Communities win as CMH challenges dealer network
It was a case of blankets, boeries and birthday cake as dealers in the national Combined Motor Holdings network reached out to their surrounding communities to celebrate the late Nelson Mandela in his birthday-month.
“We pride ourselves on our national reach and wide range of choices for customers across all popular brands,” says CMH Chief Executive Jebb McIntosh, “but we have also made the decision to use that network for social good.”
In one example Lynhurst Auto MINI yarn-bombed its dealership as part of a blanket drive in partnership with 67 Blankets for Madiba Day movement and the Nelson Mandela Square.
Dealer Principal Paul Henning opened the dealership doors and created a blanket collection hub, while he also challenged the staff and management to contribute, adding to the blanket haul.
The 67 Blankets for Madiba Day movement was started by well-known actor and arts angel Carolyn Steyn and has since spread as wide as India, Cyprus, Germany and the United States. Participants knit and crochet blankets for those less fortunate and distribute the blankets on Nelson Mandela Day.
This year, the team at Lyndhurst Auto MINI provided a MINI Cooper as delivery vehicle, which made sure that no time was wasted in delivering the warm hand-made blankets to the Itlhokomeleng Association for the Aged and Disabled home in Alexandra.
Meanwhile in KwaZulu-Natal the team from Kempster Auto South brought food, fun and cheer to the kids of the Ethelbert Child and Youth Care Centre.
The Ethelbert Centre is a well-known haven for abused or abandoned children who often require special care, rehabilitation and therapy. The Kempster-team spent the day with the children and held a big bang birthday party for the late State President.
In another part of South Africa the CMH-affiliated Land Rover Cape Town team took 67 minutes to serve warm soup, boerewors rolls and coffee to those less fortunate in the streets of Cape Town.
With overwhelming support from all its team members the dealership decided to completely close its doors during this time, with all the staff supporting the charitable initiative.
Says McIntosh: “We are very proud of all our dealers for their effort and initiative in supporting this worthy cause. We are encouraged by the fact that this initiative is merely a part of on going community initiatives that make the CMH Group a good neighbour and corporate citizen in the communities in which it operates across South Africa.”
