Park Place Dealerships

July 17, 2017

Park Place Preferred Perks: How to View Car Wash Wait Times on Your Phone or Desktop

As a thank you for being our client, Park Place would like to introduce the Park Place Preferred Benefits Program to you! Now available via desktop and mobile device, the preferred benefits program has never been easier to access.

Did you know that with your Preferred Benefits account, you can view car wash wait times at your Park Place Dealerships?

Staying up-to-date on car wash wait times is easy as…

1. Open Your Park Place Mobile App or go to ParkPlace.com/preferred

2. Log-in using your email address or create your account using your last name and vehicle’s VIN#

3. View your location’s wait time on the main dashboard

Car wash wait times are updated each hour by our on-site service teams, so scheduling your car wash around your busy day is as easy 1..2..3. If you need an assistance regarding the Preferred Benefits portal or Park Place Dealerships mobile app, please send us a message at apphelp@10.2.54.33.

July 6, 2017October 13, 2017

Park Place Dealerships and Children’s Health Celebrate 17-Year Relationship

Park Place Dealerships has teamed up with Children’s Health^SM for the past 17 years to serve children and their families. During this time, Park Place has supported Children’s through the Red Balloon Run & Ride and numerous events throughout the years.

Most recently, Park Place Volvo was the presenting sponsor of the Children’s Trust Membership Drive, and hosted the annual reception. Inclusive of their support, a $90,000 check was presented to Children’s Health that evening. Park Place has contributed more than $418,000 to Children’s Health over the years.

“As the population continues to grow in North Texas and more families with children move to this region, the scope of our mission and depth of need will increase exponentially,”” said Brent Christopher, president of Children’s Medical Center Foundation. “The health care industry is also changing at a rapid pace, placing many demands on our limited resources. Support from Park Place not only helps us fund critical programs, but also introduces us to new friends and potential supporters.”

For more than 100 years, the mission of Children’s Health has been to make life better for children. In 1913, a group of nurses organized the Dallas Baby Camp, an open-air clinic on the lawn of Parkland Hospital. Today Children’s Health is the eighth-largest pediatric health care provider in the country, and the only academically affiliated pediatric hospital in the area.

“Children’s Health is vital to the well-being of North Texas families,” said Ken Schnitzer, founder and chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “They provide the gold standard of health care while being mindful to support the entire family during the process. We have enjoyed this long relationship with Children’s and look forward to working together for many more years to promote better health and healing for children and their families.”

Children’s Health is the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, providing a full spectrum of health care services—from daily wellness and primary care to specialty visits and critical care. Holding multiple disease-specific care certifications from The Joint Commission, Children’s Health has been consistently named one of the nation’s top pediatric providers by U.S. News & World Report. The Children’s Health system includes the flagship hospital Children’s Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children’s Medical Center Plano, multiple specialty centers, Children’s Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, Our Children’s House rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services, the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, and Children’s Medical Center Foundation. For more information, visit give.childrens.com.

“What’s more important than making a difference in the health and life of a child?” asked Christopher. “The support of companies like Park Place can have a ripple effect on our region’s children and families for generations to come. Our mission of making life better for children is a worthy cause, encompassing three C’s: Care, Cures and Community. We provide world-class care for our patients while supporting and educating the family. We actively pursue improved treatments and cures through research conducted in our hospitals and in scientific labs in collaboration with our academic partners at UT Southwestern. And finally, we work with community leaders and other non-profits throughout the region to improve the lives of children where they live, learn and play.”

About Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Children’s Medical Center Foundation serves as the fundraising arm for Children’s Health, the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas. The Foundation partners with individual donors, corporations and organizations to help the comprehensive team of physicians, scientists and medical professionals at Children’s Health fulfill its mission to make life better for children. Children’s Medical Center Foundation raises, manages and distributes funds to support Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Plano, multiple specialty centers, Our Children’s House rehabilitation facilities, a network of primary care pediatric practices throughout North Texas and the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern. For more information, visit give.childrens.com.

About Park Place Dealerships
Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place is currently building a new Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine, scheduled to open July 2017, and a new Grapevine Porsche dealership opening in 2018. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

June 30, 2017June 30, 2017

Park Place Dealerships to Open Jaguar Land Rover DFW July 1st

Third Dealership for Park Place in Northeast Tarrant County

With construction completed and the final design details nearly finished, Park Place Dealerships will open its newest dealership, Jaguar Land Rover DFW, on July 1 in Grapevine. Located on the south side of Highway 114 between Main Street and Texan Trail Parkway, the dealership sits on eight acres and is the third dealership in Northeast Tarrant County for the company.

