Honda Donates to Hurricane Sandy Relief

11/26/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif. In the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, American Honda announced a pledge of $500,000 to the American Red Cross - Disaster Relief Fund, for use during humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in areas affected by the storm.

"This giant storm hit many areas particularly hard, and Honda wants to support the many individuals and families devastated by the hurricane's impact," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and chief executive officer of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and chief operating officer of Honda's North American region. "As we have in responding to past natural disasters, supporting the Red Cross is an effective way to quickly reach the front lines."

The Honda donation consists of cash as well as Honda products including portable generators and water pumps for use in the relief and rebuilding efforts. A special company fund will match its associates' personal contributions to the Red Cross on a dollar-for-dollar basis at various Honda companies.

This donation represents the collective contribution of the Honda family of companies and its associates in the U.S. and Canada, which consists of sales, manufacturing, finance and research and development operations, with more than 33,000 associates. Contributions from Honda's operations in Canada will be made to the Canadian Red Cross.

In addition, Honda Financial Services is instituting a number of measures to provide relief to customers directly affected by the storm, including temporary adjustments to policies on fee payments, late credit bureau reporting, extensions of loan payments, waivers of late charges and other services when appropriate.

Honda has been in close communication with the Red Cross regarding its need for material and equipment. The company has a longstanding relationship with the Red Cross and has supported the emergency relief organization in previous disaster relief efforts through cash, product and in-kind donations. From Honda.com

5 Ways to Winterize Your Vehicle

Though parts of the East Coast have already been hit with its first snow-storm of the year, soon most of America will walk in a winter wonderland, but driving through it could prove a challenge. Since nothing can dampen holidays like car trouble, five steps are recommended to winterize your vehicle that will allow you to get where you're going this holiday season.

"In northern climates, prepping your car for winter is as important as getting the furnace checked," said Andrew Stoy, digital editor for Autoweek Media Group. "Breakdowns and dead batteries are inconvenient, but worn tires and dry-rotted wiper blades can endanger you and your fellow motorists." For cars driven daily, shopautoweek.com recommends checking:

Tires: Summer heat plays havoc on tires and tends to wear them more than cold or wet driving. With slippery conditions on the way, make sure to check tread depth so tires are winter ready.

Wheel alignment: Improperly aligned wheels mean they will point in different directions. If this is the case, your car is less stable in slippery conditions, increasing chances of a spin, or loss of control in snow or on ice.

Transmission fluid: Snow and cold are especially hard on automatic transmissions. If your owner's manual says you're due for a fluid change, now is the time.

Wiper blades: These always seem to go during the first snow or at the beginning of a long trip, smearing dirty slush across your windshield. Replace them before that first flake hits.

Battery: Cold weather takes juice out of batteries like no other weather does. If your battery is more than a couple years old, have it load-tested by a mechanic, and always keep jumper cables stored in the trunk. From shopautoweek.com

Pets in Need - Periwinkle

Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets. Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them.  Many cats and dogs who die as a result of pet overpopulation could have made wonderful pets.

A solution is possible and starts with each of us taking one small step: getting our own pets spayed or neutered. To help stop pet overpopulation further, consider adopting your next pet from an animal shelter.

Bianchi Honda cares about animals, and proudly supports the efforts of the local animal shelters including the A.N.N.A. Shelter and the Humane Society.  As animal lovers, we like to do our part by featuring a "Pet In Need" each month in our newsletter.

This month's PET IN NEED (Pictured at right):

BREED:  Young Domestic Shorthair Mix

LOCATION: The A.N.N.A. Shelter in Erie PA

NAME: Periwinkle
     
AGE/GENDER: 3 Month Old Female

Zak Stahlsmith is December's Employee Spotlight

Q: Name something people would be surprised to find out about you?A: I was one of my family members that survived the Albion tornado of 1985, which completely destroyed our home. This was a great tragedy, but the memories from this are a constant reminder of how fortunate I am. I live life to the fullest, appreciate what I have, and try not to take any day for granted.

Q: What is your favorite thing about working here?A: It's fun! It's nothing like what most people think of when they think "Car dealership". The company is not into gimmicks and we really believe in helping people. I feel blessed to be part of a company that gives back to its community and employees. I like getting up and going to work and I'm thankful that we have such an amazing culture here. All the employees are passionate and dedicated to their roles while having a sense of ownership for our excellent reputation.

Q: How did you get into the Automotive Industry?A: I've always enjoyed cars - from watching them, driving them, drawing them, and even customizing them when I was a teenager. I have always had a soft spot for Hondas and buy nothing else. I previously worked for a magazine publisher named Jameson Publishing. They went through a difficult time during the recession in 2008 and laid off a large group of employees, including me. After I was laid off, I applied at Bianchi Honda as a "temporary" job. I never really planned on making a career out of cars, but it didn't take long for me to realize that I had found something very special here. My role as eCommerce Director matches my personality and skill set perfectly and I haven't looked back.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?A: I love trying new things, so picking just one "favorite" is impossible for me. Right now, I'm really into mountain-biking, running, weight-lifting, cooking, grilling, camping, kayaking, movies, music, football, chess, fine-dining and the occasional hand-made cigar.

Q: Can you tell me about your family life?
A: I love spending time with my lovely wife, Kaylan, and my awesome 10-year-old son Trystan. Our families have lived around Erie our entire lives and we moved to Fairview five years ago. One of our favorite things to do as a family lately is to go Geocaching. It's a simple hide-and-seek game that you can play using a special app on your smartphone or a gps. People all over the world hide stuff for others to find and it gets you out exploring new places.