The employees of Kenworth Sales Co. in West Valley City, Utah, sponsored their third annual book drive for students at Stansbury Elementary School. The Kenworth dealership first adopted the local elementary school three years ago and has donated time and help in classrooms, brought in Kenworth trucks for show-and-tells and provided extra funding to help pay for other programs. In the inaugural year, Kenworth Sales Company donated a reading program for the library, then an after-school program the second year and a book for every child this year.
According to Kyle Treadway, Kenworth Sales Co. president, the dealership’s employee committee group proposed getting more involved with Stansbury Elementary School, which is a Title 1 school with 815 students. “Our employee committee felt that extra funds and programs could help the school, which can’t cater to all the needs of students and their families – many of whom are low income,” Treadway says. “It was heartwarming and extremely gratifying that our employees wanted to do this for the school and community. The next question was how to raise funds and make it work.”
Enter the dealership’s now annual Rods, Hogs and Rigs Extravaganza. “Three years ago, we decided to host a big event where we could do a classic car, motorcycle and truck show, plus have food, entertainment and a raffle,” says Martha Mills, marketing director for Kenworth Sales Co.
“At this year’s event, we even had the original Batmobile on display,” Mills says. “The community and our customers responded the first year, and it’s just grown from there. We drew an estimated 1,500 people, and more than 150 vehicles were registered. All told, through entry fees and the raffle, we raised $4,200 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the school to purchase books for students.”
Kenworth Sales Co., which was founded 66 years ago and is Kenworth’s oldest dealership, operates 19 dealerships in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