Park Place has moved its Jaguar dealership from Plano to Grapevine and has added the Land Rover brand to its portfolio.

“Northeast Tarrant County has been growing at a great rate since we opened the Lexus dealership in 2000,” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “We moved our Mercedes-Benz dealership from the Mid-Cities to Grapevine in 2012 and we recently broke ground on a Porsche dealership which we plan to open next year. To say we love doing business in this area may be an understatement.”

Jaguar has a strong following for its vehicles including the XE and F-PACE, the first SUV in the brand’s history. Land Rover is an iconic brand and just introduced the new Ranger Rover Velar at the New York Auto Show which goes on sale later this summer. Jaguar Land Rover just recorded one of its best sales month in May for the company with Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales for both brands up 14 percent over May 2016. Year to date, Jaguar Land Rover is up 22 percent in the United States.

Jaguar Land Rover DFW is a two-story, LEED-certified facility. The shop includes 34 service bays and an 18-car service drive. The showroom can accommodate up to 12 new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. A nine-car service drive and 2,800 square foot carwash will round out the areas dedicated to serving a client’s needs. Upon opening, Jaguar Land Rover DFW will have 70 employees.

“We will be adding jobs as we begin to assess new positions that will be needed to best serve our clients in the Park Place manner,” remarked Jordan Case, President of Park Place Dealerships. “We are always looking for people who enjoy taking care of others and working in an environment where they are valued.”

The Park Place brand has become synonymous with offering clients a high-quality ownership experience. The company continues to be recognized locally and nationally with top honors for its customer service, sales, and excellent processes.

Park Place Jaguar Plano was named a recipient of the 2016 Pride of Jaguar Retailer Excellence five years in a row. Only 16 of the 162 Jaguar dealers across the United Stated were selected based on being top performers in three core business categories; customer advocacy, sales and business excellence. Out of the 16, only one Jaguar retailer is awarded the esteemed Marque of Distinction title for being the top retailer for its brand. Jaguar Plano earned the Marque of Distinction as the #1 Jaguar dealership in the country three years in a row.

About Jaguar Land Rover

The origins of Jaguar can be traced back to a company that began by making motorcycle sidecars in 1922. The Swallow Sidecar Company later started building automobiles and moved to Coventry, switching its name to Jaguar after the Second World War. It produced premium saloons and sports cars, including the legendary XK120.

After Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile manufacturer, acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford in 2008, it merged the two marques into a single company. U.S. sales for Jaguar Land Rover surpassed 105,000 in 2016 which was an annual sales record for the two brands. Land Rover reached a new annual high mark of 73,861 units, an increase of five percent from 2015.

About Park Place Dealerships

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place will open a new Grapevine Porsche dealership in 2018. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

June 28, 2017July 3, 2017

Park Place Dealerships Luxury & Supercar Showcase Promises Some of the World’s Most Luxurious and Exotic Vehicles

Park Place Dealerships partners with Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas for Public Event benefiting Momentous Institute

The mere mention of luxury automobile brands Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Maserati, McLaren, Bentley, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Lotus, Jaguar and Land Rover is enough to evoke excitement in car enthusiasts. When you combine rare and unique offerings from these prestigious brands with trendy fashion and lifestyle elements, live local and regional music, and delicious food and drink, spread across the rolling hills of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, you have a unique single day festival that also raises money for a worthwhile charity: the Momentous Institute. For one day only, Park Place Dealerships will bring all of its luxury brands together in one venue for the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, September 9.

“This year marks our 30^th year of business in North Texas,” said Park Place Dealerships founder and chairman Ken Schnitzer. “In 1987, we purchased a Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn and have been fortunate to grow our brand by offering unparalleled customer service and creating a comfortable environment for clients. For the first time in our history, the Supercar Showcase brings all of our brands together in one location for a rare opportunity for guests to enjoy and support kids in the community.”

The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase event will be open to the public with tickets ranging from $25 – $50 for general admission up to $100 for VIP All Access, including the VIP Lounge with complimentary food and beverages. Tickets are available online at www.LuxurySupercarShowcase.com

“We are proud to partner with Park Place Dealerships on this truly remarkable event in September,” said Dirk Burghartz, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Club Dallas at Las Colinas. “Four Seasons believes in giving back to the community, and we are honored to be the host venue for such an event that continues to provide charitable dollars to the well-deserving Momentous Institute – a 35-year friend of ours. I am personally excited about the future of this luxury and supercar showcase, and look forward to seeing it grow over the years.”

