Hyundai dealers honor service with Salute to Heroes car giveaway
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Western Massachusetts automotive dealers, from left, Gary Rome of Gary Rome Hyundai, Carla Cosenzi of Country Hyundai and Jeb Balise of Balise Hyundai, are taking part in the Hyundai Salute to Heroes.
Published: Oct. 03, 2021, 5:00 a.m.
By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com
Western Massachusetts Hyundai dealers — Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, Country Hyundai of Northampton and Balise Hyundai in Springfield — want to honor those who helped their neighbors get through the past two years by bestowing a 2022 Hyundai Tucson SE worth $29,000 in the Hyundai Salute to Heroes giveaway.
The three dealerships will cover all applicable taxes and fees.
Salute to Heroes is a way of acknowledging the ordinary people in our lives who do heroic things. Communities have gone through so much the past year and a half, the dealers said.
“I think that as we peek our heads up out of the pandemic, it’s a good time to not lose sight of everything that we’ve been through, of everything that friends have been through,” said Rome, president of the local dealers association. “This is what people do. It’s like the whole paying it forward kind of thing.”
Carla Cosenzi, president of Tommycar Auto Group which includes Country Hyundai, said the dealers are taking care of the taxes and fees. The recipient will not owe any money to claim the car.
“I think the community has gone through so much in the last year and a half,” Cosenzi said. “It’s a great way for us to say thank you.”
Western Massachusetts automotive dealers, from left, Gary Rome of Gary Rome Hyundai, Carla Cosenzi of Country Hyundai and Jeb Balise of Balise Hyundai, are taking part in the Hyundai Salute to Heroes.
Brian Houser, general manager at Balise Hyundai echoed those sentiments
“It’s definitely been a rough year and a half for everybody in the area,” Houser said.
He thanked Hyundai for its support .
A hero should be someone who was inspiring during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated challenges of the last 18-or-so months. That can be a nurse, teacher, firefighter, police officer, healthcare provider. But the dealers say nominees can also be a grocery store worker, helper at a food bank, delivery person, baker, kennel worker or a single mother working multiple jobs to support her family.
“It can be someone who stayed up all night and went out of their way to help people get vaccine appointments,” Rome said.
“It can be anybody like that,” Rome said. “That’s why we wanted to include it and make it an everyday hero.”
To nominate a hero, visit HyundaiSaluteToHeroes.com and in 300 words or less explain why the nominee is worthy, based on the challenges he or she faced, or the achievements accomplished. Nominations begin today and conclude on Sunday, Oct. 31.
Eligibility covers Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
The winner will be chosen by a group of local business leaders and be announced on Nov. 12.