Mix the old-fashioned values of hard work, honesty and kindness and you get Fred Beans, who has made a lasting impact on his eastern Pennsylvania community and beyond.

Fred achieved a dream when he bought his first Ford dealership 31 years ago. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to grow his business into a successful company with values grounded in customer service, employee development and community enrichment. His three daughters work for him and are active in the community, as are hundreds of employees.

“It’s important to me that my involvement and the involvement of my company be meaningful and engaging,” said Fred, who owns seven Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships in eastern Pennsylvania. “Giving back to the community is good business and a sound personal strategy.”

Bruce Katsiff, executive director of the James A. Michener Art Museum, is a big fan of Fred Beans. “From quality transportation products, to thousands of jobs in our community, to philanthropic support for hospitals, churches, schools, social service agencies and museums, this region is a better place to live because of the presence of the Beans organization,” he said.

The museum was built in the historic former home of the Bucks County jail and is maintained with Fred’s active support. A program that awards museum passes to every Beans vehicle purchaser also gives the museum ongoing operating support.

At the Central Bucks Family YMCA, Fred’s generosity helped build a playground for young families to enjoy and provided a major renovation of the gymnasium.

Fred supports many other local projects and causes, such as the Heritage Conservancy, Boy Scouts, Delaware Valley College, a high school mentoring program, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, reading programs, teacher education, the public library and local sporting teams.

Fred and his employees recently reached outside their community through the Bucks-Mont ( Pa.) Katrina Relief Project, which adopted the Waveland-Bay St. Louis communities in Hancock County, Miss. After flying a task force to the area to study the hurricane’s devastation, Fred challenged his employees to raise $100,000 to furnish a new childcare center.

Always on the go, Fred is a staunch advocate of healthy living and encouraged the establishment of a committee to foster healthy lifestyles among employees with workplace programs, such as smoking cessation, weight loss, flu shots and heart health.

Being a champion for Colorado youth as they pursue excellence in education, sports and recreation is all in a day’s work for Jay Cimino, CEO of Phil Long Dealerships.

Jay built his company on a passion for solid business practices, commitment to the community and lasting relationships – all learned at the side of his late partner, Phil Long. Over the years, Jay has provided more than $3 million for hundreds of community initiatives.

“I believe that giving back to the community is quite an honor,” he said. “It’s what I can do, so we do it.”

In 1991, Jay established the Phil Long Community Fund to focus his commitment to local youth. “The Community Fund is about providing opportunity for youth – from basic needs, education supplies and learning and adventure camps, to music, art and science scholarships – anything to enhance the lives of young people,” Jay said. Grant recipients include El Pueblo Boys & Girls Ranch, Colorado Springs Sports Corp. and Operation School Bell and more.

When Jay saw a need for safe, accessible and fun playgrounds for all income levels, he secured the support of his friend, Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, to help build the first “Fantasy Playground” in 1996. The Phil Long Community Fund and Denver Broncos Charities Fund coordinate playground locations and designs with local communities, schools and municipal and state parks commissions – with lots of input from the children in each site’s area.

Jay established “Operation Home Support,” which in partnership with The Home Front Cares helps solve transportation problems for military families, through roadside assistance and discounts on rental cars, maintenance and repairs. Phil Long Dealerships also partnered with Fort Carson on its largest annual Army Birthday Ball to benefit the Fort Carson Liberty League Fund.

Jay’s commitment to his heritage and hometown of Trinidad, Colo., extend to the establishment of the Holy Trinity Academy at Trinidad State Junior College after his alma mater Trinidad Catholic School was closed. Jay and his wife donated playground equipment and established the Jay and Emily CiminoScholarship Fund.

Jay continues to support the United Way, which Phil Long Dealerships has supported since 1945, hosting three campaigns throughout the Front Range. Jay’s support extends into many areas, including local police and firefighters. For the Red Cross – from the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – Jay and his employees raised nearly $100,000 for relief efforts.

Marcelle Fortier Citron has been helping people all of her adult life, driven to provide for the needy and underprivileged in her southern Louisiana community.

Marcelle, a powerful yet humble woman, has dedicated herself to numerous causes, but her greatest passion is making sure families have the basics: food, shelter and medicine. “The phrase, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ should influence our lives,” said Marcelle, vice president and co-owner of Hub City Ford in Lafayette. “But one can affect the lives of the less fortunate in our community, simply by being an activist and volunteer.”

