McGeorge Toyota donates $20,000 to Make-A-Wish

Henrico-based automotive dealership McGeorge Toyota has pledged to help local youngsters diagnosed with critical illnesses through a $20,000 donation to Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia. The dealership made the donation as part of its Random Acts of McGeorge community outreach program.

As part of the donation, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia will be able to grant two wishes to local children facing critical medical conditions. In the past, granted wishes have included wish children being transformed into princesses, visiting the Grand Canyon and even becoming a fighter jet pilot for the day. On average, Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia grants a local child’s wish every two days. In 2017, nearly 35 of those wishes were granted in Central Virginia alone.

“Granting a wish represents a life-changing opportunity for a child and their family – I can’t tell you how excited each child is when we tell them their wish is being granted,” said Sheri Lambert, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia. “This generous donation will certainly help us grant more wishes right here in the Richmond area. The people here at McGeorge make a tremendous impact in the community, and we’re especially grateful to be given the opportunity to further that impact.”

This month’s donation is not the first time McGeorge has partnered with Make-A-Wish; the two organizations have a long history of working together. For the past several years, McGeorge has made large annual donations, as well as a $5,000 gift as part of its Salesperson of the Month award, totaling $45,000 dating back to 2015.

“Random Acts of McGeorge is all about giving back to the community we serve,” McGeorge General Manager Bob Farlow said. “Our relationship with Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia goes way back. They make dreams come true for these kids, so having the opportunity to help them grant wishes to children right here in Central Virginia is something we just couldn’t pass up.”

McGeorge Toyota’s Random Acts of McGeorge features a modified Toyota Tundra pickup bearing its namesake. Since its inception, it has driven over half-a-million miles and delivered nearly 220,000 acts of kindness.

“We’ve always believed that the more you get, the more you should give,” Farlow added. “The Greater Richmond community has given us so much over the past 50 years, and with the help of Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia, we truly believe that we can help make Richmond an even better place, one child at a time.”