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This is very hopeful news for our industry and for America. Read the article here: American auto industry about to go on hiring spree according to AP

On Saturday, June 1st, 2013, Dimmitt Automotive Group took part in the Second Annual Live the Brown Legacy Golf Tournament, hosted by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Indianapolis Colt, Anthony McFarland, at Innisbrook Copperhead Golf Course. Anthony McFarland is well-known around the area as a former fixture on the menacing defenses of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a heralded defensive tackle who won a Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2003 and earned a second one with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. Anthony hails from Winnsboro, La. and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1999 with a degree in business management. He was drafted that same year in the first round (15th pick overall) by the Bucs and played for legendary head coaches Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay, then was reunited with Dungy again in Indianapolis. After nine seasons in the NFL, he retired and transitioned into broadcasting. He co-hosted a player radio show with Steve Duemig from 2001-2003 on WDAE-620, and guest-hosted the Best Damn Sports Show, among other broadcasting stints. For over 35 years, Abe Brown Ministries has been developing programs to enable people at risk, their spouses, and their children to achieve productive and spiritually fulfilling lives. They believe that people must be changed from the inside out becoming liberated from spiritual incarceration. When the individuals comprising the community and state are transformed, the community and state collectively will be transformed. Ultimately all residents, businesses, and others benefit from a safe, secure, and productive society. We were very pleased to be a part of this wonderful event. Thank you to all that participated.

Shelton Quarles, scout for the Tampa Bay Bucs and former All-Pro linebacker, hosted a Celebrity Waiter Night at Dimmitt Automotive Group’s Bentley, Roll-Royce and McLaren building to benefit his IMPACT Foundation, on Friday, May 17th. The event guest list included a number of current and former Buccaneers as well as other local celebrities & Dimmitt Automotive Group guests & employees. Shelton said his position as a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs offers him a unique opportunity to help those in need. The foundation provides resources and opportunities to at-risk single parent families in the Tampa Bay area. It was an honor for us to host this lovely event. Thank you to everyone for coming and participating. For photos of Former Buccaneer, Michael Clayton visiting with his former Buccaneer Coach, Jon Gruden and Tampa Buccaneers, Josh Freeman & Dimmitt Guest, Vincent Jackson, please visit: www.facebook.com/DimmittAutomotive. They were among the 18 celebrity/athletes participating in the Shelton Quarles Event. Everyone did a great job serving wine to over 220 guests at the Shelton Quarles Celebrity Waiter Night. Here is a list of the celebrity/athletes that took part in this great cause: Shelton Quarles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Scout and former All-Pro linebacker; Jon Gruden, NFL analyst for ESPN and former head coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl Champions XXXVII; Adrian Clayborn, Defensive End, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Cody Grimm, Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Josh Freeman, Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Vincent Jackson, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Erik Lorig, Fullback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Dashon Goldson, Safety, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Michael Clayton, Former Wide Receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneer and the XLVI Super Bowl Champions the New York Giants; Anthony McFarland, Radio show host and former defensive tackle for Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII champions and Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI champions; Gayle Sierens, Co-Anchor, WFLA; Keith Cate, Co-Anchor, WFLA; Stacie Schaible, Co-Anchor, WFLA; Gayle Guyardo, Co-Anchor, WFLA.

We are thrilled that we were able to be a part of the 2013 Family Fun Night at Curtis Fundamental Elementary School. It was a fun night full of games, food, entertainment, great auction items and class baskets. In appreciation for our sponsorship, a very artistic and creative student drew this wonderful thank you picture. We are proud that we could assist and we are very thankful for Curtis Fundamental Elementary Schools heartfelt gratitude. Additionally, we would like to offer a big thank you to the student who took the time to make this amazing thank you picture!

The Dimmitt Automotive Group was proud to be a part of this very special event. Since 2004, Joto's Pizza has chosen to concentrate their charitable efforts in sponsoring this golf tournament to benefit All Children's Hospital in the name of the Rachel M. Thrower Memorial. Thank you for letting us be a part of the 10th Annual Dough for the Kids Golf Classic sponsored by Joto's Pizza!

