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While Mazda is known as a luxury car manufacturer, the philanthropic efforts that some of their dealerships engage in help set them apart as a force for good. On May 3, Young Mazda of Ogden gave Lincoln Elementary School teacher Kimberly Pickett free use of a Mazda CX-5 for one year.
"Our team is passionate about efforts that better the lives of children in our communities," Ryan Albert, the dealership's general manager said. "Educators play a critical role in crafting a bright future, and exceptional ones like Pickett deserve to be rewarded."
During an assembly, Ogden School District's assistant superintendent Chad Carpenter announced that Pickett had been recognized by her peers as the teacher of the year. It was shortly after this announcement that Albert entered the stage and presented Pickett with a Mazda swag package that included the keys.
"Any support that teachers can get from outside the community is so welcomed and appreciated.To get cars, that's crazy," Pickett said. "To have organizations actually give back is incredible."
Young Mazda began its Ogden teacher-of-the-year giveaway last year, bringing over the tradition from Young Kia in Layton — which has held the same event with Davis School District since 2016. Albert said the dealership will continue to reward outstanding educators in future events.
Previously located in Kaysville, Young Mazda re-entered the Ogden market in 2020. Though many of its efforts are dedicated to initiatives in Weber county, their impact spreads to other parts of Utah as well.
In January, the dealership held their seventh annual Cast A Spell event. Setting up several family friendly activities at their location, Young Mazda partnered with Catholic Community Services, the Davis Education Foundation, the Ogden School Foundation, the Ogden Children's Treehouse Museum and the Young Automotive Group's nonprofit, the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation, to collect food donations for families in need.
"Young Mazda is always an incredible dealership to work with," Tami Olsen, the executive director of Young Caring for Our Young said. "Their work and donations have helped us expand our efforts not only in Ogden, but in places like Layton, Bountiful and Centerville as well. They truly go above and beyond their commitment to community."
Both this year's Cast A Spell event and Ogden teacher of the year giveaway coincide with the Young Automotive Group's celebration of 100 years of business. Founded by Seldon "Jack" Olsen in 1924, the company has expanded from one location in Morgan, Utah to over 30 operations across three states.
In 2007, the Young Automotive Group founded the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation to engage their dealerships in philanthropic work. The foundation targets issues related to hunger, clothing, literacy and teen homelessness ranging from communities in Bountiful and Centerville to Missoula, Montana.
Each of the Young Automotive Group's dealerships donate and host events with Young Caring for Our Young. In the last two years, the foundation has donated over $2 million to various initiatives. Young Caring for Our Young also operates a program called the KIND Fund — which empowers educators, donors and volunteers to provide clothing and essential assistance to students in need. Since its inception in 2022, the program has helped around 4,000 children.
"We're grateful to be a part of a force for good like Young Caring for Our Young and to work with a manufacturer that's dedicated to community efforts," Albert said. "Any business that reaches a point of success starts to look for ways to give back. Having the foundation and Mazda at our side has helped us do that at a level we'd never be able to reach on our own."