In addition to the incredible lineup of rare and exotic vehicles, guests purchasing VIP All Access passes will have the opportunity to sample culinary specialties from the Four Seasons’ LAW and OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, and selections from Cool River Café’s new menu featuring a collaboration of Chefs Kent Rathbun and Fernando Rodriquez, as well as other trending restaurants. VIP guests will also receive drink vouchers for celebratory sips from Absolut Elyx and Perrier Jouet along with other crafted cocktails from Pernod Ricard in the VIP Lounge. Several food trucks also will be on-site.

Within the family-friendly event will be a juried Concours Invitational Car Show featuring a diverse selection of rare supercars, luxury, sports, and classic cars from private collectors. Trophies designed by Dallas sculptor Brad Oldham, best known for the Traveling Man installation in Deep Ellum, will be awarded to Best of Show, Chairman’s Choice and People’s Choice winners. Bachendorf Crystal awards will be given to First Place winners in each of the four classes. To submit a vehicle for consideration, go to www.LuxurySupercarShowcase.com and click on Register Vehicle. The show is limited to 100 selected cars that register and are approved by the PPLSS Acceptance Committee. Registration forms must be received no later than Saturday, August 11, 2017. Once accepted, there will be a $50 entry fee per vehicle, which includes 1 VIP All Access Pass ($100 Value), Car Signage and Show Credentials. For more information on registration, email info.showcase@10.2.54.33.

The Luxury & Supercar Showcase will feature presentations and meet & greets with automobile and racing industry experts such as Park Place Motorsports driver Patrick Lindsey and his No. 73 Porsche 911 GT3R. There will also be specialty boutiques with stunning fashions and upscale offerings by retailers such as the Brad Oldham Studio Store, Bachendorf’s, Niven Morgan, Sovaro and others.

Partners include Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Absolut Elyx, Perrier Jouët, Brad Oldham Studio Store, Bachendorf’s, D Magazine, NBC 5, Celebrity Cruises, LAW, OUTLAW Taproom, Frost 321, Perks & Provisions Company, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Cool River Café, and Lilium Florals.

Momentous Institute, owned and operated by Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, has been committed to building and repairing social emotional health for all children so they can achieve their full potential. Each year, the organization directly serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and innovative Therapeutic Services. Additionally, Momentous Institute invests in research and professional training, including the annual Changing the Odds conference, to reach far more children than they could ever serve directly with trauma-informed strategies that strengthen social emotional health. More info at http://momentousinstitute.org/

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place’s new Land Rover Jaguar dealership opens July 1 in Grapevine. A new Park Place Porsche dealership debuts in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

About Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas

Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas is a 400-acre resort property conveniently located in Irving in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and just minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field regional airport. It features a 431 room hotel with golf villas, two championship 18-hole golf courses, 41,000 square feet of meeting space, expansive recreational facilities including indoor and outdoor tennis, jogging tracks, racquetball, fitness center, restaurants, three swimming pools and child care center. It is also home to the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club, a private club inviting memberships for those interested in fitness, tennis and golf. For more information, visit us online at www.fourseasons.com/dallas and www.thesportsclubfourseasons.com. For press releases, image requests, hotel facts and more, visit our online press room at http://press.fourseasons.com/dallas/.

June 21, 2017June 21, 2017

All New Land Rover Discovery- Created For Family Adventure

As we welcome Land Rover to the Park Place family, we invite you to experience the All-New Land Rover Discovery.

Created for those with an adventurous spirit and a drive to go above and beyond. Join Land Rover’s intrepid Global Ambassadors Kenton Cool, Monty Halls, Ben Saunders and Ed Stafford, as each collect their specification of All-New Discovery; designed to complement their outdoor lifestyles with the capability and versatility to tackle any family adventure.

June 20, 2017June 20, 2017

Volvo Cars Celebrates the Human Side of Safety Technology in New XC60 Film

“Sometimes the moments that never happen matter the most.” This is the beguiling thought that lies behind Volvo Cars’ new XC60 film. But what does it mean?

Taking a typically human approach, Volvo has captured the essence of how advanced safety technology has the power to change the lives of people both in and around the car.

The film follows a young girl’s journey to her first day at a new school and shows a glimpse of what life holds for her in the coming years – growing up, travelling the world, settling down and raising a family. All of this comes to an abrupt stop as the girl steps out in front of an oncoming Volvo car. The Volvo’s safety system detects the girl and applies its autonomous emergency brake, preventing what could have been a life-changing collision. The film ends with a conclusion: “Sometimes the moments that never happen matter the most.”

