Van Horn Automotive Group Donates to Fond du Lac Humane Society

6/24/16


During the month of May, Van Horn employee's competed against each other in a Penny War. A Penny War is a fund raising challenge that takes pennies as positive points and all other money ( silver coins and paper money) as negative points. The goal is to have the most pennies in your jar. You can bomb the other teams jar by adding silver and paper money to theirs. 

The total amount of money raised was $281.47. The sales team at Van Horn Hyundai of Fond du Lac had the overall most points! As winners of the competition, their team got to decide where the money was donated. They chose the Fond du Lac Humane Society! 
Thank you to all the Van Horn Employees who participated!





From Left to Right: Fond du Lac Humane Society Representative and Kayla Stobbs, Business Development Manager, Van Horn Hyundai of Fond du Lac

Van Horn Employees donate to Sheboygan County Humane Society

5/18/16

For the last three weeks, Sheboygan County Van Horn employee's have been bringing in donations to work for the Sheboygan County Humane Society. Yesterday, we dropped off our donations. The items included kitten food, dog treats, cat litter, peanut butter, folders, envelopes, and other office supplies. 

The total donation ended up being around $150 in value. We were please to present these items to the Humane Society yesterday. 

To make your own donation or learn more information, visit http://myschs.com/

Humane Society employee's with Tina Tasche (Center) receiving donations

Van Horn Automotive Group Wins Family Business First Award

5/5/16

In March 2016, Van Horn Automotive Group was nominated for a Family Business First Award by a couple of employee's. The students in the business department at UW-Oshkosh voted and chose four family businesses in the state of Wisconsin to receive the award. Van Horn was honored to receive this award.

On Monday, May 2nd, Van Horn Automotive Group attended the 20th Annual Wisconsin Family Business Forum Celebration. Van Horn Automotive Group accepted the Family Business First Award. The Award was received by Chuck and Teresa Van Horn. 

From Left to Right: Chuck Van Horn, CEO; William Deppiesse Vice President of First Business Bank; Teresa Van Horn, COO; and Halle Van Horn, Chuck's Daughter.
The other businesses that received the award are Winsert, Inc., Tweet/Garot Mechanical, and Sargento Foods Inc. As Sargento is also a Plymouth, WI based company, these awards were an honor for our little corner of Sheboygan County. In her acceptance speech, Teresa joked to long-time business friend Louis Gentine, CEO of Sargento Foods, "Really Louis, you're selling cheese in Wisconsin, how hard can it be?"

To find out more information on the Wisconsin Family Business Forum visit: http://wfbf.uwosh.edu/


Van Horn Employee's from left to right: Sunday Strong, Executive Assistant; Dick Strong, President; Patrick Van Horn, Teresa's Son; Teresa Van Horn, COO; Halle Van Horn, Chuck's Daughter; Chuck Van Horn, CEO; Trina Van Horn, Chuck's Wife; Brian Wieland, Purchasing Director; and Sarah Rieder, Digital Marketing Specialist





Van Horn Employees Help with Habitat for Humanity Build in Fond Du Lac

4/22/2016

Yesterday, ten Van Horn employees volunteered their time to day one on a Habitat for Humanity build. The house is located in Fond Du Lac, WI.

The build was organized by Brian Wieland (Joann Van Horn Wieland's Son). The employees included Amy Horness, Niki Meixensperger, Cathy Schultz, Sarah Rieder, Deidre D'Amato, Shellie Miller, Sandy Schaefer, Steve Gottsacker, Brian Weiland, and Teresa Van Horn. 

The build began at 8:00 AM and went until 4:00 PM. Tom Wilhelms, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity, ReStore and Joel, Habitat for Humanity Contractor. Joel worked with the Van Horn Employees to go through each step of the building process.

The goal was to deck a floor. At the end of the day, the foundation, crossbeam, and joists of the house were built up and half of the floor was decked.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, visit: http://www.habitatfdl.org/

From left to right: Brian Wieland, Shellie Miller, John, Steve Gottsacker, Brennan Van Horn, Casey Van Horn, Teresa Van Horn, Sandy Schaefer, Sarah Rieder, Amy Horness. Deidre D'Amato, Cathy Schultz.



