaker’s interest in our national parks has manifested itself in many ways, but few will have the lasting impact his friendship with the Ocmulgee National Monument has,” said Guy L. LaChine, chief ranger at the park. “Through his tireless efforts the park has received needed congressional attention and area support for additional funding and park expansion.”

Shoemaker supports the Adopt-A-Role Model program and the 100 Black Men organization in their efforts to provide leadership to minority youth. “I work with them to arrange opportunities for the kids to be exposed to cultural and sporting events,” Shoemaker said. “Letting them know someone cares can make a difference. Youth are our future and I want Macon’s future to be in good hands.”

“I have a saying,” Walker said. “ ‘I cannot cure cancer but I can make a child’s life better by being there for them.’ ” Walker serves on the camp’s board, works as a camp counselor, makes hospital visits and speaks to various organizations about the camp. He also has helped secure the financial well-being of Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, raising enough money to make sure it runs for at least the next 10 years.

“Wade has such drive and commitment to a cause he believes in,” said Kathleen T. Segar, Camp Ta-Kum-Ta appropriations director. “Within a short time, not only was Wade an active camp counselor, but joined our board as director of development. He single-handedly has brought in more than $100,000 and as importantly helped to give Camp Ta-Kum-Ta statewide recognition for the work we do on behalf of children who have cancer.”

Walker also supports other youth causes, such as coaching Little League baseball and ice hockey teams and leading the drive to build a playground in Montpelier.

“It is very nice that Ford Motor Company recognizes the hard work and effort that dealers put into their communities,” Walker said. “This award may recognize me as the dealer but all the dealership’s employees share this honor.”