Delicious Food, Good Friends, A Worthy Cause and New Cars Equal Community Togetherness

lsOn the evening of November 15th, the lights of Park Place Lexus were shining well into the night as the dealership welcomed hundreds of the Lexus LS enthusiasts who’ve made Park Place their preferred dealer over the years.

With the holiday season creeping in closely, the event presented a cheerful, vibrant feel. As guests sipped on “Luxuritas,” made with Avion Tequila and listened to the quirky, stringed renditions of “Hotel California,” in the background, Park Place heralded the arrival of the holiday party season as much as it did the arrival of a  new version of their signature vehicle.

Avion wasn’t the only non-vehicular brand representing itself capably during the party. Providing a scrumptious array of cuisine was chef Kent Rathbun and his crew. The Rathbun catering crew’s inventive take on sliders and decadent mac ‘n cheese made with gruyere highlighted, why it is that Rathbun’s name is culinary gold. especially in Collin County where his Jasper’s is  a top destination. If nothing else, the savory bites were evidence enough that Thursday night was more than a simple gathering of loyal customers. If the mac ‘n cheese was decadent, then the offerings from Allen’s Sublime Chocolates were downright criminal. Make no mistake; the well-appointed showroom was transformed into a foodie haven as well as a welcome spot for LS lovers.

Many of the people who made their way into the showroom  have come to know one another over the years, not simply by their automotive affiliation, but by their dedication to worthy causes in Collin County. Perhaps the new LS and Rathbun’s delicacies have far-reaching brand power, but the most important name of the night belonged to the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center (CCCAC) an organization that’s helped countless families for 20 years.

The CCCAC has been the saving grace for children victimized by abuse and are in need of assistance when a helping hand seems far away. Lynn McLean, the Center’s CEO, was on-hand to ensure the mission of the cause she leads reaches to as many people in the community as possible.

McLean spoke to us for a few moments as her team sold fund-raising raffle tickets. While winning a new Lexus or choice seats to the area’s top ballet are fantastic rewards, McLean makes it clear that the people who purchasing raffle tickets that night were satisfied with the prize of knowing they are directly assisting neighboring families by helping to create a safe, nurturing place that can help in ways no other center in North Texas can.

For McLean, the relationship between Park Place Lexus and the center, which began rather serendipitously, has turned into something that displays a community that’s fully united for this much-needed cause.

“A few years ago, the Center purchased a Lexus from Park Place to raffle off as the grand prize at our annual Gala in order to create some real excitement,”

ls strings“Having the Lexus for our raffle not only created the excitement we hoped it would, but for the last three years, the Dallas/Fort Worth Lexus Dealerships have donated a car for our raffle’s grand prize, which has just been an amazing gift, and it’s made this partnership such a strong one. Thanks to this relationship, we’re able to create a greater amount of awareness for the Center than ever before. For us, and the resources we provide, creating awareness is so very important.”

Evidence of the synergy that’s developed between Park Place Lexus, the loyal LS customers and the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center was in plain sight for each attendee to see as they walked into the showroom’s main doors. A gleaming, white Lexus convertible was surrounded by donations from the night’s attendees for the Advocacy Center’s Rainbow Room. The Rainbow Room is the arm of the Center that answers the most urgent needs of the kids and families who seek help on a daily basis. Clothing, toys and an assortment of necessary items were piled high and ready to be taken to the Center. Such a visual was yet another profound reminder that Thursday night’s soiree was a time for community action, and not merely a glitzy, new model roll-out.

Jordan Case, president of Park Place Lexus, was visibly excited about the 2013 Lexus LS, but he was more interested in speaking to us about the evening’s clear sense of community and the appreciation he feels for Park Place being able to help create that.

“Many of our customers here tonight are involved not only with the Advocacy Center but with other charitable organizations as well,” says Case. “This type of involvement is a key way in which we keep in-touch with so many of our great customers.”

Case goes on to acknowledge the bigger picture that helps all involved.

“We’ve purposely not invested very much into traditional advertising. Being involved and giving back to the community that we’re a part of is a great way to see the efforts of everyone come full-circle.”

