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Local dealer launches 'Driven to Graduate' and 'Drive for a Purpose' fundraising program
Summary
Rose Pine-area dealer owner Jason Benoit described a local fundraising initiative that will award a new car to a qualifying high-school senior annually (funded from dealer marketing funds) and run a barcode-driven fundraising campaign that donates roughly $30 per presentation to participating school or nonprofit campaigns.
Local businessman Jason Benoit presented two community-focused initiatives at the Beauregard Parish School Board meeting: a yearly car giveaway called "Driven to Graduate" funded from a portion of his marketing budget, and a fundraising program branded "Drive for a Purpose" that directs small donations to school and nonprofit campaigns.
Benoit said he plans to reallocate approximately $25,000 from his dealerships' marketing budget to underwrite the first program and described the eligibility rule that the primary vehicle in the student's household must be a Benoit-purchased vehicle (purchase up to five years prior is acceptable). He framed the giveaway as a way to redirect advertising dollars into the local community and support graduating seniors.
For the fundraising program, Benoit described a barcode-driven campaign: an organization requests a campaign, the dealer issues a campaign barcode to the organization or teacher, and community members visit the dealership for a brief (about 15-minute) product presentation. Benoit said his firm will donate roughly $30 per qualifying visit to the campaign; he projected that modest local participation could generate thousands for teams or classrooms within a 30-day campaign window.
Benoit said the program is locally funded by his business, that he intends to expand it to other parishes where his dealerships operate, and that promotional materials will be left with schools for dissemination. He described the program as intended to help cover classroom or organization needs that school budgets cannot fund.
"Someone in the community is that's a senior in high school is going to win a brand new car every year from Benoit," Benoit said, describing the planned annual award.
