AutoNation Funds Playground Upgrades at Two Head Start Locations in the Santa Clarita Valley

SANTA CLARITA, Calif., April 8, 2015 /3BL Media/ – AutoNation and CBS EcoMedia celebrated much-needed playground upgrades to two Head Start locations, which will encourage physical activity and wellness among more than 100 underserved children in the Santa Clarita Valley area.

AutoNation’s funding through CBS EcoMedia’s WellnessAd program provides playground upgrades at Volunteers of America’s North Walnut and Santa Clarita Head Start facilities. The improvements will positively impact the children currently enrolled in the Head Start programs, which provide educational, health and childcare services to low-income children aged 3-5.

To celebrate the partnership, representatives from AutoNation, CBS EcoMedia and Volunteers of America attended a special celebration and volunteer event. AutoNation employees planted seeds in the new garden boxes, beautified the outdoor play area and engaged in interactive activities with children and teachers.

“AutoNation is committed to giving back to the communities that we serve and there is no greater investment than to invest in the youth of today,” said AutoNation President, CEO and Chairman Mike Jackson. “That is why we are proud to partner with CBS EcoMedia and their WellnessAd program to give the underserved children in the Santa Clarita Valley area a safe place to play and to promote physical activity and wellness.”

Playground improvements funded at the North Walnut location included expanding the play area and installing new garden boxes. The upgrades aim to reduce the obesity rate of children at the site by encouraging physical activity and healthier eating habits for children.

“At VOALA, we strive to create healthy and encouraging environments for our children. This playground enhancement improves our ability to enrich the lives of our children with healthy physical activities and productive interactions,” said Orlando Ward, Director of Public Affairs for Volunteers of America Los Angeles. “These activities and efforts are an integral part of the learning experience for these young children.”

At the Santa Clarita Head Start location, AutoNation’s funding helped to upgrade the grass area and provided outdoor play components. The grass and play components – an outdoor “Snug Play” kit and a large sand and water table – will help enhance school readiness skills by focusing on sensory integration, critical thinking and physical domains. 

“We’re excited to celebrate the playground renovations with Volunteers of America and AutoNation,” said Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder of CBS EcoMedia. “These improvements provide an opportunity for kids in the Santa Clarita Valley to play and learn in a safe environment. AutoNation’s funding of the playground upgrades demonstrates the company’s commitment to building healthier communities, and we’re immensely grateful to them for their support of this project.”

About AutoNation, Inc. 
AutoNation is transforming the automotive retail industry through bold leadership. We deliver a superior automotive retail experience through our customer-focused sales and service processes. Owning and operating 284 new vehicle franchises, which sell 34 new vehicle brands across 15 states, AutoNation is America’s largest automotive retailer, with state-of-the-art operations and the ability to leverage economies of scale that benefit the customer. As an indication of our leadership position in our industry, AutoNation is a component of the S&P 500 Index.

Please visit investors.autonation.com, www.autonation.com, www.autonationdrive.com, www.twitter.com/autonation, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson, www.facebook.com/autonation and www.facebook.com/CEOMikeJackson, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business and its results of operations.

About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps almost 2.5 million people in over 400 communities. Our work touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. Learn more at www.voa.org.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.
EcoMedia was founded in 2002 by social entrepreneur Paul Polizzotto. The company’s mission is to harness the power of the advertising dollar to make tangible, quality of life improvements in communities nationwide. In 2010, after successfully partnering on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia was acquired by CBS Corporation, exponentially scaling its reach across television, radio, interactive and publishing media. 

Through EcoMedia’s patent-pending EducationAd, WellnessAd, EcoAd and Viewers to Volunteers advertising programs, national brands and local businesses provide millions of dollars in financial support to some of the nation’s most effective nonprofit organizations, funding critical veterans, education, wellness and environmental projects nationwide. 

EcoMedia’s innovative and proprietary business model has fundamentally altered the advertising and nonprofit landscapes, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.

EcoMedia has earned numerous awards and recognitions for its work, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors Award for Excellence in Public Private Partnerships (2009), Edison Awards for Social Innovation and Social Impact (2012, 2013) and the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s “General H. Norman Schwarzkopf Leadership Award,” which honors individual and organizational leaders who are doing extraordinary work to advance the common good and strengthen their communities.  

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By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd, EducationAd and Viewers to Volunteers advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities. EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.

Press Contact:

Theresa Schieber
Theresa.schieber@ecomediacbs.com
212-975-3471