Over 1.2 million people die in traffic accidents around the globe each year, but Volvo believes its vision of an injury and fatality-free future can soon be a reality.

Volvo Cars presented several new safety features with the launch of the new XC60. A steer support functionality has been added to Volvo’s City Safety autonomous emergency braking system, while a new system, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, uses steer assist to help mitigate head-on collisions. Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) has also been updated with a steer assist function to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.

The new XC60 replaces Volvo’s highly successful original XC60, which was the bestselling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe with more than a million units sold globally since its debut in 2008.

“This film featuring the new XC60 highlights how important active safety systems have become and reflects Volvo’s leadership in this area. We launched our City Safety autonomous emergency braking system as standard equipment in all new Volvos back in 2008, starting with the first generation XC60. Today, these systems are finally becoming an industry standard,” said Anders Gustafsson, Senior Vice President, Region EMEA at Volvo Car Group.

Ninety-four per cent of all accidents are caused by human factors. By using advanced safety technology Volvo believes it can help to reduce the human factor in traffic accidents.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Volvo Cars. It always has been and it always will be. With this film we hope to remind people why we continue to focus on car safety, and how important it is for us all,” said Björn Annwall Senior Vice President Global Consumer Experience at Volvo Car Group.

In Sweden alone, Volvo has seen a decline of around 45 per cent in rear-end frontal crashes thanks to its collision warning with autobrake system.

“We have been working with collision avoidance systems for many years and we can see how effective they are. With the XC60 we are determined to take the next step in reducing avoidable collisions with the addition of steering support and assistance systems. At Volvo we take that extra step – we protect people inside and outside the car whenever possible,” said Malin Ekholm, Vice President, Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

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Volvo Car Group in 2016

For the 2016 financial year, Volvo Car Group recorded an operating profit of 11,014 MSEK (6,620 MSEK in 2015). Revenue over the period amounted to 180,672 MSEK (164,043 MSEK). For the full year 2016, global sales reached a record 534,332 cars, an increase of 6.2 per cent versus 2015. The record sales and operating profit cleared the way for Volvo Car Group to continue investing in its global transformation plan.

About Volvo Car Group

Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 534,332 cars in 2016 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.

As of December 2016, Volvo Cars had over 31,000 employees worldwide. Volvo Cars head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company’s main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China) and body components in Olofström (Sweden).

June 19, 2017July 3, 2017

Park Place Dealerships Announces the First Luxury & Supercar Showcase

Honoring 30 years in the luxury automotive market, Park Place Dealerships is proud to announce their first-ever, Luxury & Supercar Showcase hosted by the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas in Las Colinas. Scheduled for September 9^th, this unique lifestyle and auto showcase will feature some of the world’s most exciting luxury and high performance vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lexus, Jaguar, Land Rover and more.

In addition, there will be a Concours Invitational Car Show with a select group of rare supercars, luxury, sports and classic cars from private collectors. This ticketed event will allow guests to enjoy curated culinary and sipping experiences along with stunning fashion displays, a unique boutique with upscale retail offerings, special presentations/meet & greets with industry experts. The event will benefit the Momentous Institute.

You can purchase your tickets or register your own classic or high performance show-stopper by visiting us at www.ParkPlace.com/SupercarShowcase

June 16, 2017June 16, 2017

Another Successful Year of Accessible Luxury- Benefiting Scottish Rite

Accessible Luxury is an event that brings fashionable people and luxury products together in an environment that has a singular focus,the health and well-being of children. The event benefits Scottish Rite Hospital, a long time community partner of Park Place Dealerships. Park Place believes deeply in Scottish Rite Hospital’s mission- they are the best at what they do and Park Place is proud to partner with Scottish Rite Hospital each year for the Accessible Luxury Event.

Founded in 1921 by Dr. W.B. Carrell and a group of local Masons, Scottish Rite Hospital has treated more than a quarter of a million children over the past 95 years. Located in Dallas, the hospital currently has more than 22,000 active patients. Last year, they had more than 36,000 outpatient visits and performed more than 2,500 surgeries. Patients receive treatment regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

June 15, 2017June 21, 2017

Park Place Dealerships is Now Your Place for Land Rover

As of July 1, 2017, Park Place Jaguar will have officially made the leap to Grapevine with an expanded inventory selection to now include Land Rover. Set right off 114, Park Place Jaguar-Land Rover DFW will continue to deliver excellent sales, service, and ownership experiences for Jaguar and now Land Rover enthusiasts alike.

