A 6-year-old leukemia patient got the trip of a lifetime, thanks to a Northern California car dealership.

Capitol Subaru in San Jose, Calif., part of the Del Grande Dealer Group, partnered with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to throw a princess-themed celebration during Thanksgiving week for Abbey from nearby San Lorenzo, capped by the announcement that she and her family would be headed for her dream trip to Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii on Dec. 1.

Friends and community members joined Capitol Subaru, Make-A-Wish and Subaru partners at the event to surprise Abbey with presents, a visit from a princess, her favorite snacks and a miniature pony.

“Having a child go through difficult medical treatments is stressful on the entire family,” Capitol Subaru general sales manager Fernando Roque said. “We hope that by granting these wishes, we can provide a moment of joy for everyone involved and look forward to continuing to support this great cause.”

According to Make-A-Wish, approximately 27,000 children are diagnosed with a critical illness each year, and research has shown a wish can lead to better health outcomes and a higher chance of survival.

Del Grande Dealer Group said in a news release that granting wishes like Abbey’s is one way Capitol Subaru is committed to supporting the health and well-being of the community.

“We are so grateful for the continued partnership with DGDG’s Capitol Subaru,” Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area CEO Betsy Biern said. “The support from Capitol Subaru and the Share the Love Event enables us to create transformative experiences for children like Abbey, bringing light and hope to their families during challenging times.

“Together we’re making a meaningful impact in our community, one wish at a time.”

The party and trip are part of the Subaru Share the Love Event, which began Nov. 21 and continues to Jan. 2, when Subaru of America donates $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of participating national charities, including Make-A-Wish.

Make-A-Wish has received more than $35 million in donations through the event since becoming a participating national charity in 2011, helping it grant more than 3,300 wishes in the U.S. Since 2017, Capitol Subaru and its customers have raised $380,000 to help grant wishes for local children with critical illnesses.

DGDG supports national and local organizations through DGDG Does Good, the charitable arm of the Del Grande Dealer Group, which operates 18 dealerships in Northern California. To date, more than $1 million has been donated to worthy causes and recipients through DGDG Does Good, in addition to its collaborations with nonprofit organizations and employee volunteerism.

Plaza Auto Mall gives away 600-plus turkeys at Thanksgiving event

Plaza Auto Mall of Brooklyn, N.Y., continued a longstanding tradition with its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway.

In partnership with local elected officials Farah Louis and Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, along with support from the NYPD Community Affairs Team and the 69th and 70th Precincts, the dealership distributed more than 600 turkeys to local families to help them celebrate Thanksgiving with dignity and joy.

Families from across Brooklyn were greeted by Plaza Auto Mall staff, community leaders and volunteers, who made sure every family left with the centerpiece of their Thanksgiving table.

“This event reflects the spirit of Brooklyn — coming together to support our community,” Plaza Auto Mall general manager Adam Rosatti said. “We’re thankful to our partners for helping us make a difference each year.”

After the giveaway event, dealership employees personally delivered additional turkeys to families in nearby neighborhoods.

In a news release, Plaza Auto Mall said the turkey giveaway is a cornerstone of its broader mission to “uplift Brooklyn through consistent community outreach,” which also includes back-to-school backpack drives and neighborhood improvement projects.

Two more wins for Victory Automotive

Victory Automotive Group’s aggressive growth strategy has recorded another win — make that two more.

The Michigan-based dealership group has acquired West Virginia dealerships Advantage Toyota in Barboursville and Ball Toyota of Charleston from brothers Shawn and David Ball, according to Haig Partners, which advised the sellers in the deal.

The brothers co-owned Advantage Toyota, which has been renamed Victory Toyota of Barboursville, while Shawn Ball owned Ball Toyota, now called Victory Toyota of Charleston.

Victory, led by Jeff Cappo and his sons Eric and Mike Cappo, now operates 55 dealerships in 11 states following acquisitions earlier this year of BMW, Toyota and Mazda stores in California and Missouri. The company generated $2.3 billion in revenue on 2023 and sold some 50,000 new and used vehicles.

“These dealerships are a good fit with our strategy of growing with leading brands across the U.S.,” Jeff Cappo said, praising Toyota as “a brand offering customers many quality vehicles that provide excellent value.”

Haig said Advantage Toyota leads West Virginia in new vehicle sales volume, with more than 2,000 units sold over the past 12 months and is among the highest-volume dealerships in Toyota’s Central Atlantic Region.

Shawn Ball began his career washing and transporting vehicles for a used-vehicle wholesaler before going into the wholesale business for himself, eventually building a company that serving dozens of dealerships around the state. He then bought L&S Toyota and built the small store into a profitable operation, allowing him to purchase Advantage Toyota.

David Ball entered auto retail after more than a decade in the West Virginia coal mines, joining Shawn at Advantage Toyota helping grow it into a top volume dealership. Toyota then asked Shawn to acquire then-struggling Toyota of Charleston.

Shawn Ball will remain as owner of L&S Toyota, while David is now retired.

“I’m happy for my brother, who can now enjoy his retirement, and I’m happy for myself since now I can spend more time with my family and other interests, such as supporting Marshall University and focusing on my farm,” Shawn Ball said. “And I feel fortunate that I get to remain in the Toyota family since we still own one Toyota dealership, which we are keeping for the next generation. … Finally, I’d like to congratulate the Cappo family at Victory Automotive. They have a very talented team here, and I know they will do well with these stores.”