Miller Family Message by Gail Miller –
What an incredible, unforeseen and unprecedented time we are experiencing. It can, at times, be overwhelming and frustrating to witness the ramifications andpersonal impacts of COVID-19 across the globe. Many hardships are felt in our own homes and communities.
At the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, we are also navigating our way through challenges and seizing opportunities when they present themselves. I am comforted that we are in this together, as employees and friends within LHM, and also as a worldwide community.
As we see those around us who need our support, I am reminded of a motto that is very personal to me: “The only people we don’t love are those we haven’t served yet.” We have been given an opportunity to better connect with our neighbors and to grow to love them through service, which is one of our core values.
The Miller family has searched for ways to assist others during this trying time. In late April, we were made aware of the significant need for families experiencing food insecurity caused by the pandemic. Immediately, with the help of Don Stirling, executive director of the Miller Family Office, business presidents and marketing teams, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. The outcome: Driven to Assist. This name is a wonderful bridge between our businesses and communities and combines what we do best—we lead out, and we help out.
This incredible initiative started with a weeklong program that utilized 40 of our locations, including 22 automotive dealerships, 13 Megaplex theatres, the Salt Lake Bees at Smith’s Ballpark, and Vivint Smart Home Arena to collect cans of food for pantries across the state of Utah. In return, donors received “thank you for the assist” items including:
- LHM Dealerships: Coupon for $10 off a lube, oil and filter service
- LHM Megaplex Theatres: One free large popcorn
- Utah Jazz/Vivint Smart Home Arena: $10 online credit to the Utah Jazz Team Store
- Salt Lake Bees/Smith’s Ballpark: Two ticket vouchers for an upcoming Salt Lake Bees game
After six short days, our employees and communities donated 23,541 pounds (more than 11 tons) of food and $4,668!
Phase Two of “Driven to Assist” includes a five-day blood drive in early June to help collect 800-1,000 units of much-needed blood. Our partners at the American Red Cross, ARUP, Intermountain Healthcare, University of Utah Health, and the state health department are excited to utilize Vivint Smart Home Arena to safely collect blood donations and potentially capture data that will support public health during COVID-19.
Around our western states, our businesses are also engaged in doing good. In Colorado, the Denver Toyota Dealers Association made a donation on behalf of our LHM Boulder Toyota dealership to Feed the Frontlines Boulder, which is sending meals from local restaurants to healthcare professionals in the community. At the LHM Nissan Arapahoe dealership, employees collected prior-year Day of Service shirts to make masks for our store employees.
In Idaho, Subaru of America donated 50 million meals across the country through Feeding America, and 113,548 meals were donated to the Idaho Food Bank on behalf of the LHM Subaru Boise dealership. That store also donated 700 masks and ear savers to nearby hospitals.
In Arizona, LHM Ford Mesa had to close its beloved local diner as the pandemic hit and was faced with what to do with the food in their storeroom and refrigerators. The team created a plan to provide two breakfasts and a lunch for all employees. Additional stock was donated to a local shelter.
I’m sure there are countless acts across our company by our wonderful employees that we don’t even know about, but we appreciate your concern for your fellow beings.
We may not always know who is on the receiving end of our acts of kindness. However, we do know that when we serve others, we are able to briefly forget about ourselves. We also increase our capacity for caring and love. To expand on the motto I shared earlier, the only service project I haven’t loved is one I haven’t yet done.
Our efforts to serve and lift the communities around us would not work without you, our employees. Thank you for lending your talents, hard work, and smiles to these and other causes, and as always, thank you for everything you do for our family and this organization. We care about you and your families and hope that you will stay healthy and safe.
