Local Dealership Hosts Fundraiser For Autism Nonprofit

A local car dealership is making a move to give back by hosting a fundraiser for a Baltimore County-based autism non-profit this weekend.

This Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 8, Bob Davidson Ford Lincoln, at 1845 E. Joppa Road, hosts the "Drive 4 UR Community" event to benefit Hunt Valley-based Pathfinders for Autism.

Participants in the event raise $20 for the charity in exchange for taking an 8-10 minute test drive in a new Ford.

"It’s a great cause and an easy way to do it. No salesman goes along on the drive with you, there's no pressure. It's something you can do with your wife or you and your kids," said dealership spokesman Brian Satisky. "There's no sales pitch, you just fill out a form after the test drive."

The event, sponsored by Ford, could raise up to $6,000 for Pathfinders.

In the past the dealership has sponsored local high schools through these types of fundraisers. A recent event to benefit Loch Raven High School drew 200 drivers and raised about $4,000 for the school.

"We’d love to raise the maximum of 6,000 dollars, that's 300 test drives," Satisky said.

In addition to the fundraiser, Santa Claus will be at the dealship from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday along with Chick-Fil-A which will be passing out free sandwich coupons, Satisky said. The dealership also plans to raffle off two iPad minis.

AJR Insurance will also be offering Child ID Kits free of charge. The kits contain laminated cards, plus CD's containing digital fingerprints, video, voice recordings and additional information prepared for the police to download in case of an emergency.