Ferguson Buick GMC makes 'Buick Drive For Your Students' donation to Coweta High School

For the fourth year in a row, Ferguson Buick GMC has made a concerted effort to help local schools in our community by raising funds through the Buick's 'Drive For Your Students' fundraising event. 

The Buick Drive for Your Students is a test drive initiative that pairs Buick dealerships with local high schools.

2017 marks the third time Ferguson Buick GMC has partnered with Coweta High School, in Coweta, Oklahoma!

In 2014, Ferguson Buick GMC and Coweta High School raised $5,420.
In 2015, Ferguson Buick GMC and Coweta High School raised $4,660.
In 2016 Ferguson Buick GMC partnered with Broken Arrow High School and raised $2,620.

This year, we raised $4,360 through the Buick 'Drive For Your Students' that the school plans to use towards their Project Gradation.

Coweta High School Principal, Mr. Ellis, right
Ferguson Buick GMC Internet Marketing Manager, Cody Teegerstrom, left

Schools are always seeking dynamic opportunities to support their extracurricular activities and after-school programs. As an integral part of our community, Ferguson Buick GMC is honored that Buick has joined us in our effort to support local schools.

Ferguson Buick GMC Helps Raise over $4,600 for Local Tulsa Area High School

Many schools across the country have faced increasing budget cuts. These budget cuts have affected schools' extracurricular activities and sports programs. As an integral part of the community, Ferguson Buick GMC has set out to help raise funds for a local Tulsa area school. For the second year in a row, Ferguson Buick GMC partnered with Coweta High School, in Coweta, Oklahoma. 

Ferguson Buick GMC held another successful "Buick Drive For Your Students" event at Coweta High School. During Buick's "Drive For Your Students" event, Buick dealerships across the country are given the opportunity to team up with a public high school to host a one day test drive event to raise money for their school. 

This year, similar to last year, we set up our test drive event in the front of Coweta High School. We brought over half a dozen new Buick and new GMC models for participants to take test drives in. We brought the new 2016 Buick Enclave, the 2016 Buick LaCrosse, along with the 2016 GMC Acadia and the ever-popular 2015 GMC Sierra pickup. 

The Buick Drive For Your Student event works like this: for every person who comes and takes a test drive, Buick donates $10 to the school. If the event exceeds 100 test drives, Buick will double their donation to $20 per valid test drive. As an extra bonus, each participant that chooses to receive communication from GM will be eligible for the GM Educator’s Discount. Our goal, this year, was to raise $10,000 for Coweta High School! 

We didn't quite reach our goal, but thanks to everyone who came out and took a test drive, we were able to raise $4,660! 

Fergie Bear with Coweta High School Prinicpal, Gary Ellis

We're honored to have the opportunity to raise money for the students, teachers, and parents of Coweta High School! Coweta High School is in the process of completing many renovation projects. The school is building a new band facility, new wrestling room, and making changes to the football stadium. We feel the money raised during the Buick Test Drive For Your Students will be put to good use at Coweta High! 

FERGUSON BUICK GMC WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COWETA HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPLE, GARY ELLIS, & EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED IN A TEST DRIVE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS DONATION POSSIBLE!

Ferguson Buick GMC Donates Over $5,000 to Coweta High School

Follow up post, "Ferguson Buick GMC Partnering with Coweta High School for Buick Drive For Your Students."

In an effort to help schools offset deeper spending cuts, Buick has launched their "Drive For Your Students" campaign; partnering local high schools with local Buick/GMC dealers.

Ferguson Buick GMC was blessed to have the opportunity of supporting one local high school in our community; Coweta High School.

On November 22, 2014, Ferguson Buick GMC brought several new Buick and new GMC vehicles to the Coweta High School parking lot, and held the Ferguson Buick GMC Drive For Your Students fund raiser.

The fund raiser worked like this - for each test drive in a new Buick or new GMC, Ferguson would donate $20 to Coweta High School and Coweta’s Project Graduation.

Our goal was to donate $10,000. We needed 500 Cowetians to show up and take a test drive to make that happen. Unfortunately we did not reach our goal, but we did (despite the rain, cold, and cloudy day) have enough people show up to raise over $5,000!

We had 271 people who came and test drove, raising $5,420!

Coweta High School Principle, Gary Ellis, with Ferguson Buick GMC's Sales Director, Stephen Hill

FERGUSON BUICK GMC WOULD LIKE TO THANK COWETA HIGH SCHOOL, PRINCIPLE GARY ELLIS, THE CITY OF COWETA AND EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT, TOOK A TEST DRIVE & HELPED US MAKE THIS DONATION POSSIBLE!

Ferguson Buick GMC Partnering with Coweta High School for Buick "Drive For Your Students"

Education funding has been hit hard ever since the 2008 recession. Oklahoma; in particular, has felt the effects of education funding cuts more than most. “Oklahoma has made the deepest cuts to school funding in the U.S. since the 2008 recession,” according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. [1] 

Buick is responding to the recent education shortfalls by creating the Buick “Drive For Your Students.” The Buick “Drive For Your Students” fundraiser is a test-drive initiative that partners Buick dealerships with local high schools. Buick hopes the "Drive For Your Students" test-drive initiative will help 100 communities across the country, including Oklahoma, offset the rising costs of after-school programs and reduce local deficits. One of those communities is part of the Ferguson Buick GMC community. 

Ferguson Buick GMC is partnering up with Coweta Public Schools and Coweta High School for the Buick “Drive For Your Students.”

How does the Buick “Drive For Your Students.” test-drive initiative work? 

During the Ferguson Buick “Drive for Your Students,” Ferguson Buick GMC and Coweta High School will work together to host a Buick test-drive event. Representatives from Ferguson Buick GMC will set up a test-drive course on the Coweta High School parking lot. Ferguson Buick GMC will also be bringing new Buick SUV and sedan models, including the 2015 Buick Enclave and 2015 Buick LaCrosse. 

For each test drive, Ferguson Buick GMC will donate to Coweta High School and Coweta’s Project Graduation. 

This program demonstrates Ferguson Buick GMC’s commitment to our community and to the education of our community's youth.

Coweta High School President, Gary Ellis said in an interview with the Coweta American, “This is quite an opportunity to help raise funds for Project Graduation and Coweta High School,” Ellis said. “What makes this fundraiser unique is that it does not require a personal donation, just about 10 minutes of your time." [2]

The Ferguson Buick “Drive For Your Students” test-drive initiative provides members of our community with an opportunity to experience new Buick cars and crossovers in a fun, relaxed environment. 

New Buick Models to Test-Drive

No purchase is necessary. The only requirements are that the driver must be over 21 years of age, provide proof of insurance and there is a limit of two test drives per household. 

The Ferguson Buick “Drive For Your Students” test-drive initiative will be held this Saturday, November 22, 2014 at the Coweta High School parking lot from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Ferguson Buick GMC and Coweta High School have set a goal to reach 500 test drives. 

If the Ferguson Buick “Drive For Your Students” test-drive initiative is able to get 500 test drives, Ferguson will donate $10,000 to Coweta High School. 

If you’d like more information about the Ferguson Buick “Drive For Your Students” test-drive initiative, you can call the Coweta High School office at 918-486-4474 or call Ferguson Buick GMC at 918-258-1800.

Sources:

[1] Coburn, J. EdmundSun.com. "Report: State's Education Cuts Deepest in Nation"
[2] Wheeland, C. CowetaAmerican.com "Auto test drives will raise funds for Coweta High, Project Graduation"