Plano I.S.D. Education Foundation and Park Place Lexus Join Forces to Support School System and Community

On November 14, 79 Plano Independent School District classrooms received a major shock when Park Place Lexus Grant Patrol teams showed up with pom-poms, noisemakers and, more importantly, grant checks.

For the seventh year running, the PISD Education Foundation has partnered with Park Place Lexus and several other sponsors to provide need-based grants for teachers who create unique, innovative programs aimed at helping their students and community. $100,000 was issued to 32 Plano ISD schools by way of 79 grants to teachers through the annual Grants to Educators program.

The Grants to Educators program assists teachers and schools in creating a better learning environment for students when tax funding falls short. Since its inception, the PISD Education Foundation has donated nearly $800,000 through the program. A panel of judges, appointed by the Education Foundation, considered each teacher’s application with a fine-toothed comb, funding 79 grants to 32 different schools. That help goes to 29,562 students and families in the Plano community reached by the grants.

Central Market hosts the Grants to Educators event each year.  On this day, everyone involved with the Foundation, PISD, and the Grant Patrol assembled early in the morning at the Coit Road location for complimentary breakfast and lunch for all volunteers.

Plano ISD superintendant Richard Matkin led off the event by remarking on how appreciative the district was for the grant program and stressed its impact on the the schools. He noted that the program encourages teachers to think outside of the box and find ways to create a more conducive environment, not only for learning classroom material, but also for real-world knowledge and core values.

Teams rode along in seven brand new Lexus Grant Patrol vehicles, provided by Park Place Lexus to distribute checks to unsuspecting faculty members throughout the 100 square-mile area. Park Place has been a supporter of the Grants to Educators program for seven years running, providing vehicles and monetary donations every year.

Riding in the lead car was Park Place Marketing Director Rob Sumner, PISD Education Foundation Executive Director Carlos Sastoque, and Education Foundation Board Member Harvey Fishero.

All it takes is one look at the teachers’ reactions to understand what this event is all about: The sheer excitement and joy on many of the instructors’ faces, not to mention the jumping around and hugging, might make a grown man’s eyes water.

The kids ate up the surprise just as much as the teachers. Even the youngest screamed, clapped, and laughed along. The older kids who did understand the significance of the grants made it clear how grateful they were.

While cruising to Centennial Elementary School in our 2012 Lexus RX, Harvey Fishero said something that will not be soon forgotten:  He commented on the amazing nature and character of teachers, pointing out that they acted as “parents, referees, and lawyers, while somehow still managing to teach on top of all of that.” Who better to receive help than the instructors who are trying to find better ways to mold our youth into productive, knowledgeable people?

It was easy to see that the teachers honored truly care about what they do. They care about their students and want to see them succeed, not just in the classroom, but in their community as well. The winning grant programs were based on ideals such as promoting family bonding, healthy lifestyles, helping those in need, community involvement, improving literacy, preparation for higher learning, and focus on the arts and sciences.

These teachers who were chosen to receive grant money are truly inspirational role models. Park Place Lexus is so glad to be fortunate enough to be a part of this program and show its generosity for the Education Foundation and its sponsors. Everyone involved in the Grants to Educators program deserves recognition and we hope to see more outstanding education and community-oriented programs like this in the future.

Park Place Volvo Show & Shine benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation November 10th, 2012

Park Place Volvo Show & Shine benefiting Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Saturday, November 10, 2012 

 Park Place Volvo, Dallas Volvo Club and Volvo Club of America are hosting a car show 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, November 4, featuring an amazing line up of classic to current Volvo vehicles. The event is free and open to the public.

Participants can register their Volvo at http://parkplacevolvoshowandshine.eventbrite.com, and attendees can RSVP and share the event with their friends on the Park Place Dealerships Facebook event! Registration is free but limited to the first 50 vehicles.  Arrive by 9 a.m. for registration and palcement. For more information about registering a vehicle or other event details, please contact Kara at kconnor@10.2.54.33 or 214-224-1971.

