For the fifth consecutive year, Zeigler Auto Group is hosting its Ugly Sweater Holiday Canned Food Drive in benefit of local charities in the community. The food drive kicks off today and will run through December 22, 2023, with all Zeigler dealership stores participating. Each individual store will choose its own local beneficiary and is now accepting donations from the public. Starting today, customers can stop by their favorite Zeigler store and drop off non-perishable food items. Last year, Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates took home the big win, for a third year in a row, with an impressive 6,039 items donated. Overall in 2022, Zeigler Auto Group collected 29,195 items for local organizations across four states with special participation from NASCAR driver Josh BIlicki.
Kalamazoo, Mich. (November 20, 2023) – Zeigler Auto Group’s 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Canned Food Drive is now underway across all Zeigler dealerships in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Zeigler Racing invites fans to join in the giving spirit of the Holiday season by supporting the food drive, which will benefit local food banks in the area.
For a full list of drop off locations click here
“This is such an important time of year for all of us to come together and support those in our community who needs us most. Last year we were able to collect 29,195 items for our community in four states! This year, with the help from our awesome NASCAR fans, I know we can do so much more!” said Bilicki.
Each dealership will determine where donations go, generally choosing a local food bank in the area. The dealership with the most donations gets to show off by wearing an ugly sweater during a party the following week. Last year, Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates took home the big win for a third consecutive year in a row by bringing in an impressive 6,039 items from community and team members. Zeigler, as a whole, collected a grand total of 29,195 items across four states in 2022, and 15,465 items in 2021.
Even at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Zeigler Auto Group was able to collect 13,500 items for those in need, with Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates bringing in 5,000 items.
The first year the competition was held in 2019, the group donated a total of 5,000 cans to local food shelters in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with Zeigler Ford of Elkhart earning the top spot by bringing in a total of 737 cans.
About Zeigler Auto Group
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.
Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.
The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022.
The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2023, and among Glassdoor’s top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.