Hickory Daily Record 08/03/2012, Page A01
Free new car is ’13 United Way donation incentive
Benny Yount to give vehicle to United Way donor
BY RICHARD GOULD
[email protected]
HICKORY — It’s been said that goodness is its own reward, and while that may be true, Benny
Yount is giving it a little extra nudge this year.
Yount, the president and CEO of Paramount Automotive Group, is donating a new car as an
incentive for Fair Share donors to the 2013 United Way donation campaign.
Fair Share donors are those who give 0.6 percent of their annual income to the United Way.
For someone making $8 an hour, that would total $96. For a $40,000 per-year salary, the
donation would be $240.
Those who qualify will be entered into a drawing to be held at Paramount in December. The
winner will choose a new Volkswagen Jetta, a Hyundai Elantra or a Kia SX-Forte.
Lately Catawba County United Way has found itself in a situation common among nonprofits.
When times are tough, people need more help. But when times are tough, people have less to
give.
The local United Way’s goal is to increase giving in a time when it’s been a struggle to keep
donations from falling off.
Last year’s total was $1.4 million. This year, they plan to top that amount, said United Way
Board of Directors chair, Dr. Barry Redmond, who also is serving as this year’s United Way
donation campaign chairman.
See DONATION, Page 7A
JEREMY DETTER/HICKORY DAILY RECORD
Benny Yount (left), president and CEO of Paramount Automotive Group, jokes with
Catawba County United Way President, Michael Blackburn, during United Way 2013
campaign kickoff reception Thursday afternoon.
Article Continued Below
See DONATION on Page A07
Donation
From Page 1A
“People need something to motivate them — they need something they can reach out and touch,
and the gift of this car gives us that,” he said.
The donation campaign got off to a quick start during the kickoff event held at Paramount
Automotive on Thursday afternoon when Yount, a longtime local philanthropist, announced the
giveaway.
Yount owns eight car dealerships in North Carolina, and each sells a variety of car brands.
When United Way approached him and asked for his help, saying yes was an easy decision that
he made in a matter of seconds.
Yount said he knows United Way does vital work in the community and supports organizations
like the Salvation Army, which makes a major difference in people’s lives.
“It was an easy choice, really — we felt like this was a great opportunity to give back to the
communi-ty,” Yount said. “There’s no greater gift than being able to give back.”
JEREMY DETTER/HICKORY DAILY RECORD
Employees at Paramount Automotive in Hickory unveil three cars from which a lucky
United Way Fair Share donor will be able to choose, courtesy of Benny Yount. The three
cars are a new Volkswagen Jetta, Hyundai Elantra and Kia SX-Forte.
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