“We currently have two dealerships, as well as a body shop in Grapevine,” said Ken Schnitzer, chairman of Park Place Dealerships. “Building a Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Northeast Tarrant County is a natural extension for our company as this market continues to grow. Jaguar has just introduced the new XE and F-PACE, the first SUV in the brand’s history. Land Rover is an iconic brand that introduced the first luxury SUV in the world and has a tremendous following.”

Park Place Jaguar Land Rover will feature a two-story, LEED-certified facility. The shop will include 30 service bays and 12 make ready bays. The showroom can accommodate up to 12 new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. A nine-car service drive and 2,800 square foot car wash will round out the areas dedicated to serving a client’s needs.

“Northeast Tarrant County is a great community to do business and with the opening of Jaguar Land Rover, Park Place will have a larger footprint to serve our growing client base,” said Gary Venner, president of Park Place Dealerships. “I have been fortunate to live and work in this community for more than 30 years. It is an honor to work for a company that stands for integrity, respect and excellence and to serve the clients who become a part of our Park Place family.”

ark Place Jaguar- Land Rover DFW will be located at 1300 East State highway 114, DFW Airport, TX 76251, on the corner of E. State highway 114 and Metro Circle Drive.

The Park Place brand has become synonymous with offering clients a high quality ownership experience. The company continues to be recognized locally and nationally with top honors for its customer service, sales, and excellent processes.

Park Place Jaguar Plano has been named a recipient of the 2016 Pride of Jaguar Retailer Excellence five years in a row. Sixteen of the 162 Jaguar dealers across the United Stated were selected based upon being top performers in three core business categories; customer advocacy, sales and business excellence. Out of the 16, only one Jaguar retailer is awarded the esteemed Marque of Distinction title for being the top retailer for its brand. Jaguar Plano is proud to have earned the Marque of Distinction as the #1 Jaguar dealership in the country three years in a row.

Park Place continues to invest in building facilities that are client friendly, energy efficient, and designed with its clients and employees in mind. Each dealership showcases Park Place’s distinctive style in a warm, inviting environment.

About Park Place Dealerships

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships in 1987 with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 17 full-service dealerships and three body shops. Park Place represents the following luxury brands: Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Infiniti, Volvo, smart, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. For more information about Park Place Dealerships, visit www.parkplace.com.

June 15, 2017June 15, 2017

Inspired Frisco ISD Students win $30,000 Grand Prize in the 2017 Lexus Eco Challenge

Inspired students from Frisco ISD recently gathered at Park Place Lexus Plano to share their passion in science, technology, engineering and math as the grand prize winner in the high school category for the Lexus Eco Challenge. The “Second Chance Band” from Lebanon Trail High School was the top winner among the 30 finalists in the national competition.

To address landfills filling up with trash across the United States and the increase of ocean trash pollution, “Second Chance Band” made an impact in their community and worldwide with a unique upcycling project using trash and other discarded objects to create instruments. The team’s focus was to educate the community of landfill stress and demonstrate the value for trash through a culture of upcycling and re-purposing. During their research, the team learned how different instruments are made and the materials required. They found that these materials could all be found in a landfill. The team collected old

The Grand Prize-winning team earned $30,000. The team divides the grand prize: a $7,000 grant for the school, a $3,000 grant for the team’s teacher advisor, and $20,000 in scholarships for the students to share. This prize money, in addition to $10,000 the school previously was awarded, brings the total prize money to $40,000.

More than 75 handmade instruments were made, including a violin from a tin lunch box and discarded violin neck, small drums from a Styrofoam box, old x-ray films and a broken picture frame, and flutes from found metal pipes. Using social media, the team was able to reach the global community and share their how-to videos. Making even more of an impact, the team sent the recycled instruments to areas in need around the world, from Latin America to the Middle East.

In its tenth year, the Lexus Eco Challenge is an educational program and contest that inspires and empowers young people to learn about the environment and take action to improve it. High school and middle school teams nationwide define an environmental issue that is important to them, develop an action plan to address the issue, implement the plan, and report on the results. To learn more about the program and the winners visit: www.scholastic.com/lexus.

The 2016-2017 Lexus Eco Challenge had more than 1,700 student participants. Thirty-two middle and high school teams were selected as finalists for the Lexus Eco Challenge, each claiming a $10,000 prize to be shared among the team, teacher, and school. For the final challenge, all 32 finalist teams were tasked with reaching beyond their local community to inspire environmental action. The teams communicated their innovative ideas to a wide audience in the last round, broadening the reach of their work to people outside of their communities and even further abroad.