Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards: Top 5 Volunteer Athletes to be Awarded at the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Banquet at Levi's Stadium

Lexus of Stevens Creek is proud to announce the Top 5 Volunteer Athletes in this year's Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards. The students who will be taking home a scholarship prize are:

Maddy Duncan - Carondelet High School

Adina Greene - Leigh High School

Amanda Snyder - Valley Christian High School

Spencer Spring - Pioneer High School

Chris Takeuchi - Pioneer High School

The Top 5 Volunteer Athletes will be awarded at the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Awards Banquet on Monday, May 23rd at Levi's Stadium. The awards include (1) $3,000, (2) $2,000, and (2) $1,500 scholarship cash prizes.

Lexus of Stevens Creek, in association with Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area and the non-profit organization 19 for Life, presents the 2016 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Award Program to local high school athletes who embrace the spirit of volunteering and have been selected by Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area as a “Volunteer of the Week” during the 2015-2016 season.

The first phase of the program kicked off Wednesday, March 23^rd with a Facebook voting contest. The voting period lasted three weeks, through April 13^th, and the Top 10 participants moved on to the second phase, the essay portion. From there, a panel of judges chose the Top 5 Volunteer Athletes who were interviewed and will be awarded at the banquet.

For more on the Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards, please visit the Lexus of Stevens Creek Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lexusofstevenscreek.com.

Help Our Four-Legged Friends In Need

Lexus of Stevens Creek is thrilled to partner once again this year with the Humane Society Silicon Valley to help our little four-legged friends in need.

During the months of May and June, folks who donate $10 or more or at least $10 worth of needed items will receive 10% off their service bill at the Lexus of Stevens Creek Service Center. Items needed include dog and cat food, new beds and pet carriers. Last year, generous Lexus guests donated more than 800 much needed items and hundreds of pound of dog and cat food. To make a donation directly to the Humane Society Silicon Valley, please visit www.lexusstevenscreek.com/HumaneSociety.

The Humane Society Silicon Valley is on a mission to save and enhance the lives of animals in our community. By connecting thousands of animals with thousands of people, to enrich the lives of both, HSSV places nearly 4,000 animals in permanent homes per year, spays or neuters more than 8,000 animals a year, and reaches more than 8,000 school-aged children, including at-risk youth, through its Humane Education Programs.

To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit www.hssv.org. 

Congratulations Top 10 Volunteer Athletes!

The Top 10 Volunteer Athletes moving on to the 2nd phase of this year's Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards are: Chris Takeuchi - Pioneer High School; Amanda Snyder - Valley Christian High School; Spencer Spring - Pioneer High School; Adina Greene - Leigh High School; Samantha Bernstein - Mission San Jose High School; Natasha Auer - Menlo-Atherton High School; Sarah Nelson - Los Gatos High School; Berkeley Cannestra - Leland High School; Maddy Duncan - Carondelet High School; and Lindsay Tretton - St. Francis High School.

Congratulations to Natasha Auer - winner of the iPad mini 2. Natasha secured the most new votes of 215 between April 6 - April 13.

Lexus of Stevens Creek, in association with Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area and the non-profit organization 19 for Life, presents the 2015 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Award Program to local high school athletes who embrace the spirit of volunteering and have been selected by Cal-Hi Sports as a “Volunteer of the Week” during the 2015-2016 season.

The first phase of the program kicked off Wednesday, March 23^rd with a Facebook voting contest. The voting period lasted three weeks, through April 13^th, and the Top 10 participants are moving on to the second phase, the essay portion. From there, a panel of judges will choose five Volunteer Athletes to be interviewed and then awarded at the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Awards Banquet on May 23rd at Levi's Stadium. The awards include (1) $3,000, (2) $2,000, and (2) $1,500 scholarship cash prizes.

For the final results from the voting contest, please visit the Lexus of Stevens Creek Facebook page: www.facebook.com/lexusofstevenscreek.com.

Lexus of Stevens Creek Donates $4,700 to Relay for Life of Cambrian

Lexus of Stevens Creek hosted a special event this past weekend leading up to the 8^th Annual Relay For Life of Cambrian. From April 15-17, for each new and pre-owned vehicle sold, $100 will be donated directly to Relay for Life of Cambrian to benefit the American Cancer Society. During the 3-day event, 47 vehicles were sold for a total of $4,700 donated!

