McLEAN, Va. (Dec. 27, 2012) -- For more than 35 years, new-car and -truck dealers have donated Little Annie cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training manikins to hospitals, police and fire departments and schools across the country from the Medical Grants program of the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation.

"Over the years, the success of the NADA Foundation's CPR manikin donation program has hinged on the tremendous support of executives from state and metro dealer associations who have worked with local dealers to identify community agencies and organizations in need of new CPR training units," said Bob Mallon, chairman of the NADA Foundation.

In 2012 alone, the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association has facilitated 18 CPR donations in the state. In December 2012, OADA-member Yark Automotive Group in Toledo, Ohio, presented CPR training units to the St. Francis School System prior to the tip off of a high school basketball rivalry game between Toledo Whitmer vs. Toledo St. Francis.

"We're proud to be able to give back to the community in a variety of ways, and knowing that we can save lives by providing this equipment to help people learn CPR is truly exceptional," said John Yark, president of Yark Automotive Group.

OADA, in partnership with the NADA Foundation, has been involved in the CPR program for more than 10 years. OADA has helped facilitate the donation of hundreds of CPR manikins across the state to worthy groups through member dealers to train more people and help save lives, said Zach Doran, OADA's director of dealer services.

This year, Richard Stephens, a board member of the National Automobile Dealers Association, presented 12 CPR training units to 12 different organizations in his rural home state of West Virginia.

"The program, which will likely lead to saving lives, is a great resource that NADA makes available through its charitable foundation," said Stephens, owner of Stephens Auto Center in Danville, W.Va. "Many of these organizations, which rely on government funds and charitable contributions, would otherwise not have these CPR training units available to them and would have to pay for outside certification training."

In 2012, more than 100 CPR training units with a value of $78,000 were donated by the NADA Foundation to organizations in 17 states. Since the program's inception in 1975, more than 4,600 manikins with a value of about $3 million have been donated to organizations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. More than 2 million people have been trained on CPR manikins donated by the NADA Foundation.

In addition to providing new Resusci-Anne, Resusci-Baby and Resusci-Junior CPR training units as well as replacing worn out units, the NADA Foundation also donates Little Anne AED (automated external defibrillators) training systems, so that organizations can teach individuals how to properly use these devices. 

"There is also the constant need to supply organizations with the proper training materials to ensure individuals are prepared to perform 'lifesaving' CPR," Mallon added.

For more information about the NADA Foundation's CPR program, contact Naxhieli Acosta at nacosta@nada.org or call toll free at 800.248.6232, Ext. 7233 or direct at 703.821.7233.

About the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation

The NADA Foundation, established in 1975, is the philanthropic arm of the National Automobile Dealers Association. Funds contributed by new-car and -truck dealers and friends of the industry provide financial support to schools, private colleges and universities, emergency disaster relief and community service programs. For more information, visit www.nada.org/foundation .