“Marcelle begins and ends her day in prayer then fills the rest of those hours attending meetings, giving talks, bringing food and necessities to the needy, helping her family and friends, attending to the needs at Hub City Ford, visiting the sick – the list just goes on and on,” said her daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Citron. “She does this with such ease and grace no one would ever know she has such a full plate each day.” In fact, Marcelle strives to model her life after Mother Teresa, following her wise words, “Do small things with great love.”

FoodNet, the nonprofit food bank Marcelle founded in 1987, has made a substantial impact on hunger in the Acadiana area, distributing food and other necessities to the poor, elderly, disabled and other needy people in Lafayette Parish and 65 surrounding communities.

Marcelle also helped develop Faith House, a shelter for abused women and children, more than 25 years ago, where she has served as a board member and volunteer. She was known to provide beds, food and clothing for families in her own guest house when the shelter was full.

Project RX, a free prescription drug program for the needy that Marcelle founded in 1989 that helps hundreds of people obtain their necessary medication instead of doing without. Marcelle also is active in a host of other community efforts, including the Rotary Club, United Way and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.

“Where would our community be without Marcelle Citron?” wondered A.C. “Buddy” Himes, president of the Rotary Club of Lafayette. “There's probably not a charitable organization in the community that she has not impacted in a meaningful and caring way.”

Over the years, Marcelle has earned numerous awards for her tireless community work, but none more prestigious than being chosen as one of just five people in the country honored by the American Institute for Public Service with the Jefferson Award’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award, a Nobel Prize for public and community service.

Robert J. Grappone is a man with a mission: help ensure the best possible health care for New Hampshire residents. That might seem an unlikely commitment for an automobile dealer, but Bob is a businessman who sees the big picture.

“My attitude is, if you’ve got it, share it,” said Bob, who owns Ford and Mazda dealerships in New Hampshire as part of the Grappone Automotive Group.

Bob and his wife, Beverly, a registered nurse, know that a shortage of nurses coupled with capacity limitations of nursing programs could endanger not only lives but the state’s reputation and economy as well. So they put their full support behind a statewide initiative, taking the leadership on a capital campaign for the New Hampshire Technical Institute to build a new wing for its nursing program as well as providing scholarships for students. The Grappones kicked off the campaign with a $1 million donation and have worked with state and local governments and public/private partnerships to raise awareness of the critical needs.

The Grappones also are generous supporters of Concord Hospital, to which they donated their home and funds for a new lobby for the hospital’s main entrance.

The Grappones have worked closely with the Easter Seals in fighting autism after being inspired by a friend’s autistic child. Bob, a former Easter Seals chairman, donated $25,000 to create the Autism Diagnostic and Treatment Network. The Grappone Companies also partnered with Easter Seals on an auto donation program to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Bob supports the Salvation Army through monetary and transportation donations as well as rallying the community in times of need. He also gave $250,000 to the Concord Area Chapter of the American Red Cross to build a training facility for classes such as licensed nurse assistant, home health aid training, CPR, life-guarding, HIV/AIDS education and babysitter training.

Bob has given generously to help build much-needed meeting, athletic and entertainment facilities in the greater Concord area. The Grappone Conference Center filled a void and helped boost the local economy. Grappone Stadium at St. Anselm’s College, named in honor of Bob’s parents, was built to host large crowds for outdoor events and other civic uses. The restored Capitol Center for the Arts hosts a wide mix of performances and conferences.

“Through such purpose-driven giving not only at the community college but also in the arts, in health care, in child welfare, in fact, throughout the social fabric, Bob and Bev foster change that benefits everyone,” said Lynn Kilchenstein, president of New Hampshire Technical Community College.

Mac Haik knows he has led a blessed life. Despite losing his father at a young age and then growing up in a single-parent home he went on to become a professional athlete and successful businessman. So he’s eager to give back to the community however he can.

“We’ve been very blessed and that requires we give something back,” Mac said.

After his football career with the NFL Houston Oilers ended, Mac went into real estate development, then branched out to the auto business after a “horrible” car-buying experience. The former wide receiver built his first dealership in 1980 and now owns Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships in the Houston, Austin and Victoria areas, where he focuses many of his numerous community efforts on young people and health care, particularly safety, education, drug prevention, counseling and recovery.

“I’ve always been very kid-oriented,” Mac said. This explains why he gets such a kick out of joining his employees in costumes to deliver presents at Texas Children’s Hospital for nearly 20 years. And why he is driven to provide opportunities to displaced, troubled youths.

Mac is very involved with the Krause Children’s Residential Treatment Center in Katy, Texas, which serves girls and boys 11-17 years old who are emotionally and behaviorally disturbed due to past abuse and neglect. Mac often visits the center to share his story of how he overcame obstacles. “The message he shares with the children is this:  ‘You have it within yourself to accomplish your dream. You just have to have faith in yourself and work hard to achieve that dream,’” said Philippa Ashford, executive director of the center.

