By Avis Nail
The Truth Reporter
Who wouldn’t want a FREE car this year? Many Toledoans were delighted upon hearing the news of Taylor KIA Automotive’s giveaway. Free Car Fridays are back and so far two well deserving winners have driven home in their new cars. You could be next!
Taylor KIA on Central Avenue specializes in helping Ohio drivers find the perfect car for their needs. The Taylor KIA Family also has a large service center that repairs all car makes and models, making them a convenient place to take your vehicle in for maintenance and service.
Steve Taylor’s Free Car Fridays is an ongoing campaign through the last Friday in December 2022, with a new winner announced EVERY 30 DAYS! That means as long as you follow the simple steps and register on their website, you’re eligible to WIN!
The first winner of Taylor KIA’s giveaway this spring was Jaime Payne, who took home a 2015 Hyundai Sonata free of charge by random drawing.
“We started this back in March with the intention to give a car away every month for the rest of the year,” shared general manager Steve Taylor. “We know it’s been a tough past few years and many are struggling. We wanted to bring back something fun that makes a big impact.”
Impact is exactly what the Taylor KIA family brought back to Toledo. The giveaway kick off blew everyone away the first month. “Based on the amount of nominations we got in April, we think it’s just going to get bigger and bigger as we proceed throughout the year,” shares Taylor.
A total of 10 cars are expected to be given away over the course of the giveaway. When asked what being best in class in the automotive industry means to him Taylor explains, “For over 40yrs we have been locally owned and locally committed. That’s not just a slogan on our dealership wall, we actually live it.”
When Taylor KIA launched their giveaway this past March, registered participants could log on, watch and be a part of the excitement on Facebook Live. “The kick off was amazing! There was an outpouring of support and social media comments from the community,” shares KIA’s Community Outreach Ambassador Terry Crosby.
When Free Car Friday launched in March, the winner was randomly selected using Google randomizer. “Due to the rising violence in Toledo many of the comments we read were heart-wrenching stories of people not only needing a car, but also having endured some serious trauma,” says Crosby. “This contest brought back a glimmer of hope to so many truly in need right now.”
In lieu of this new information the Taylor KIA Family decided to switch things up in April, informing the public that they are now looking for nominations for Free Car Friday to make even more of an impact in a very deserving Toledoan’s life.
Only a few months ago in November, a beautiful young lady named TaShayla,18, tragically lost her mother to unnecessary acts of violence, leaving her to help raise her 3 younger sisters. TaShayla’s mom, Natasha Carlisle, was killed in a still unsolved homicide on Vance Street in central Toledo.
When Operation It Takes A Village heard of the incident, the President and founder Carla Baucom, stepped in to help.
The 501(c)3 initiative asks people to come together and donate things like clothes, food and other household items. “Having these essentials takes so much weight off families so they can manage their mental health,” explains Carla.
Baucom is formally trained as an elementary educator and received her Masters of Education from The University of Toledo. She now works at the helm of Operation It Takes A Village.
“TaShayla forfeited going to Ohio State. This baby put her dreams on hold to assist her Aunt in becoming a mother figure to her younger siblings,” shares Carla.
“I knew she needed help with a car large enough to accommodate all the car seats to take the kids to school and medical appointments.”
Carla immediately reached out to both car manufacturers and car dealers in the area. “I was turned away over and over,” she explains. “Finally God stepped in and Mr. Terry Crosby with Taylor Kia contacted me stating there may be a way TaShayla could win a car. Don’t give up, he said.”
Many nominations and small acts of kindness later, on Friday April 29, 2022, TaShayla was surprised with her new pre-owned FREE KIA Sorento just in time for her senior prom the next day.
Holding back tears Taylor shares, “It was a beautiful moment to witness TaShayla smile the way she did that day. I can’t imagine a better way to give back to the folks that have supported us for over 40yrs.”
Make sure to register for the Free Car Friday fun! Every Friday in May, Taylor KIA will be at it again at 12:30pm doing their Facebook Live Spin To Win where you can WIN some great Prizes.
The last Friday in May, which will be May 27, 2022 a FREE Taylor Car and KEYS will be handed over to a Blessed Human Being. Your dream vehicle (or your nominees) is just a click away. Head over to TaylorAuto.com/FreeCarFriday and register today!