"From babies to baby boomers, from bikers to business professionals, they were all there on Tuesday April 16th, 2013 to welcome home the Honor Flight carrying our World War II heroes from Washington, D.C. There were balloons, flags, color guards, bagpipes, plenty of applause and cheering when the honorees and their guides made their way through the terminal lined with admirers and well-wishers. Many of these men and women who defended our freedom were in wheelchairs as family and friends reached out to shake their hands, thank them for their service to our country, and embrace them with a pride that brought both a smile to their face as well as a tear to their eye. You could see the impact that the homecoming had upon the greeters as well. Many, including me, couldn’t hold back the tears of joy for those who so deserved this wonderful reception. You could almost feel the sense of patriotism in the air as each person passed by us on their way to receive a commemorative medal as a remembrance of their journey.Each veteran had a guide for the day that could have been a family member-or a complete stranger. To accompany one of these soldiers on a trip to Washington would be a privilege by anyone’s standards. In an era when bombings, political unrest, and threats from our enemies seem to blanket the evening news coverage, being a part of the Honor Flight in some small way was an experience that I will never forget, and one that I will vigorously recommend to all of my colleagues and friends." -Tom McQueen, DAG Brand Development Executive

Mr. and Mrs. Dimmitt will be at St. Petersburg International Airport on Tuesday April 16th to greet the veterans of the upcoming Honor Flight. The Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that sends our nation’s oldest living soldiers to Washington, D.C. for the day to visit the WW2 War Memorial and be received by some of our country’s highest ranking military officials who celebrate the accomplishments of these heroes. The presence of thankful inidividuals awaiting their return is very meaningful to the soldiers who particiapte in the Honor Flight. All Dimmitt associates are invited to join the Dimmitt family for this event, and we look forward creating a warm and welcoming crowd!

The Dimmitt Automotive Group continues our commitment to the community through service with Dimmitt Community Values Day. This program allows associates to dedicate a regularly scheduled work day to help out their favorite charity, or join others on a Team Community Values Day in which a team of Dimmitt Associates contribute to a meaningful project together. Community Values Day was created as a reminder to all associates that our mission as a company and as employees is to “Improve the quality of life for our associates, our guests and the community through service, excellence and innovation”. We believe this is a great way to reach out to the community, serve and help those in need. The most recent Team Community Values Day included 10 Dimmitt Associates spending a day to volunteer at the Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) whose mission has been to provide homeless and very low-income individuals and families with housing, food, clothing and support services necessary to obtain self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. This day was a great chance for us to give our time to a great organization and we look forward to our next project!

Team Cadillac hit the Streets of St Petersburg this weekend for rounds 1 and 2 of the Pirelli World Challenge race season on a quest to defend our 2012 Championship. We faced some stiff competition from new entries from Porsche and Audi and the always fast team from Volvo. The first race saw Team Cadillac start in the 5th and 6th spots and when the checkered flag waived Johnny O'Connell (#3) moved up to 4th and Andy Pilgrim (#8) moved to the 5th spot. After the race it was determined that the Porsche failed the tech inspection with a front splitter that didn't conform to series rules and it was disqualified moving Team Cadillac Driver's to 3rd and 4th positions and our first podium of the year. Race 2 began with Johnny O'Connell starting in the 5th spot and teammate Andy Pilgrim in the 7th spot. The Volvos jumped out to an early lead closely followed by Audi (Sofronas) and Porsche (Dalziel). As the race progressed the Porsche of Dalziel sat in 3rd spot when he had an on track incident causing a flat tire and he dropped from contention. Then pole sitter and race leader Alex figge (Volvo) had brake and tire problems and dropped out of the running. The race finished with Audi in 1st followed by Volvo and Cadillac (O'Connell) providing Cadillac it's second podium of the 2013 season. Overall a solid start to the season against a very competitive field. Team Cadillac takes to the track next April 19-22 on the Streets of Long Beach. The race will be streamed live @ world-challengetv.com.

A special thank you to Tom McQueen for putting together this video covering our first Dimmitt Community Values Day held on March 19th. This day was a great chance for us to give our time to a great organization, the Homeless Emergency Project, so they can focus on helping others. Click Here to watch the video, and be sure to check out our Dimmitt Community Values Day post to learn more about our volunteer outing at HEP!

We are proud to say we held our first official Dimmitt Community Values Day on March 19th. Ten of our company volunteers took time out of their days to do whatever they could for the Homeless Emergency Project, a charitable organization that seeks to be the last homeless shelter an individual or family will ever need to access. The work this organization does is outstanding, and we did our best to provide equally outstanding assistance. We participated in landscaping and assembly duties, helping out wherever we were needed. We expect our Community Values Day will be a regular event soon, and we look forward to our next project! To learn more about HEP, visit their website at http://www.ethep.org/.

We would like to congragulate our own Crista Whitten and Tracey Ringstaff for finishing in the top 5 out of 150 participants in this years Dirty Girl 5K obstacle run- an amazing performance at an amazing event! Dirty Girl is partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and in 2012 raised over $250,000 in support. In this race, 150 contestants ran through mud covered obstacles in support of cancer survivors. Congratulations again to our athletic associates, well done!