Dealer.com Receives Prestigious National Recognition from Americans for the Arts

BURLINGTON, Vt., May 17, 2016 -- In recognition of the impressive ways it collaborates with the arts, Dealer.com has been named among the top ten 'Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America' for 2016 by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Presented every year by the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, the 'BCA 10' awards honor ten companies nationwide for their exceptional commitment to the arts through grants, local partnerships, volunteer programs, matching gifts, sponsorships, and board membership.

"Dealer.com is uniquely committed to a culture of creativity, community involvement, and sustainability – it's been part of our organizational DNA since Day 1," said Wayne Pastore, senior vice president of Dealer.com, a Cox Automotive brand. "Our close connection to the arts in Burlington has had a tremendously positive impact on the community and our company. We are very proud of the work we do to bring the community together through the arts and arts education."

Dealer.com formalized its long-standing corporate social responsibility program three years ago by creating the P.E.A.C.E. mission: Planet; Eating Local; Arts & Culture; Community; and Employees. Because the company's headquarters are located in the city's South End Arts District, an area undergoing a revitalization of late, Dealer.com is actively engaged in several local art and cultural initiatives.

Recently, for example, the company launched a ground-breaking project that involved fusing art and recycling. Dealer.com partnered with the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) and several local artists to transform eight of CSWD's 22-foot-long recycling containers into massive works of art. The goal of the project, completed in March this year, was to create a more engaging recycling experience while drawing attention to the community's efforts to reduce waste by 'changing the face of recycling'.

"There is an exceptional amount of passion in our organization to be involved and make an impact in the places where we live and work," said Jill Badolato, director of Dealer.com's Corporate Social Responsibility program. "We have taken a unique approach to grant-making by fusing art and function: we provide our non-profit partners with much needed funding and then we add additional funding to transform the projects into public works of art. In this way, Dealer.com gives back to the community, promotes local artists, and stimulates the creative economy. It has definitely deepened the sense of community and connection here, and we are extremely proud of our efforts."

The company underwrites grants for arts and cultural activities in the local community, and exhibits local art in its Burlington and Manhattan Beach, California, locations.

The BCA 10 Awards will be presented by Americans for the Arts on October 5^th, 2016, at a black-tie gala at the Central Park Boathouse in New York City.

"We are grateful to honor these 10 businesses for their exceptional involvement in ensuring that the arts thrive in their communities," said Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. "These businesses provide the arts with significant financial and in-kind support, and they incorporate meaningful arts-related programs into their employee, customer, and community relations activities. They enrich the lives of millions of Americans and truly set a standard for other businesses to follow."

For information regarding BCA 10, please contact Emily Peck, vice president of Private Sector Initiatives at (202) 371-2830 or via e-mail at epeck@artsusa.org.

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin: "This is great news. Dealer.com is not just a great company that we are extremely proud of in Vermont. Part of what defines them is their commitment to their community, which extends to the arts and culture. Congratulations to Dealer.com for this extraordinary recognition, and I join with Americans for the Arts in thanking them for all they do in our community."

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger: "Dealer.com has found an innovative way to leverage and support the arts in Burlington and bring our community together. Through their efforts, more artists and non-profit organizations have gained exposure, and the South End Arts District has captured significant momentum toward its revitalization with Dealer.com as its largest resident. We are extremely proud of Dealer.com for this recognition from Americans for the Arts, and we hope that the company serves as an inspiration to cities and companies everywhere about the positive impact the arts can have on a community."

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch: "Congratulations to Dealer.com on this well-deserved honor. Dealer.com and its employees regularly go above and beyond the call of duty and continue to remind us that a business is about more than the bottom line and can play an important role in the enrichment of its community. It's impressive, yet not surprising, to see Dealer.com recognized for its commitment to community alongside some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the country. Keep up the great work!"

About Dealer.com
Dealer.com provides an integrated platform of Advertising, Website and Managed Services products which allow OEMs, dealer groups, retailers and agencies to leverage advanced digital technology and data to better engage and connect with their customers. The company practices a deep commitment to its culture of innovation, with a focus on health and wellness, making it one of the most desirable places to work, and a valuable partner for automotive retailers. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Dealer.com is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.dealer.com.

About American for the Arts
Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at AmericansForTheArts.org.

Founded in 1967 by David Rockefeller, the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA), a division of Americans for the Arts, encourages, inspires, and stimulates businesses to support the arts in the workplace, in education, and in the community. The Business Committee for the Arts merged with Americans for the Arts in 2008.

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SOURCE Dealer.com

CONTACT: Alison Von Puschendorf, Director, External Communications, Dealer.com, Cox Automotive, 877.327.8422 x7366, alison.vonpuschendorf@dealer.com