TYSONS, Va. -

The National Automobile Dealers Association for several years has kept a tradition of making a philanthropic donation to a local organization in the city where its NADA Show takes place. Last year, for example, NADA donated $50,000 to the Nellis Support Team in Las Vegas.

That nonprofit organization supports airmen and their families at Nellis Air Force Base, Creech Air Force Base and Nevada Test and Training Range.

This year, even though the pandemic kept NADA from hosting its annual conference in person — NADA Show 2021, originally scheduled for January in New Orleans, will instead stream live online next week — the association said it wants to keep that yearly NADA Show donation tradition.

NADA said Wednesday said that in advance of NADA Show 2021, it will make a $25,000 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans.

The 2020 NADA chairman Rhett Ricart said the past year has been unprecedented for everyone.

“Now, more than ever, it is important that we, as dealers, continue to come together and support our local communities,” Ricart said in a news release.

NADA did that for several years before last year’s donation to the Nellis Support Team. In 2019, NADA donated $50,000 to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to support the purchase of a new refrigerated truck. In 2015, NADA provided another $50,000 grant to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.

In 2018, the association donated $50,000 to the Nellis Support Team.

The NADA Foundation in 2017 provided a $50,000 grant to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation. That organization supports a program called Café Reconcile, which provides culinary job training for young adults from at-risk communities.

NADA in 2016 donated a new delivery van valued at $52,000 to Three Square Food Bank.

Regarding this year’s donation to Second Harvest Food Bank, Second Harvest president and chief executive officer Natalie Jayroe said the organization was honored to receive the gift.

“It is especially meaningful that NADA made this generous donation even though circumstances kept them from coming to New Orleans for their annual show,’ Jayroe said. “It is because of support from partners like NADA that our team is able to provide meals and emergency food to our neighbors across South Louisiana during this difficult time.”

Ricart of NADA said, “I am so pleased we are able to continue this yearly donation in conjunction with NADA Show and support this amazing organization as they address food insecurity in the city of New Orleans.”