Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association

Hurricane Harvey

GNYADA Donates $100K in Hurricane Harvey Relief

The Board of Directors of GNYADA approved a contribution of $50,000 to NADA's Emergency Relief Fund and $50,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in the recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

In the immediate aftermath of the tropical storm, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) called on dealers and dealer associations nationwide to donate to its Emergency Relief Fund to help dealership employees who experienced property damage caused by the storm and flooding. In response, GNYADA Chairman Lee Certilman announced that the Association would be making these donations to help those who suffered catastrophic losses.

Some reports estimate that as many as 500,000 homes have been flooded by Hurricane Harvey. According to NADA, somewhere between 30,000 and 35,000 dealership employees in the greater Houston area may have had their homes impacted. Some dealerships, located in areas inundated by as much as ten feet of water, experienced a total loss of their vehicle inventory.

GNYADA has a long history of doing its part to provide relief to disaster victims. Following the 9/11 attacks, the Association made a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross and coordinated member-donated vehicles to assist recovery. In the aftermaths of both Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, GNYADA sent $100,000 in relief donations. GNYADA also sent $50,000 to help victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and donated $10,000 to aid victims of the 2016 Louisiana floods.

In the days after GNYADA announced its donation to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey, dealers across the area responded by sharing some of the additional organizations they are supporting individually, to aid the relief efforts.

1. The Houston Food Bank is responding to pressing local and statewide needs. The most needed items are nonperishable food, water, baby food, diapers, flashlights and batteries, new or packaged clothing, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. Donations and volunteer registration can be made online.
   
   
2. The Texas Diaper Bank is in need of both financial and diaper donations to provide kits to families that are being displaced. Donations can be made at texasdiaperbank.networkforgood.com or by calling 210.731.8118.
   
   
3. The Animal Defense League of Texas is asking for donations and volunteers to foster a dog or cat that has been displaced by the hurricane. Steps to donate and register to volunteer can be found on the organization’s website.
   
   
4. The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is in urgent need of blood donations, especially type O negative and O positive. To donate blood, schedule an appointment online or call 800.292.5534 ext. 3500.
   
   
5. KIPP is working to keep their schools open and available during the aftermath of the hurricane. To help provide resources and uninterrupted education to students at this time, donations can be made at kipphouston.org/family-emergency-fund.
   
   
6. The American Red Cross is urging people to make a minimum donation of $10 by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting HARVEY to 90999.
   
   
7. The Salvation Army will remain in communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey and is in need of donations to provide long-term disaster recovery efforts and ongoing assistance where necessary.
   
   
8. The NADA Emergency Relief Fund is helping the thousands of dealership employees and their families that have suffered devastating losses from the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.