Hendrick Honda continues to bring significant value to youth sports in our community

What happens when a company decides to make an investment in a community?  We’re not talking about slapping a logo on the back of a couple of team’s shirts or sponsoring a fence sign for a season or two.  When a company decides to partner with an organization, build a long-term relationship, align their resources with the needs of the organization and adjust their investment as the relationship grows, it creates something fantastic.  This is precisely what Hendrick Honda has done in the Charlotte area over the last several years through the Pop Warner’s Little Panthers Football League and the Mecklenburg Optimist Club. 

Since 2011, Hendrick Honda has worked with Pop Warner and Mecklenburg Optimists to create a dynamic environment in which sports leagues are given tools to increase opportunities and resources for the athletes they serve and enhance the lives of the local families.  As a result, the partnership has strengthened the league, increasing participation within each association, while creating friendships between associations that solidify the Charlotte community.

The partnership started in 2011 with Hendrick Honda donating a Honda Civic to Pop Warner to raise money.  In this first year, three of Pop Warner’s associations embraced the fundraiser selling raffle tickets throughout their neighborhoods to friends and family.  With this one opportunity, the Weddington Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, Steele Creek, and Mallard Creek football programs were able to raise approx $15,000. 

Robert Adden of the Mecklenburg Optimist Club says, “Hendrick Honda’s car donation is by far the best fundraiser we have ever had.  It inspired the most community involvement and brought the associations a windfall in comparison to any fundraising effort employed prior to this.”  Using the profits to improve fields, replace outdated equipment, and provide athletes scholarships made a marked impact on the families involved in these organizations.

In addition to the donation of a car for the fundraiser, Hendrick Honda answered myriad requests for support including providing trophies for the Year-end Mighty Mite Bowl, providing sponsorship for off-season flag football leagues, and on-site sponsorship of scoreboards and sponsor walls at association parks. 

Encouraged by the success of their fellow associations, several others, including South Park, Matthews Athletic and Recreation, and the Police Athletic League, adopted the fundraiser in 2012 and raised approximately $25,000.   In year three, the Mecklenburg Optimists began to branch out the fundraiser to the associations involved with Pop Warner and allowed their other sports such as baseball, basketball, and softball to use the raffle as a fundraiser.  The total raised in 2013 was approximately $40,000.

Now in it’s fourth year, there are over 10 organizations using Hendrick Honda’s Mecklenburg Optimist Club fundraiser as their fundraising tool.  For 2014, Hendrick generously upgraded the donation to a Honda Odyssey.  Matthew Ricks, Hendrick Honda’s General Manager says, “We are so pleased with the results of the car raffle and the impact it is having on the kids.  Hendrick Honda will do everything in our power to make raffle sales even more attractive and help the associations realize their goal of raising over $100,000.”

Hendrick continues to grow its support and meet the needs of the league as a whole and its associations through innumerable requests and sponsorship. Over four short years, Hendrick Honda has made raising funds and supporting youth athletics in the Charlotte community a priority.   By realizing how important these leagues are to our kids, families and community and providing enthusiastic, interactive support, Hendrick Honda proves they are not just a leader in the automobile industry but a true partner in improving the lives the people in the Charlotte community for the long haul.