Relay For Life of Cambrian is happening April 29– 30 at Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose. During the 24-hour event, be sure to stop by the “Penske Pit Stop” booth to Relax, Recharge and Rejuvenate! Relay For Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk in which teams of people camp out around a track. Members of each team take turns walking around the track; and food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie. For more information, please visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY16CA?pg=entry&fr_id=73765.

Lexus of Stevens Creek Donates $100 of Each Vehicle Sold This Weekend to American Cancer Society

Lexus of Stevens Creek is proud to continue supporting Relay For Life of Cambrian to benefit the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life is an organized, overnight community fundraising walk in which teams of people camp out around a track. Members of each team take turns walking around the track; and food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie during the 24-hour event. 

This year, Lexus of Stevens Creek is hosting a special event leading up to the relay. From April 15-17, for each new and pre-owned vehicle sold, $100 will be donated directly to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Cambrian.

Plus, the first 50 guests to RSVP and join us this weekend at Lexus of Stevens Creek will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card with the test drive of a new Lexus! RSVP NOW at: http://www.lexusstevenscreek.com/RelayForLife.

And come out and support Relay For Life of Cambrian, happening April 29– 30. During the 24-hour event, be sure to stop by the “Penske Pit Stop” booth to Relax, Recharge and Rejuvenate!

Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards Underway: Vote For Your Favorite Volunteer Athlete Today!

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Students, family, friends and the community can vote for their favorite Volunteer Athlete from now through Wednesday, April 13th by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lexusofstevenscreek. All high school Volunteer Athletes were chosen and recognized by Cal-Hi Sports as the “Volunteer of the Week” during the 2015-2016 season.

The following Volunteer Athletes are particpating in the program: Natasha Auer - Menlo-Atherton High School; Molly Ball - Los Gatos High School; Samantha Bernstein - Mission San Jose High School; Berkeley Cannestra - Leland High School; Kirsten Cook - Los Gatos High School; Moriah De Los Santos-Moore - Bishop O'Dowd High School; Maddy Duncan - Carondelet High School; Mark Gaffey - Bellarmine College Preparatory; Adina Greene - Leigh High School; Sarah Nelson - Los Gatos High School; Luca Pagano - St. Francis High School; Meredith Roberts - Archbishop Mitty High School; Amanda Snyder - Valley Christian High School; Spencer Spring - Pioneer High School; Chris Takeuchi - Pioneer High School; Mikaela Topper - Pinewood School; Lindsay Tretton - St. Francis High School; and Valerie Weed - Leigh High School.

The first phase of the program kicked off Wednesday with a Facebook voting contest. You can also drop by Lexus of Stevens Creek, located at 3333 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, to cast your vote. The voting period will last three weeks, and the top ten participants will move on to the second phase, the essay portion. From there, a panel of judges will choose five Volunteer Athletes to be interviewed and then awarded at the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Awards Banquet on May 23rd at Levi's Stadium. The awards include (1) $3,000, (2) $2,000, and (2) $1,500 scholarship cash prizes! 

Please follow us on Facebook for updates.

2016 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards: Voting Kicks Off Tomorrow

Lexus of Stevens Creek, in association with Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area and the non-profit organization 19 for Life, presents the 2016 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards to local high school athletes who exemplify the balance of a successful college bound high school curriculum while excelling in athletics and actively volunteering in the community.

All high school volunteer athletes who have been chosen and recognized by Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area as the “Volunteer of the Week” during the 2015-2016 season are eligible to enter the promotion for a chance to win one of five scholarship cash prizes. The Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards will be presented at the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Annual Awards Banquet on Monday, May 23^rd at Levi’s Stadium.  

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! The first phase of the program kicks off Wednesday, March 23^rd with a Facebook voting contest in which family, friends and the community have the opportunity to vote for their favorite volunteer athlete. The voting period will last three weeks, through Wednesday, April 13th, and the top ten participants will move on to the second phase, the essay portion. From there, a panel of judges will choose five volunteer athletes to be interviewed and then awarded at the banquet. The awards include (1) $3,000, (2) $2,000 and (2) $1,500 scholarship cash prizes!

