Bruce Kelleher |
McLEAN, Va. (July 1, 2011) – In recognition of his 45-year career serving the nation’s new-car and -truck dealers, Bruce Kelleher and his wife, Andrea, were named “Family Ambassadors of Distinction” by the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation.
Mr. Kelleher, who retired July 1 as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the National Automobile Dealers Association, and Mrs. Kelleher were presented last week with three ambassadorships, thus becoming “Family Ambassadors of Distinction.” The ambassadorships in Mr. and Mrs. Kelleher’s names and a third to be named later allow the couple to provide a grant of $2,000 every year.
“Andrea and I were just overwhelmed,” Mr. Kelleher said. “When you retire you get trophies and plaques, which are certainly appreciated, but to be able to provide help to those in need through a gift of this kind is absolutely wonderful."
Mrs. Kelleher says she plans to present grants to a parochial school she attended as a child located just outside Washington, D.C.
“It’s fitting that Bruce who’s been so important to the foundation’s success over the years is being honored with a gift representative of his immense generosity and love of charitable giving as he ends a 45-year career with NADA this year,” said Bob Mallon, foundation chairman.
Mr. Kelleher, who has also served as assistant treasurer of the foundation, was honored in June at the NADA board of directors meeting and a luncheon with nearly 300 of the association’s staff in attendance.
Since the foundation was created in 1976, Mr. Kelleher has played a pivotal role in making sure dealer contributions have touched the lives of those most in need, including thousands of people affected by natural disasters who received financial assistance from the foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund; disabled children and adults who received skilled companion dogs from the Frank E. McCarthy Memorial Fund; and the survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, who received grants from the Survivors Relief Fund to continue their education.
To become an Ambassador, a dealer, company, association or individual makes a tax-deductible contribution of $10,000 to the foundation in their name or in recognition of loved ones, living or deceased. Grants of at least $1,500 are made to organizations of their choice every three years. The title of “Ambassador of Distinction” is given to individuals or families who hold at least three ambassadorships, allowing them to present grants each year in perpetuity.
Today, there are a total of 522 Ambassadors who provide about $250,000 to organizations each year in the public or private sector, supporting a variety of causes from emergency medical services and education to job training for adults with disabilities. This year, 155 Ambassadors will present grants. Since 1994, more than $1 million has been donated to organizations across the country.
For more information or to become an Ambassador, contact the foundation at (703) 821-7102 or
foundation@nada.org.
About the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation The foundation, established in 1975, is the philanthropic arm of NADA. Funds contributed by new-car and -truck dealers and friends of the industry provide emergency disaster relief, financial support to colleges and universities and community service programs. For more information, visit
www.nada.org.
Contact: David Hyatt
Vice President
NADA Public Affairs
(703) 821-7120
dhyatt@nada.org Charles Cyrill
Director of Public Relations
NADA Public Affairs
(216) 870-8837 (m)
(703) 821-7121
ccyrill@nada.org