In early November, Passport Auto Group surprised the entire third grade class at Panorama Elementary School with new bikes through the Bikes for Kids Foundation. Passport Auto Group President, Everett Hellmuth, and Vice President, Jay Klein, heard about the Bikes for Kids Foundation and wanted to sponsor a local elementary school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where many of the Passport Auto Group stores are located. “We are always looking for more ways to support our local community and surrounding schools,” said Jay Klein. “This program teaches students that hard work helps make dreams come true, and we are excited to be able to sponsor local Panorama Elementary School in this way.”

Prior to the donation event, employees of Passport Auto Group assembled the brand-new bikes at their Passport Collision Center. Passport employees worked together using their own tools to assemble the bikes, from pumping tires to tightening handlebars. Passport then donated the bikes in early November on behalf of the Bikes for Kids Foundation at a school assembly. 

The Bikes for Kids Foundation program began by providing books that focused on working hard and dreaming big to the third graders at Panorama Elementary. Then, the students were encouraged to write an essay about what they want to be when they grow up. The third graders were told three essay writers would be picked to win a bike, but to their surprise, they all won a new bike thanks to Passport Auto Group and the Bikes for Kids Foundation.
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“It felt like Christmas seeing the students’ faces with surprise and excitement. They worked hard and each deserved to be rewarded for their work. We hope this will encourage these students to continue to focus on their dreams as they can accomplish anything,” said Passport Auto Group President, Everett Hellmuth.

With the holiday season fast approaching, the employees of Passport Auto Group were eager to reunite with one of the district’s oldest emergency shelters, Central Union Mission, during the frigid winter season. With even a small contribution ($2.09), individuals are fed and cared for at Central Union Mission, so Everett Hellmuth, President of Passport Auto Group, has coordinated a large effort over the years to participate in a holiday meal drive. “We're blessed to be able to impact our community even in a small way,” said Everett Hellmuth, "To be warm, to be fed, these are things we take for granted. Everything, especially food costs, are getting more expensive. We can do more together to help those in need.”

Each of the Passport dealerships had a store goal, and the employees of Passport Auto Group began this important initiative to fundraise for meals throughout the month of December. After fundraising just one month, Passport Auto Group and its employees donated over $65,000 to Central Union Mission, which nearly equals to 31,000 meals and care.

Over the holiday season, Central Union Mission expects to provide thousands of Christmas season meals. “The financial support provided by the Passport Auto Group comes at such a critical time. So many people living in poverty or on the street need more help than ever before. With Passport’s generous support, we are able to make sure that we are providing food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless each and every day. Passport is an incredibly important partner,” said organization President, Joseph Mettimano.

​“Passport Cares is all about teaming up with those who support our community,” said Jay Klein, Vice President of Passport Auto Group. “We’re proud of all the hundreds of employees that volunteer their own time and pay to support this mission.” Passport Auto Group has been partnering with Central Union Mission for years through their Passport Cares program. To learn more about Passport Auto Group giving back, visit https://www.passportcares.com.  

Passport Auto Group is always looking for great local organizations to support. After hearing about Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s impact on the community, Passport was happy to sponsor their fundraiser event Wine on the Water. In September 2022, members of Team Passport attended the sold-out event to raise funds for the foundation.

Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s "focus today is on providing life and career skills to young people in need of confidence and a new direction for their lives.” Apprentices learn hand-crafting skills to build traditional wooden boats while learning about Alexandria’s history and seamanship. To learn more about Alexandria’s Seaport Foundation and support their positive impact on Alexandria youth, visit https://alexandriaseaport.org.

Passport Auto Group Sponsors Cook-Off to Support Homeless

In late August 2022, Passport Auto Group sponsored Carpenter Shelter’s signature event, Carpenter’s Cook-Off, to support those experiencing homelessness in Alexandria, Virginia. President Everett Hellmuth and Vice President Jay Klein have seen the positive impact of shelters in the community. Everett Hellmuth, Jay Klein, and Passport staff made it a priority to sponsor this event to support Carpenter Shelter’s mission in Alexandria. 

Over 25 local restaurants and caterers signed up to join in on the August 28th event to support homelessness. Participants were able to taste food from Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Hard Times Café, The Warehouse, Haute Dog, Chop Shop Taco, and many more. The event also featured live music from Jones Point Band. The event was a huge success to raise money for the shelter, and Passport Auto Group was proud to sponsor an organization that has such a great impact on the local community.

Click here to learn more about Carpenter’s Shelter and join Passport in supporting this great organization. ​

In April 2022, Joe Mettimano, President of Central Union Mission, called Everett Hellmuth, President of Passport Auto Group, sharing their need for a truck for their Ready 2 Work program. Everett Hellmuth, President, and Jay Klein, Vice President, were sympathetic to their need and happy to give a helping hand. Central Union Mission needed their truck replaced for their program, Ready 2 Work. Ready 2 Work is a job training program that helps men and women get out of homelessness. Having a truck is an essential part of the program, as participants need a way to get around Washington, D.C.

​On, Thursday, April 14, Passport Auto Group donated a 2022 Nissan Frontier pick-up truck valued above $30,000. “We are so grateful and so honored that God would place it on his heart to bless us the way he did,” said Joe Mettimano. “This truck is going to bless the lives of those men and women who truly have made a change and are continuing to do the hard work.”

​“Passport Auto Group is a proud sponsor of Central Union Mission and has been for many years.” said Everett Hellmuth. “I’m so glad that our simple donation will have such a huge impact on the men and women who will use it for good. I’m proud we were able to do that.” Passport Auto Group is Central Union Mission’s 2022 Business Sponsor of the Year and is proud to support an organization that does such important work in the community. 

A driver at the Mobil gas station, Said, said “it's a very lucky day. Any day is lucky when you get free gas. Totally unexpected.” Passport Auto Group shared the locations of the gas stations for their one-day event on Instagram. The gas stations included a Shell station and a Citgo station located in Camp Springs, Maryland and a Mobil station in Alexandria, Virginia.

Employees of Team Passport, including President Everett Hellmuth and Vice President Jay Klein, pumped gas and distributed water and tips on how to save money on gas. Below are ten money saving tips at the gas pump:

• Check your tires: Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Studies show that 20% to 30% of a vehicle's fuel consumption is tire-related.
• Buy gas early or late in the day: Gas is cooler and more dense earlier in the day. As temperatures rise, gas density falls, and you get less of it when you pump.
• Drive at optimized speeds if possible: Cars are optimized for fuel efficiency at speeds between 55 and 65 mph, but always abide by the speed limit.
• Cruise control: Use cruise control to maintain a steady and constant speed over long distances.
• Preserve gas: Turn off your vehicle when waiting; excess idling can waste gas.
• Don’t carry extra weight: The more you carry around in your car or trunk, the more fuel you will burn transporting it.
• Glide in and out of your stops: Abrupt increasing and decreasing can have a real impact on your gas consumption.
• Ask about cash savings: Look for stations that provide discounts for paying in cash (not debit) instead of credit; the stations save on credit card fees and pass the savings directly to you.
• Download a gas app: Using one can sometimes save you more than $0.20 per gallon.
• Acquire a gas rewards credit card: Many pay you back anywhere from 6-8% of your gas purchases.

Visit Passport Auto Group’s Instagram page here to see a video on their free gas day event, and follow them to learn more ways they support the local community. Passport Auto Group is proud to support their local community throughout the year through their Passport Cares program.