Lithia Motors of Omaha Raises Food, Money for Omaha Food Bank

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 16, 2006 -- Lithia Motors of Omaha believes that there is no more important gift than offering food to area residents in need. For more than 25 years, Omaha Food Bank has been doing that and more. Now Lithia Motors will help area residents come clean for the area Food Bank. First, clean out your cupboards and bring food to three area Lithia dealerships to benefit the Omaha Food Bank. Second, with a donation of at least 5 cans of food, clean your car with three free car washes at Mercedes- Benz of Omaha or 50% discount on a Gold Level vehicle detail package from either Lithia Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge or Lithia Ford.

The three area dealerships are competing to deliver the most goods to the Omaha Food Bank. In addition to offering service packages to customers in exchange for donations, the Lithia stores are raising funds from employees through a Denim Day promotion where employees can wear jeans on Fridays in exchange for a $5 contribution to the Food Bank. With more than 250 local employees, Lithia expects that this fund will grow quickly.

"We take our community responsibility very seriously," said Brian Cueny, Multi-Store Manager. "Our team members select what charities they want to support, so we know that our fund raising efforts will be very successful. To further ensure our success, we're offering valuable promotions to our customers to encourage their participation as well."

"Thanks to the generosity of the Omaha community, our program has distributed over 90,000,000 pounds of food to 326 agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and low income day cares since 1981," said Don Schinzel, Omaha Food Bank President. "For Lithia to put its attention and powerful resources to work for us is fantastic."

Between now and Tuesday, November 28, the three local participating Lithia dealerships, Mercedes-Benz of Omaha, Lithia Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge and Lithia Ford, will be collecting monetary donations, as well as canned food goods for the Omaha Food Bank. Key incentive packages for donations vary at each of the Lithia dealerships, and the dealerships are competing against each other to see which one can raise the most money and the most food.

A five can minimum drop off to Mercedes-Benz of Omaha will award the donor three free car washes; at Lithia Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge of Omaha the same contribution will award the donor a 50% discount on any Gold, Silver or bronze detail or a 5% discount on any Lithia service offered, up to $50; and finally, Lithia Ford of Omaha will award a five can donor a 50% discount on a Gold service detail or a 5% discount on any Lithia service offered, up to $50. These promotions and coupons are valid until December 31, 2006. The program is open to all area residents regardless of the make and model of their vehicle or even whether their vehicle was purchased at a Lithia dealership.

For every dollar contributed, the Omaha Food Bank is able to distribute $18 worth of food for needy families and individuals in Nebraska and western Iowa. The Omaha Food Bank is an affiliate of America's Second Harvest, a national organization of food banks across the country. The Food Bank shares donations with food banks in Lincoln, Kearney and Sidney, Nebraska and Sioux City, Iowa, as part of the Nebraska Food Bank Network.

The Lithia Denim Day concept previously raised funds for Women's Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). The three stores are continuing the "Denim Day" concept into a monthly fund raising campaign for local causes. In December, the stores will raise money or bring toys to benefit Toys for Tots.