When Mac’s first child was born prematurely, he and his wife, Sunny, spent an agonizing year at Texas Children’s Hospital, where the baby ultimately died. “We saw a lot of suffering there,” he said. “It made an impression on us.” So Mac dove in, serving 20 years as a volunteer leader, donor and board member of the Memorial Hermann Health Care System. He has chaired the Legacy Society, which oversees estate gifts to the health care system, and served on various hospital building committees, including the management of $350 million of hospital projects, which will provide significant nonprofit medical services for Houston and local communities.

Mac also is devoted to his 38,000-member church, Second Baptist in Houston, chairing a committee to grow church membership by merging with other parishes and opening satellite sites. Mac also assisted three families affected by Hurricane Katrina and participated in a church program that raised $1 million for hurricane and flood victims.

David Kimmerle is passionate about young people. The father of six and president of Sanderson Ford Inc. spends part of each day working to provide a safe haven, quality foundation and opportunities for local youth.

Whether it is organizing a charity drive at Christmas time, raising money for new community facilities or opening his dealership for Sunday worship, the West Valley auto dealer reaches all corners of the community and does what it takes to get the mission accomplished.

“My wife, Sue, and I especially love working with benevolent children’s causes,” said David, who owns three local Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships.  “Children are a big part of our future and the more we do, the better the outlook for their futures.”

David directs much of his passion toward the West Valley Child Crisis Center, a temporary campus that provides a safe, nurturing environment for hundreds of children each year who have been abused or neglected. He works throughout the year to raise awareness of the organization and its needs, bringing in much-needed donations of money, clothing, toys and food.

Sanderson’s annual Operation Santa Claus collects and distributes thousands of toys, clothes and food items to local organizations that care for the less fortunate. David, who can often be seen carrying in large packages of donated food and toys, partners with local media to raise awareness and sweetens the pot with the donation of a new vehicle for one lucky donor.

As chairman of the Step Up For Youth capital development campaign, David spent countless hours to help generate more than $1 million to renovate and expand the Glendale/Peoria YMCA.

David has also sponsored the 4H Club/Future Farmers of America exhibit at the Maricopa County Fair for the past 15 years, hosts a “garage sale” at the Ford dealership in partnership with country station KNIX to benefit the Tim & Willy Kids Fun-Dation, donated a new truck and funds to a radiothon to benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital and collected sports equipment for the YMCA and Valley after-school programs.

“David is a visionary, a motivator and a real friend to many organizations in the West Valley,” said Kim Lewis, WVCC’s director of Development & Communications.

David, whose Sanderson Ford celebrated 50 years in business in 2005, is grateful for the support of the community. “We are very blessed and fortunate,” he said. “We enjoy giving back, which makes our community a better place to live and work.”

As a young man, David J. Long Jr. always thought he would serve with the Peace Corps or become a teacher. But with the promise of a good job with Ford Motor Company during college he refocused his vision into growing a successful business while helping to improve the lives of others in his Princeton area community.

Health care, safety and children are at the forefront of the causes and organizations to which Dave and his family devote their time, energy and money. Dave, who owns three Volvo dealerships in and around Princeton, is a rallying force in the community, serving on boards and donating time, cars and money to various programs and projects.

Dave worked with the Central New Jersey chapter of the American Red Cross to develop “Safe School Initiative,” a program that brings life-saving training, such as the proper use of a defibrillator, CPR and first aid, to inner-city youths through their schools. He secured funding from the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers and brought in Trenton native and All-Pro cornerback Troy Vincent and his “Love Thy Neighbor” organization to introduce the program to Trenton schools in 2004. This initiative reached more than 7,000 young people in Trenton and another 7,000 in New Brunswick starting in January 2006. Plans are under way to work with three additional New Jersey schools while Dave hopes to take the program statewide.

“One youth wrote that she used her skills to save a choking child; another saved a man who collapsed at a nursing home,” Dave said. “For others it provided a chance to learn a marketable job skill and for others it provided a sense of knowing what it means to care for others.”

Dave helps raise money for the Institute for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders and its programs through many events – including $100,000 from the raffle of a Volvo donated by Dave. “I’ve never seen a more giving group of people,” Dave said. “They’re close to my heart.”

Supporting a wide variety of Red Cross programs and services is a family affair for Dave, his wife, Lynne, and their children. Each year, Dave donates a special red Volvo for a Red Cross raffle. In 2005, the Long family was honored with the first Bob Clancy Culture of Caring award for its extraordinary service through the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey.