Awards will include the Road Warrior for the Volvo with the highest mileage; Best in Show and the People’s Choice. The public can vote on the People’s Choice award by donating $1 per ticket to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. In addition to the proceeds from the Show & Shine event, Park Place Volvo will make a donation for every Volvo sold from now through the end of the year. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation caught the attention of Volvo when Alex received an inaugural Volvo for Life award nomination in 2003. The award program honors hometown heroes doing extraordinary things in their communities.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. More info at http://www.alexslemonade.org.

Cole Luxury Homes offers custom luxury homes throughout North Texas. Cole Luxury Homes was started in the late 1950’s by JC Cole. This is a third generation family run business which is now managed by grandson Chuck Cole and Carey Caldwell, who bring innovation to the longstanding tradition of Custom Home Building. More information at http://www.coleluxuryhomes.com.

Park Place Volvo is located at 3515 Inwood Road & Lemmon Avenue, Dallas 75209, near Love Field. Celebrating 25 years as “Experts in Excellence,” Park Place Dealerships was founded in 1987 by Ken Schnitzer. Today Park Place Dealerships operates 17 full-service dealerships representing Bentley, Jaguar, Infiniti, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, smart, Volvo and Rolls-Royce. In addition, the dealership group includes two Park Place Bodyworks locations. For more information about Park Place Dealerships, visit http://www.parkplace.com

Lexus iPhone Background Wallpapers!

Lexus LF-LC

Are you a Lexus fan and carry an iPhone with you wherever you go? You’re in luck! We’ve just released our first set of iPhone background wallpapers for the Lexus model line. Just pick the model you own, or the one you’re dreaming of, and show some pride every time you use your phone!

If you need instructions on how to update your iPhone wallpaper, just scroll to the bottom of this post for step by step instructions!

Lexus IS iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus IS

Lexus ES iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus ES

Lexus GS iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus GS

Lexus LS iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus LS

Lexus CT iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus CT

Lexus GX iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus GX

Lexus LX iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus LX

Lexus RX iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus RX

Lexus ISC iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus ISC

Lexus ISF iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus ISF

Lexus LFA iPhone Background Wallpaper
Lexus LFA

Lexus LF-LC
Lexus LF-LC

Instructions: Downloading And Changing Your iPhone Background

Step 1: Visit this page from your iPhone

Step 2: Press on the background that you want from the images above.

Step 3: When the image page comes up, press and hold on the image until your iPhone shows the “Save Image” button, and press it.

Step 4: Press the home button to exit your mobile browser. (That’s the circular button with the rounded square at the bottom of your iPhone)

Step 5: Navigate to your “Photos” app on your phone, and select your “Camera Roll” album.

Step6: Select the background image that you saved.

Step 7: Press on the button at the bottom left of your screen that looks like a rectangle with an arrow.

Step 8: Select “Use as Wallpaper”, press the “Set” button, and then select “Set Home Screen”

This will update your iPhone background!

2013 Boxster Unveiling At The Dallas Arboretum With Park Place Porsche

2013-Porsche-Boxster

Park Place Porsche unveiled the new 2013 Porsche Boxster at the Dallas Arboretum and announced a $5,000 donation to The Family Place to help victims of domestic violence. We had a great time enjoying this beautiful venue with our clients and the opportunity to show off the new 2013 Boxster. Check out this video from the fabulous party and let us know what you think!

 

Park Place Motorcars 2012 Fresh Faces of Fashion

mercedes-benz-sls-amg-roadster_1

Park Place Motorcars Dallas recently revealed its Freshest Face, the all-new 2013 SL550 Roadster, at the  6th Annual Fresh Faces of Fashion Reveal Party, held at the dealership’s Lemmon Avenue location.

Hosted with Modern Luxury Dallas Magazine and Stanley Korshak, the event welcomed over 500 guests and benefitted the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas.

Joy Cioci’s fashions sizzled on the runway but our favorite models were the two SL550 Roadsters; steel gray with black leather interior and Iridium Silver with Red and Black Leather interior with Magic Sky Control!

