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In Our Community

NEWS RELEASE

DATE:  APRIL 17, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Milissa O'Brien, (802) 373-2321 thewholeshebang@comcast.net

Shearer Chevrolet gives back to the community

South Burlington, VT Shearer Chevrolet, located on Shelburne Road in South Burlington, has long been a leading community supporter. For more than eighty years, people from all over Vermont and neighboring states have been buying cars and trucks from Shearer. 

The dealership has often supported local community groups in various ways over the years. Last year Dan Bokan, the General Manager at Shearer, put a different spin on things and implemented a new goodwill program.

It began in October of 2008, Mr. Bokan stated. "I decided that a portion of our sales for each quarter would be donated to a local organization or group whose main goal is to help those in need. It's an opportunity for Shearer Chevrolet to say "Thank you" to our community for their continued loyalty."

The Women's Rape Crisis Center, located in Burlington, was the recipient of the first check, in the amount of $2,630. This was from the sales made at Shearer from October 2007 through December 2007.

"The Women's Rape Crisis Center would like to thank Dan Bokan and Shearer Chevrolet for their very generous gift and for recognizing the growing need for violence prevention and helping to ensure a safer community for all," said Kristine Bickford, former WRCC Development Director. "For over 30 years, we have been Chittenden County's primary service provider and educator for those in our community affected by sexual violence."

The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington received a check in the amount of $2,050 from sales made during the 1st quarter in 2008. "The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington has been serving youth since 1942. Today we serve nearly 2,500 kids in Chittenden County," stated Sara C. Wool, Director of Development and Communications. "We are so grateful for Dan Bokan's and Shearer Chevrolet?s generosity and that they realize how essential it is to provide support for the non-profit sector."

Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer survivor dragon paddleboat team that also serves as a support group for other breast cancer survivors, received $2,090 during the 2nd quarter in 2008. "Our Dragonheart Vermont is so excited to receive this generous donation from Shearer Chevrolet," said Linda Dyer. "It came at the most opportune time. We were about to host our Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival. A month prior, we were faced with a dock dilemma of how to load 2000 racers safely and efficiently for the event. The team installed a new dock and decided to gift it to the City of Burlington. The biggest challenge was raising the funds to pay for the dock. The generous donation from Shearer Chevrolet was added to our dock fund. Dragonheart would like to thank the fine people of Shearer Chevrolet for striving to be so community-minded and supporting an organization like ours."

The King Street Youth Center, led by Executive Director Vicky Smith, was the 3rd quarter recipient in 2008. "King Street is very pleased and grateful to be a recipient of Shearer Chevrolet?s charitable giving program. This generous contribution of $1,990 will provide a tremendous boost to our school age care programs, specifically enhancing our arts initiatives."

Shearer Chevrolet finished up 2008 with a $2,954 donation to Kids on the Block Vermont, an organization dedicated to teaching children in Vermont how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to appreciate each other's physical and cultural differences.  Using life-sized puppets, this educational program seeks to create a community that helps children realize their full potential. "Thanks to Shearer Chevrolet we will deliver our programs to over 11,000 children this year. The new van LITERALLY keeps us "on the road" traveling to all four corners of Vermont, and everywhere in between! We thank you and the puppets thank you!" said Deb Lyons, Executive Director of Kids on the Block-Vermont.

For more information on Shearer Chevrolet, celebrating 80 years in business, please visit us on the web at www.shearerchevrolet.com.