Published: November 11, 2006 09:29 pm      

Friends of Coal, local dealerships to help United Way with car raffle

When United Way Director Linda Lugar asked Hometown Subaru-Kia’s Ernie Davis to buy tickets for last year’s Harley-Davidson raffle, Davis not only gave his support, he gave Lugar an idea.

Why not involve local car dealerships; let them support the United Way by offering the public a chance to win a car?

Lugar liked the idea so much that when the time came for this year’s annual fundraising campaign, she set out asking local dealerships to do just that.

Friends of Coal volunteered to sponsor, and with its help, eight area car dealerships signed up to participate in “Drive Away with the United Way.”

The contest offers the public an opportunity to buy one ticket for $100 or three tickets for $200. Each ticket represents a chance to win a vehicle — or motorcycle — valued at $15,000 from the winner’s choice of participating dealerships.

Those are Beckley Auto Mall, Beckley Honda, Earehart Enterprises, Hometown Subaru-Kia, Lewis Automotive in Beckley and Oak Hill, Mountaineer Hyundai, Ramey Ford and Sheets Chrysler-Dodge in Oak Hill.

Second and third place prizes aren’t too shabby, either.

Second prize is a gas card from Little General Stores valued at $3,000, and third prize is a lady’s diamond ring from Jewelry Quest.

“We’re so grateful, not only to these participants, but to the Friends of Coal for their sponsorship of this fundraiser,” Lugar said.

Speaking on behalf of Friends of Coal, Byrd White said, “The Friends of Coal feel the United Way is a worthwhile project, one that everyone should support. The United Way is about people helping people.”

In fact, the United Way of Southern West Virginia supports 24 agencies in Raleigh, Fayette and Nicholas counties. Those agencies are devoted to helping residents in need. The agencies provide food pantries, services for the elderly, services for children, disaster relief and much more for residents in need. Ninety-nine percent of contributions stays in the three counties.

That’s the main reason these car dealerships said they wanted to be involved.

Andy Earehart of Mountaineer Hyundai said he’s proud to support the United Way.

“It is important to continue to give back to the community, and this organization is an asset to Raleigh County. The community has always been a blessing to my business, and when I can give back to an organization that is going to help many people, I’m proud to do so,” Earehart said.

Davis, of Hometown Subaru-Kia, agreed.

“It’s the one place you can contribute and know that through that one organization you’re helping many others,” he said.

“We’re local people trying to help local people,” said Jim Lucas, owner of Beckley Honda, the only participating business offering motorcycles as a raffle choice. “It’s a good cause to raise money for the United Way and everything that they do for the area.”

For Dennis Sheets of Sheets Chrysler-Dodge in Oak Hill, being a participant is both a good way to help the community get to know his new business and a good way to help a good cause.

“I want to reach out and help the community that helps me,” Sheets said.

“The United Way is community-minded,” Earehart Honda manager Mike Prunesti said. “It’s a good organization.”

The United Way, Friends of Coal and the participating dealerships said they are hopeful that being able to offer such a coveted prize will encourage more residents to support the campaign.

“It is a good way to get more people involved,” Sarah Abrams of Lewis Automotive said. “We’ve been here in the community going on 77 years now, so we try to do as much for the community as they’ve done for us.”

“It’s a great organization. We’re glad to help,” Keith Tyler, manager of Ramey Ford, said.

Tickets are available at the United Way of Southern West Virginia (253-2111) or at participating dealers.

The dealership selling the most tickets will host a live Southern Communications radio remote the day of the drawing, Saturday, Dec. 9.

— E-mail: bnaudrey@register-herald.com