CarMax Associates Recognized for Volunteerism

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

CarMax, Inc. KMX, the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today the 12 winners of The CarMax Foundation's fifth annual CarMax Cares Community Service Award.

Associates across the country were nominated by their co-workers for their personal volunteer efforts and leadership in community giving. Winners were honored at the company's largest associate recognition event of the year in Las Vegas. Each winner selected a nonprofit organization to receive a $5,000 grant on their behalf from The CarMax Foundation.

The CarMax family is excited to introduce the 2014 CarMax Cares Community Service Award winners, and share why they are examples of individuals going above and beyond for causes important to their community. Also, below are the nonprofits chosen for each $5,000 grant, and a few words from the winners.

Jamie Abbott; assistant business office manager; Franklin, Tennessee
Nominated for championing volunteer opportunities that inspire co-workers to get involved in the community and her personal passion to serve those in need as a Nashville Rescue Mission volunteer.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Nashville Prevention Partnership
Jamie says: “It has always been my passion to help others. I've seen the impact of our employee blood drive and every walk we have done for a family member battling cancer, autism, or muscular dystrophy. These are the things that truly make me feel rewarded at the end of the day.”

Barbara Bean; business office associate; San Antonio, Texas
Nominated for her personal approach to getting fellow associates involved in important causes and for going above and beyond to give back to communities in need.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Dream Factory of San Antonio
Barbara says: “It gives me such joy to volunteer and see how my small efforts and ‘paying it forward' affect others. It's a great feeling to be recognized for this award and work for a company that has such a strong commitment to community involvement.”

Debbie Edwards; manager, talent management; Richmond, Virginia
Nominated for creating a community service component in CarMax's nationwide associate leadership development program, as well as her dedicated service to several nonprofit organizations in Richmond.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Blue Sky Fund
Debbie says: “My involvement with The CarMax Foundation efforts has opened my eyes to both the great need and the amazing nonprofits that serve our communities day in and day out. I am honored to have been selected for this award and the opportunities to put my personal convictions into practice in real and practical ways.”

Mike Full; sales manager; Frederick, Maryland
Nominated for his passion to serve the community, ability to inspire others to make a difference, and personal commitment to raising awareness for cancer research and traumatic brain injuries.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Advocates for Homeless Families, Inc.
Mike says: “Being part of CarMax Cares activities has been extremely rewarding and I'm proud to work for a company passionate about giving back to our communities. I'm very thankful for the participation and support from my fellow associates and could not have won this award without them.”

Velma Goodwater; sales manager; Federal Heights, Colorado
Nominated for organizing a large volunteer project that included associates from the three Colorado CarMax locations benefitting Autism Society of Colorado, as well her dedicated volunteer service with Project Angel Heart.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Center for Work Education and Employment
Velma says: “I love sharing my passion for giving with my team and The CarMax Foundation has gone above and beyond to support my projects. When I learned I was recognized with this award, I was speechless. I am incredibly honored.”

Dawn Maffett; management assistant; Davie, Florida
Nominated for playing an instrumental role in driving awareness of community needs among her co-workers, which inspires first-time volunteers and creates a sense of volunteer pride within her CarMax store.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Ann Storck Center
Dawn says: “It is an honor to receive this award. I believe helping others is my purpose and I have found many CarMax associates share my desire to give. It has been a blessing to come together with this common purpose and increase our impact through The CarMax Foundation's programs.”

Nikki Miller; CarMax Auto Finance senior specialist; Kennesaw, Georgia
Nominated for participating in more than 10 team volunteer activities this year, as well as her personal dedication to supporting Open Hand and YES Atlanta, where she serves as a mentor.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Trinity Rescue Inc.
Nikki says: “It is so important to connect with the people of the community and to know that CarMax is just as committed to serving our community makes me feel great about where I work. I am so thankful for this award and I know this grant is going to touch so many lives.”

Jeremy Neuman; sales manager; Urbandale, Iowa
Nominated for his dedicated service as a board member of the Waukee Family YMCA, as well as his drive to create impactful volunteer opportunities for his co-workers.
Nonprofit selected for grant: YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Jeremy says: “I feel honored to be nominated for this award and humbled to win it. When I transferred to Des Moines, I was blown away by how generous The CarMax Foundation was and I couldn't believe they had such a positive impact on the community. I knew that I needed to get involved to form this relationship between the YMCA and The Foundation.”

Chris Petersen; location general manager; Ontario, California
Nominated for his work to increase the community involvement of Los Angeles-area CarMax teams and his role as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego
Chris says: “The Boys & Girls Club changes lives, but I like to think they do more than that. They save lives. Our associates are passionate about participating in Club events and I really believe that this recognition belongs to my fellow associates who enthusiastically support the Club.”

Mike Santay; sales manager; Woodbridge, Virginia
Nominated for organizing more than 10 volunteer events throughout the year, including regular volunteer days at The House, Inc. and Prince William Senior Center at Woodbridge.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Fairy Godmother Project
Mike says: “I am fortunate to have so many people that I work with want to make a difference in people's lives. We have created a culture around our volunteer efforts. Without them, we would not be able to make the impact that we make in our community.”

Jenn Weibel; management assistant; Gastonia, North Carolina
Nominated for rallying her co-workers around important community needs, as well as her personal dedication to helping girls build character and life skills as a Girl Scout troop leader.
Nonprofit selected for grant: Hornets' Nest Girl Scout Council
Jenn says: “I've always enjoyed volunteering. The fact that The CarMax Foundation matches the work I do means that more girls can go to camp, more food is in the food bank and more houses can be built. Being selected for this award is an honor.”

Kellie Wood; management assistant; Roseville, California
Nominated for developing relationships with nonprofit partners to provide meaningful volunteer experiences for her team as they make a difference in the community.
Nonprofit selected for grant: NICU at Sutter Roseville Medical Center Foundation
Kellie says: “It is a huge honor to be selected for this award. Not only do I have countless opportunities to make a difference in my community through store volunteer events, but I can match my personal donations and hours.”

About The CarMax Foundation

The CarMax Foundation is designed to enrich the communities where our associates live and work and has donated more than $20 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a portion of CarMax, Inc.'s pre-tax profits. CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the FORTUNE 2014 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 143 stores in 72 markets. The consumer offer features low, no haggle prices, a broad selection of CarMax Quality Certified used cars, and superior customer service. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2014, the company retailed 526,929 used cars and sold 342,576 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com. For more information on The CarMax Foundation, visit http://www.carmaxcares.com.