Thibodaux dealership donates over $5K to local nonprofits

With the COVID-19 pandemic hampering many nonprofits’ abilities to raise money to serve their communities, a few local organizations received some welcomed funds heading into a new year thanks to a Thibodaux car dealership. 

On Tuesday, Dantin Chevrolet donated a combined total of $5,500 to three area nonprofits through its Drive It Forward program. 

Now in its second year, Drive It Forward allows customers who purchase a new or used vehicle from the dealership to pick a participating charity that Dantin Chevrolet then makes a $50 donation to. This year’s campaign ran from September through November and raised money for Bayou Country Children’s Museum, YouthBuild and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lafourche.

“There are tons of charities out there that are worth donating to. But we figure we’re a Thibodaux dealer and we want to start in our backyard first,” said James Armstrong, Sales Manager at Dantin. “We chose these because they all have to do with children, and I think right now children need a lot of help.” 

At the dealership located at 644 W. Main St., CASA of Lafourche received a $2,500 donation. Tiffany Melancon, Program Coordinator at CASA, touched on the importance of receiving the contribution as the pandemic has affected the organization’s fundraising efforts. 

“We usually have about four major fundraisers each year. With the funds from the community, it allows us to continue advocating for the abused and neglected children and our parish,” she said. “So without organizations and companies like this just being so generous with their funding, we couldn’t continue to do what we do.” 

CASA assists children that go through the court system due to abuse or neglect by their parents or guardian. The organization visits its assigned children monthly in foster homes, monitors the progress of parents who are attempting to regain custody and provides information to judges. More on CASA of Lafourche can be found here. 

“So this is extra instrumental and helpful to the success of the museum,” said Marcus Lawson just before receiving a $1,500 check from Dantin for the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. “We are a nonprofit, so we don’t get any tax money or any government-funded money. Everything we get is either fundraised or through admissions.”

The marketing and development director went on to say that due to COVID, the museum was forced to temporarily close its doors, and with schools canceling field trips, its funding took a major blow. 

“So every little bit of money that we can get from anywhere, whether it be a fundraiser, whether it be donations, we truly appreciate it,” he continued. “It definitely keeps us afloat.”

Located at 211 Rue Betancourt in Thibodaux, the Cajun-themed museum features a full-sized sugarcane harvester, spot waterfowl from a duck blind, Mardi Gras float, shrimp boat and two-story oil platform. More information can be found here. 

Dantin also awarded a $1,500 donation to YouthBuild, a youth and community development program that addresses issues facing low-income communities, such as education, housing, jobs and leadership development. The organization serves unemployed individuals ages 16 to 24 who dropped out of school. The program helps them get back in school and prepares them to either enter college or the workforce.

“It’s an awesome program,” said Donald Douglas, Case Manager at YouthBuild. “If we can actually get more people in the community get involved, we can really reach more heights.” 

Mark Bourgeois, Construction Manager, said the organization is very appreciative to receive the contribution as it will provide bonus occasions for the program’s participants, such as graduation celebrations. “It’s something that we can give to the kids to motivate them a little more,” Douglas added. 

For more information on YouthBuild, click here. 

“The participating local charities are very important in our community, especially during these trying times. We are so very proud to be able to help the local community and provide a great way to let people give back,” said Tris Dantin, General Manager of Dantin Chevrolet. “We will continue to give back to our community in any way we can.”