Vy Tran purchased the winning raffle ticket, one of more than 740 $100 Raffle Tickets sold, for the chance to win the winner’s choice of the Mercedes-Benz C250 sedan or C Coupe.  The proceeds, of course, benefitted the Suicide and Crisis Center.  Park Place Motorcars Dallas also made an additional $10,000 contribution.  Margie Wright, the organization’s Executive Director was delighted to accept the donation and noted that this year’s Fresh Faces of Fashion events were some of their most successful fundraisers.

Generations of Baird Family Enjoy Years Of Lexus Quality and Park Place Hospitality

Everyone knows that at Park Place, we work hard to enhance the ownership experience. We do this by building lasting, meaningful relationships with our clients. Last week, Park Place Lexus Grapevine Sales Consultant Troy Griffin sold long-time client Billie Baird her 4th Lexus GS. Ms. Baird took delivery of her first brand-new GS in 2002, which a few years later she passed down to her son.  The second Lexus GS was a 2006 model year, which she passed down to her son; at which time, he passed the 2002 Lexus GS to his own son. The third Lexus GS was only 2 years ago, in 2010 which Ms. Baird passed down to her son, and he passed the 2006 to his son, and the 2002 was recycled again within the family. The fourth was the 2013 Lexus GS,  and of course – the passing down continues.

A special thanks to Ms. Baird and her family for being a part of the Park Place tradition of excellence, and for making Lexus a family tradition of their own.

Park Place Lexus Grapevine Supports Carroll Teacher Of The Year – With Members, Family and Community

For several years now, Park Place Lexus Grapevine has supported the Southlake/Carroll ISD. Every year, Park Place donates the summer use of a Lexus vehicle to the recipients of the school disctrict’s Teacher of the Year award, and generously supports  the Carroll Education Foundation.

This year, there were two Teacher of the Year honorees, one for middle school and one for high school. When presenting the two cars and the award to Mr. Mangham and Ms. Gilley, Park Place Lexus Sales Director Matt Woolsey thanked them for all their hard work and dedication to students of our community.

A former Dragon himself, and someone who grew up in Southlake, Matt chatted with the students, teachers and faculty of the Southlake/Carroll ISD.  He thought about community, his community, and just how close a connection he has to the neighborhood, the school district and this event . He commented, “I looked around the room and saw a few of my son’s teachers, several current teachers that are Park Place clients, my former principal Mr. Willingham, Mr. Lowery (former superintendent), and my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Anders.  I let them know how proud I was to be a Dragon, how proud I was to be the parent of a couple of Dragons, and how proud I am of Lance and Nichole’s service and dedication to our students.”

Nichole Gilley, teacher of the year for the 7-12 grade range, Carroll High School, is a Dragon too! And, Lance Mangham, award recipient for grades K-6, is a Duke grad, and is currently the accelerated math teacher at Durham Intermediate School (and he was actually Matt Woolsey’s son Austin’s Math teacher last year!)

Lance will be driving a 2013 GS 350 for the summer.  Nichole, a 2013 RX350.  Nichole is also a driver’s ed teacher and she said she usually drives her current teaching vehicle in June—not this June!  Lance mentioned he’s had two cars in the past 22 years, so he’s excited about this summer’s driving opportunity.

Pictured above (L-R): Nichole Gilley, Matt Woolsey, Austin Woolsey and Lance Mangham

 

2012 Texas Rangers – Park Place Dealerships – Triple Play Event

Park Place Dealerships is proud to once again be the title presenter of the Texas Rangers Triple Play event set for May 27th at the Hilton Anatole Dallas.  The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children in need within our community, and provides funding for youth in crisis, youth health initiatives, youth baseball programs, and youth education.  This event serves as their largest fundraiser each year. The theme this year is “Escape to the Hamptons.”  The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner, the program, and then ‘game shows.’  The entire Texas Rangers team will be in attendance and there will be silent and live auctions. Ian and Tess Kinsler and Michael Young and Cristina-Barbosa Young are the hosts for the evening and Fox Sports Southwest’s Emily Jones will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.

To reserve tables or individual tickets, contact the Foundation at (817) 436-5933 or tripleplay@texasrangers.com. Click here fore the full press release on Texas Rangers.com.