Recently the Morgan Auto Group family hosted their First Annual Casino Night for the Helping Hand Fund. A $15 donation instantly turned into $200 in gaming chips to use at tables named for Las Vegas’ most notable casinos. Attendees were treated to drinks and hors d’oeuvres while browsing the silent auction items available.

As with any special event, many special people contributed a tremendous amount of time and energy to ensure this event was a success. A special Thank You goes out to the following individuals and their families who dedicated time, money and hard work for this event: Shannon Bento, Shelly Burnett, Rosemary Shell, Misty Fairchild, Teressa Duke, Jason Hillman, Geraldine Towson, Jessi Beckwith, Wanda Chandler, Alicia Bailey, Dianne Finnegan, Dee Brack, Nate Cook, Tim Connelly, Harvey Mondragon, Wolf Muisener, Brian Clark, Nick Gallagher, Mitchell Messer, Ariel Negron, Mark Limerick, Ed Wine, Richard Desousa and Alex Laverde.

Over 150 employees attended the event which raised over $10,000 for the fund. The Helping Hand Fund was created by Larry Morgan, Brett Morgan and Lauren Ellerman to offer support to employees and their families in times of hardship. Funds are donated by employees through events like Casino Night and voluntary payroll deductions which are matched by the Morgan Auto Group. Employee’s requests for assistance from the Helping Hand Fund are kept strictly confidential.

Nationally known car enthusiast and broker Melvin Goodman is bringing his Sweet Dreams Car Show Tour for 2010 to Tampa Bay at the St. Pete Times forum on Sunday, March 21 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.  

2,500 people are expected to attend the event that will include displays by Morgan Auto Group’s Lamborghini Sarasota and BMW of Sarasota.  The event will include over $10,000,000 worth of cars on display, including Celebrity Vehicles from a mystery celebrity’s LP640 Lamborghini, the Lightning’s own Ryan Malone’s Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and Tampa Bay Buc’s quarterback Josh Freeman’s 2010 Range Rover Super Charged.  

Also on display will be the Million Dollar Ride, a Bugatti Veyron.  You will also be able to see the latest in stereos, bikes and more.  

Hope to see you there!

Toyota of Tampa Bay is proud to be a sponsor of the Transitions Championship 72-hole official PGA Tour event being held at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club. The festivities begin on March 15 and last all week through to the exciting final round on March 21. The Transitions Championship raises money each year for local charities.  

Larry Morgan, CEO and owner, of Toyota of Tampa Bay has been on the Board of this PGA event since 1998 and during that time the event has raised over $20,000,000 for local charities. On Monday, March 16, Larry will caddy for Toyota of Tampa Bay’s Service Director, Joe Schlueter, in the Shelton Quarles Celebrity Pro-Am which benefits the Shelton Quarles IMPACT Foundation.  

The IMPACT Foundation is dedicated to helping local Bay area underprivileged children and their families improve the quality of their lives through housing and educational initiatives.

This holiday season help give back to those in need at Toyota of Tampa Bay. Now through December 21^st help us fill a new 2010 Toyota Tundra with non-perishable food items.

All items donated will benefit the Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. As one of the oldest and largest providers of housing and support services to the homeless in Pinellas County, HEP has been helping to build hope and transforming the lives of families and individuals who are homeless for the past 40 years.

Help make this holiday season a little brighter for those in need. Bring a non-perishable food item to Toyota of Tampa Bay on Fletcher Ave. and help us fill a new 2010 Toyota Tundra.

No one, including Toyota of Tampa Bay owner Larry Morgan, could have predicted a simple invitation to serve on the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Inc. finance committee would result in a $5 million donation and a dedicated health care philanthropist. That’s exactly what happened, however, when Mr. Morgan accepted that invitation.

In 1990, Mr. Morgan moved to the Clearwater area from Virginia and started his retail tire distribution business, Tires Plus. After working seven days a week and growing the business to 600 nationwide stores, Mr. Morgan sold the company and retired. Spending the first three days of his retirement playing golf, Mr. Morgan quickly found he had more to give.

Wanting to become more involved with the local community, and give back some of the good fortune he had received, Mr. Morgan accepted an invitation to become involved with the local hospital system. Shortly after, he attended 21 meetings in a 30 day period in his first year of involvement. The enthusiasm and commitment of the hospital staff left Mr. Morgan so inspired, he became further involved with the hospitals governance.

When he controlled the reigns in his previous business, Mr. Morgan provided health care for 7,500 families. Now on the other side of the health care spectrum, Mr. Morgan was able to see how all the pieces must come together to make the health care system complete. Mr. Morgan’s ever growing passion for the health care industry eventually lead to the $5 million donation from the Morgan family that was used to help fund the construction of the $52 million Morgan Heart Hospital, located at the Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater.

Today Mr. Morgan splits his time between the six automotive dealership he owns with his son Brett Morgan, and serving as chairman of the four-hospital health system.

When the economy is rocky it is natural to feel apprehensive about continuing to support charitable organizations. In fact, contributions from individuals, businesses, and governments drastically dip during financial hardship. On the flip side, more and more asking for assistance are in positions they have not encountered in the past. This is a precarious recipe for communities in need.

If you would like to continue donating there is a silver lining. Find encouragement by expanding your idea of charitable giving. If you can assist non-profit foundations monetarily, be grateful that you can give, even if on a smaller scale. If your budget does not allow for this, giving your time and expertise is a valuable resource. Use your skills for bookkeeping or building repairs will help foundations save money for the primary focus and purpose—to help those in need.

Another outlet for your magnanimous spirit is to exchange tangible birthday and holiday gifts for donations to your favorite charity. Adopt a school is your best friend’s name. Or add a St. Jude’s donation card to your own birthday list. You will be giving help and support as well as being thoughtful.

Lastly, take a good look at what you have and what you need. This may be an ideal time to clean out your closets, garage, and shed. Gently worn clothes will be much appreciated to those attending job interviews. Almost-new toys will delight many children. Do you have paint you’ve never used? It could come in handy to organizations building homes and communities.

Helping others in our community does not need to cease because of the economic decline. The financial crisis is affecting all of our neighbors. And we all have so much to offer—even if it is not a financial donation.