Dave and his family support the University Medical Center at Princeton and Princeton HealthCare System Foundation, chairing fund-raisers and donating vehicles for raffles. Dave, a medical center trustee and chairman of the foundation, says he finds his work with the medical center “exhilarating” as it moves forward on a $350 million plan to relocate to a 100-plus acre site nearby and develop a 280-bed acute care teaching medical center to open in 2010.

“The Long family demonstrates that service and generosity make a difference in the life of a community,” said Edward Gwazda, Princeton HealthCare System Foundation executive director.

Alton F. Owen Sr. is a respected community leader who integrates his passion for family, church, government and business into a life of community service. He has done everything he can to help his small southeastern Virginia community prosper.

“I feel it is my responsibility to return to the community in whatever way I can a portion of what I have been so richly blessed,” said Alton, who owns Owen Ford dealership in Jarratt, Va.

Alton ’s passion for his community and service springs from the values he learned at a young age and his church. Through his church, Alton established a college scholarship fund for High Hills Baptist Church and donated money to and raised awareness of Crop Walk hunger relief efforts.

Alton is a longtime member and leader of the Jarratt Ruritan Club, a service organization that assesses and fulfills the needs of the community. He has helped do everything from serving donuts and coffee at the local Easter sunrise service to picking up trash along the roadway to providing turkeys for food baskets distributed each December to needy families. 

Access to adequate medical care and health facilities is a critical issue in a rural community such as Jarratt, so Alton became an advocate to recruit quality facilities, services and professionals. He helped raise funds to establish Greensville Memorial Hospital and served on the board. Alton also volunteers and raises money for local volunteer rescue squads and fire departments, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Alton has served on the board of trustees at the University of Richmond and supported, assisted and participated in fund-raising activities with public and private schools throughout the area.

Alton has been involved in local and state government, community leadership and economic development in various ways, including nine terms as Jarratt’s mayor and four terms on the Town Council.

As the economic climate of the rural area changed over the years, then-Mayor Owen led a community effort to improve the poor employment and industrial situation. Over 40 years, Alton has served as everything from a grass-roots organizer to chairman of the Emporia-Greensville Industrial Development Corp.

“Mr. Owen’s success in business is directly related to the high esteem, respect and great trust the community has for him,” said Robert P. Wyatt, former pastor of High Hills Baptist Church.

Motivated by a sense of personal and corporate responsibility, Dallas area businessman Sam H. Pack supports the community that has supported him, his family and his business for decades.

Sam, the owner of three Ford dealerships in northeast Texas, frequently lends his time, talent and money to a multitude of charities, educational institutions, foundations, chambers, law enforcement agencies, senior citizens groups, youth groups, athletic and other school programs, hospitals, churches and civic organizations.

“The diversity of our contributions is with the intent of touching all walks of life and positively influencing as many deserving people as possible,” Sam said.

The Rotary Club creed of “service above self” – particularly emphasizing the needs of children – is one by which Sam strives to live. For his many efforts over the years, the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Rotary Club honored Sam as its “Man of the Year” in 2005. The event held in Sam’s honor raised $130,000, much of which is earmarked for special playground equipment in local parks for children with disabilities, in addition to local schools, libraries and social services.

Sam is a major contributor to the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas’ “Onward” campaign, whose goal is to establish up to 10 new churches in growing suburban Dallas and the All Saints Episcopal Camp for kids on Lake Texoma.

Sam wants to make sure no child goes without a Christmas so he helps fund the New Car Dealers Association of Metropolitan Dallas’ “Christmas is for Kids” program to fulfill the needs and wishes of children at the holiday season. Now in its 12 th year, the program “adopts” children from the Child & Family Guidance Center, Girls Inc., Jeffrey Street Learning Center and the YWCA who receive gifts under their trees on Christmas morning.

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, sending thousands of evacuees to Dallas area shelters, Sam bought and donated every available air mattress in the area to shelters so the displaced had a place to rest their heads. Sam also gave $50,000 to the New Orleans Police Department.

Sam’s son, Todd, lives in Holy Angels Residential Facility in Shreveport, La., which serves people of all ages with developmental disabilities. Sam and his wife, Carol, are active as members of the board and task forces. They provided financial assistance to build a $5 million wellness center for young children with major disabilities and funded a $1 million project to purchase and furnish an off-site group home for young men residing at Holy Angels.

“Sam is a leader not only in the acumen he has demonstrated in his work, but in the way he has lived his life for others,” said Rev. James M. Stanton, bishop of the Dallas diocese.