Last weekend, car dealerships all around Chicago fired up their grills and busted out the party vibes supporting the local military. π«‘
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) and USO Illinois teamed up to ensure that service members in their backyards feel loved and supported with this yearβs 10th Annual USO Barbecue for the Troops. π₯
With more than 80 new-car dealerships around the city joining forces, the driveβs primary mission is to bring joy to those who protect our nation and raise money to assist soldiers and their families. π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦
"The most important thing is awareness. People know how important the USO is and how we need to support our troops," said Steve Phillipos, President of Chevrolet of Homewood and Ford of Homewood.
CATA dealers have raised an impressive $1M in the past decade with this annual event. By lending their helping hands, they have helped to provide life-enriching and morale-boosting services to over 300K of our heroes and their families every year through hundreds of programs and services. π
"Every penny adds up to support our troops here locally and their families. It's not just the troops, it's the families also back home that need the support while their loved ones are away," said Chicago Automobile Trade Association Communications and Marketing Manager Hayley Feichter.