Please follow us on Facebook for updates and more information – www.facebook.com/lexusofstevenscreek.

2015 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Award Winners: Avanti Mehrotra, Annie Doyle, Michael Kelker, Amy Apostol and Melanie Ramirez

Girl Scouts Host GingerBIRD House Event at Lexus of Stevens Creek

More than 40 Girl Scouts from local troops were treated to a special spring event on Sunday, March 13th at Lexus of Stevens Creek. The Girl Scouts of Northern California Troop 61312 organized the event in which participants were able to be creative and create their own edible gingerBIRD houses. The girls also earned an activity patch for participating.

"I thought it was a good opportunity for the girls to meet new people and be creative," says Courtney Beacraft of Troop 61312.

As part of the event, the young organizers also collected hygiene items for the homeless to be donated to the non-profit organization HomeFirst.

"I think it was good that we could do something fun like this so that people could have fun but also benefit the community while doing it," says Emma De May.

Girl Scout Troop 61312 Event Organizers Courtney, Emma, Anna and Sriya

Catching up with 2015 Lexus Volunteer Grand Prize Award Winner Michael Kelker

2015 Lexus Volunteer Grand Prize Award Winner Michael Kelker is well into his freshman year at Cal Poly. While he’s been busy taking political science classes, Michael says he has already been involved with projects associated with his major.  And during his free time, Michael has been helping a candidate with his campaign for San Luis Obispo’s County Supervisor. Michael says it has taught him more about local politics and his community.

“As I have gotten the chance to work in local politics as well as taking several classes, it has made me even more committed to going on to a profession in law,” says Michael.

Michael graduated from Pioneer High School in 2015. During his time there, he was very involved in his school and community, and was a member of the Pioneer Football Team. Michael was awarded the Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Grand Prize of $3,000 during the Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area Annual Awards Dinner last May for his outstanding work in the classroom and in athletics as well as a high level of commitment to his community through service. Michael says he was able to use the funds to help pay for tuition costs, books and supplies for his freshman year.

“I was very fortunate to have these funds available to use as it helped ease the financial stress,” Michael says. 

Lexus of Stevens Creek, in partnership with Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area and the non-profit 19 For Life, is gearing up for the 4^th Annual Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards. The program was started in 2013 as a way to honor five extraordinary high school students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions as they strive to make a difference in the world around them.

The 2016 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards program kicks off this month. High school athletes who have been selected by Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area as a "Volunteer of the Week" during the 2015-2016 season have the opportunity to participate for a chance to win one of five scholarships, including the Grand Prize of $3,000!

Michael offered up advice for this year’s volunteer athletes and students headed off to college later this fall.

“Get involved! You have a lot to adjust to in the beginning. When there is club sign ups, find what you are passionate about and sign up. You will meet people who also like to volunteer and work in a similar capacity,” says Michael. “By being involved, you will feel more a part of the university and the local community.”

Stay tuned to the Lexus of Stevens Creek Facebook page for more information on the 2016 Lexus Volunteer Scholarship Awards and how the community can also participate!

Helping the Homeless: Donation Drive Happening Now

Photo Courtesy: HomeFirst

Warm blankets, towels, sheets, socks and more... for the months of March and April, Lexus of Stevens Creek has committed to helping the homeless by collecting much needed items. The items will be donated to HomeFirst in an effort to reach out to our neighbors in need and reduce homelessness in our community.

The non-profit organization HomeFirst confronts homelessness by cultivating people’s potential to get housed and stay housed. In 2015, the Santa Clara County Homeless Census and Survey found more than 6,550 people are homeless with 4,063 found in San Jose. 

Photo Courtesy: HomeFirst

Lexus of Stevens Creek will be hosting the donation drive at the LSC Service Center located at 300 Martin Avenue, Santa Clara. Guests who donate three new items will receive 10% off their service bill. All donations will be distributed by HomeFirst to families transitioning from shelter living.

Los Altos Art Club Exhibit at the Lexus of Stevens Creek Service Center

From beautiful mosaics to acrylic paintings of landscapes, throughout the year, we display a variety of artworks from local artists in our community at the Lexus of Stevens Creek Service Center. This month, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Los Altos Art Club. The non-profit group offers many ways for artists to present their works.

