‘Giving Thanks’ campaign honors community requests

Four local charities will share a $20,000 donation as winners in Freedom Toyota’s “Giving Thanks” online campaign, which ran in November and December. Freedom Toyota president Eric Savage announced each of the following organizations will receive gifts of $5,000: Berks Encore in Reading; Children’s Alopecia Project in Wyomissing; John Paul II Center in Shillington; and Ruth Steinart Memorial SPCA in Pine Grove.

Winning organizations were chosen at random from more than 1,000 nominations submitted by area residents on Freedom Toyota’s Facebook page.

Giving back to the community is not new to Savage, whose passion for public service has become a hallmark of the Hamburg auto dealership. His community involvement is so widespread that he has been named 2012 “Outstanding Philanthropist” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Berks County Chapter. The award recognizes extraordinary philanthropic achievements within the community.

“Giving back to the community is a core value at Freedom Auto,” said Savage.“I hope it will be the legacy for which we are most remembered.”