Van Horn Auto Group is Paying it Forward to Junior Achievement

4/6/2016

On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual meeting and awards dinner. The guest speaker was Scott Walker and it took place at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, WI. Van Horn Auto Group was honored by winning Large Business of the Year!

Van Horn Auto Group also created another Pay-it-Forward donation. Van Horn donated $1,000 dollars to a randomly selected participant at the event. That person then decides what local organization or charity they would like the money to go to. 

The recipient was Jodi Schoerner of Masters Gallery Foods. Jodi decided to Pay-It-Forward to Junior Achievement of Wisconsin which helps kids learn about entrepreneurship, financial responsibilities, and future career choices and responsibilities.

"Considering the state of Wisconsin has virtually no requirements for personal finance education JA ECD is well positioned to educate our young people to own their personal economic success.  At Junior Achievement we have core curriculum approved and academic career path approved programs to meet the needs of the students, teachers and state and federal requirements," says Mary Monday, Junior Achievement District Director.

Junior Achievement in the East Central District is very well positioned in the elementary schools.  A goal for the 15-16 year includes expansion of the path into the middle and high schools district-wide to increase financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurial programs.

Another goal is to increase the volunteer force to present the Junior Achievement programs in the middle and high school classrooms. The volunteers bring the relevant and hands on programs to life in the classrooms. 

Having been around since 1919, Junior Achievement is all about the students and their direct connection and interaction with the community.

To learn more information or volunteer for Junior Achievement visit: 



From Left to Right: Teresa Van Horn, COO of Van Horn Automotive Group; Jon Grosshuesch, President of the Oostburg State Bank and Vice Chairman for Junior Achievement in the East Central District; Jodi Schoerner, Masters Gallery Foods; and Steve Heun, CFO of the Vollrath Company and Chairman for Junior Achievement int he East Central District

Van Horn Auto Group Donates to Plymouth Youth Baseball

3/24/16

Plymouth Youth Baseball in Plymouth is being sponsored by the Van Horn Auto Group who has joined forces with the national Chevrolet Youth Baseball program. Van Horn is providing new equipment, a monetary contribution, and hosting a Test Drive fundraiser for community members to earn extra donations for their leagues.

2016 marks Chevrolet’s Youth Baseball program’s 11th year, and since its introduction has helped aid local teams, benefiting more than 5 million young people in communities where Chevrolet’s customers live, work and play. In 2015, more than 1,400 Chevrolet dealers participated across the country.

Van Horn Auto Group will present the Plymouth Youth Baseball with an equipment kit that includes useful items such as bags, scorebooks, catcher’s gear and Chevrolet Youth Baseball T-shirts.

In addition, Van Horn Auto Group will present a check representing a one-time monetary contribution to Plymouth Youth Baseball.  Sponsored leagues across the country will have the chance to earn additional funds as community members take test drives at their partnering dealership to help support the league.

In addition to its commitment to youth baseball, Chevrolet also is the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball™.

“Chevrolet vehicles are designed and built for families, safety and fun, so we encourage young people and their parents to make a Chevrolet the official vehicle of their household,” said Laehn.


For more information about Chevrolet Youth Baseball, please visit www.youthsportswired.com

This release was written and contributed by GM dealer programs.

Rodney Steffen presenting the Plymouth Youth Baseball Association with  donation check in June 2015

Van Horn donates to Sheboygan County's Maki Family

3/17/16

At the end of January, a tragic fire changed the lives of Sheboygan Fall's Maki family. The family lost three member's on the night of January 26th. Van Horn Chevrolet pledged to donate 5% of all body shop, service, and parts profits from the month of February to the Maki family. $2,500 came from parts, $650 came from service, and $1,850 came from the body shop, creating a total donation of $5,000.

Yesterday, (March 16, 2016) Ryan Passini, the uncle of the Maki children, accepted the donation on behalf of the family.

Van Horn appreciates every customer who helped make this donation possible. A community stands together and we are happy to be able to contribute in this time of tragedy.

If you would like to make a donation of your own, visit here to learn more:

http://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2016/02/23/maki-family-thanks-community-support/80794934/

Van Horn Chevrolet's Body Shop Manager, Bruce Vreeke, presenting Ryan Passini with donation