Car Pros Cares — the charitable arm of the Car Pros Automotive Group — hosted back-to-school supply drives last month at Car Pros’ nine retail locations, collecting hundreds of backpacks and nearly 9,000 school supply items for students in the communities they serve.

The school supplies — including binders, rulers, calculators, pens, markers, water bottles and more — were delivered by Car Pros managers and staff directly to elementary schools, school districts, youth shelters and social services organizations that serve students in Western Washington and Southern California.

“It was a great honor to support students in our local communities and help set them up for success,” Car Pros CEO Matthew Phillips said in a news release. “Giving back to the communities we serve is a core part of our mission and is one of the most rewarding parts of our business. Thank you to our Car Pros team members, customers and vendors for being part of this.”

The Car Pros Cares initiative was created in 2006 to find opportunities to give back to the communities in which Car Pros dealerships are located. Its past initiatives included a Thanksgiving food drive, Christmas toy donations to a range of organizations and a sock drive, in which hundreds of pairs of socks were collected and donated to shelters in Southern California and Washington.

Since 2021, Car Pros Cares has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local food banks, Downtown Women’s Center of Los Angeles, Rebuild Together Seattle, Brain Injury Alliance of Washington, the Salvation Army of Long Beach, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee and more.

The company said the next Car Pros Cares initiative — working with a local organization to collect and provide new shoes for students in need — will launch soon in Los Angeles and expand to the other Car Pros communities in the coming weeks.

“We heard some of our local students were missing school because they did not have adequate footwear,” Phillips said, “so we developed this campaign to ensure every student can put his or her best foot forward and focus on their school work,.

“Nothing is more important than helping the young people in our communities on a path to a successful future.”

McGovern expands into New Jersey with dealership acquisition

McGovern Automotive Group moved into a new market with the purchase of Contemporary Motor Cars Mercedes-Benz in Little Silver, N.J., from Allan Sockol and Scott Coleman.

The dealership, which has been renamed Mercedes-Benz of Little Silver, is the group’s 31st and its first in New Jersey. Victor Giamanco will remain as general manager, with New York/New Jersey regional vice president Todd Greico overseeing operations.

McGovern said Sockol and Coleman retain an ownership stake and will continue to play an active role in the dealership, particularly with VIP clients.

Mercedes-Benz of Little Silver’s inventory includes more than 400 new Mercedes-Benz and Sprinter vehicles and 150 used vehicles. The location includes six properties. McGovern said it plans to expand the dealership’s staff by more than 10 new positions in the coming months.

“Mercedes-Benz of Little Silver is a perfect fit for our growing portfolio, and we’re thrilled to bring our unique approach to customer service and vehicle selection to New Jersey,” McGovern Automotive Group CEO and founder Matt McGovern said. “This partnership is not just about expanding our footprint. It’s about integrating with a community and continuing a legacy of excellence that has been established over nearly five decades.”