“We love to display as many as we can so to introduce our members, artists’ paintings and mosaic to the areas; and it’s great to introduce our artwork so people are aware of that,” says artist Xuan Ho.

Ho is one of four artists showcasing their works. The Los Altos Art Club Exhibit is going on through the end of May.

Open Your Heart Pajama Drive: Helping Hundreds of Children In Need

Folks in the community opened their hearts and are helping to give warm sleepwear and nurturing books to hundreds of children in need. Lexus of Stevens Creek is proud to continue a partnership with the non-profit organization Pajama Program and support their efforts by hosting the Pajama Program “Open Your Heart” Sorting Party Tuesday morning at the dealership on Stevens Creek Boulevard. A dozen volunteers sorted through more than 400 new pajamas and 400 new books – including 120 books and bookmarks donated from another non-profit group- Recycling4Smiles.

“How wonderful it is to see everyone coming together for such a great cause. Our hope is to bring comfort and warmth to children in need in our community. It’s so heartwarming to see these children receive new pajamas and new books, and they are just so excited and full of joy,” says Community Relations Manager Jessica Keener. “We also hope to inspire others to join us in giving back and making a difference!”

The items were boxed up to be delivered to agencies serving children in need, many in foster care and shelters. The agencies that will be receiving the donations include: Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, Rebekah Children's Services, San Jose Family Shelter - Family Supportive Housing Inc., Unity Care Group, The Villa & Commercial Street Inn, Children's Receiving Center of Santa Clara County, and Help One Family.

This is the second year Lexus of Stevens Creek has partnered with Pajama Program. For the months of January and February, Lexus of Stevens Creek has been hosting a drive, collecting new pajamas and books.

"The mission goes with giving those children dignity of bedtime, and so children in foster care particularly are often there by no fault of their own and end up with just the clothes on their back," says Pallie Zambrano, Pajama Program Bay Area Chapter President. "Giving them the opportunity to transition to bedtime with a new pair of pajamas that are theirs to keep, a book for bedtime stories to read on their own time, it gives them that opportunity."

For more information on the Pajama Program or to donate, please contact Pallie Zambrano at pallie@pajamaprogram.org.

Community Relations Manager Jessica Keener Becomes A Teacher For A Day

Lexus of Stevens Creek Community Relations Manager Jessica Keener joined a group of folks from local businesses and had the opportunity to step into the shoes of an Oster Elementary School teacher on Thursday.

The non-profit organization Junior Achievement gives people the chance to train and teach in local partner schools. JA’s elementary school programs are the foundation of its K-12 curricula. Five sequential themes, each with hands-on activities work to change students’ lives by helping them understand business and economics.

Keener taught Ms. Bruneau’s 3rd grade class at Oster Elementary. She started at 8:15am and taught 5 different lessons until the bell rang at 2:40pm. The curriculum called JA Our City includes lessons on the characteristics of cities and how cities are shaped by zoning, the importance of money to a city, how financial institutions help businesses and city residents, and how the media is an integral part of a city's life. Students also had the chance to learn the role of an entrepreneur by exploring what it takes to open a restaurant.

"It was such a wonderful opportunity to teach children about our city, business and the media and apply what they've learned to hands-on activities; and it was so great to see the children interested and engaged," says Keener. "What a unique way to give back to the youth and the community!"

If you are interested in volunteering and teaching for a day through Junior Achievement’s volunteer program, please contact Program Manager Caitlin Gallardo-Sebti at cgallardo@janorcal.org.

Sign Up To Volunteer: Open Your Heart Pajama Sorting Party

Lexus of Stevens Creek is proud to continue a partnership with the Pajama Program and support their efforts in delivering warm sleepwear and nurturing books to children in need. This year, Lexus of Stevens Creek is hosting the Pajama Program “Open Your Heart” Sorting Party on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 from 8am to 2pm at the dealership. Volunteers will be sorting through thousands of new pajamas and books and boxing them up to be shipped to the children.

For the months of January and February, Lexus of Stevens Creek has been hosting a drive, collecting new pajamas and books. Lexus guests who donate receive 10% off their service bill. Donations will also be accepted during the sorting event. If you would like to volunteer, please email pallie@pajamaprogram.org.