Faith In Action
The family behind one Montgomery business is letting faith drive its decision to aid an area non-profit as it broadcasts positivity and encouragement.
For three decades — the bulk of its 33-year existence — the Montgomery-based non-profit Faith Radio has enjoyed the strong support of Reinhardt Lexus, a family owned collection of car dealerships in the River Region. The radio station’s Director of Ministry Relations Billy Irvin sees the partnership as particularly fitting. “A lot of our ministry reaches people in their car, while they are driving,” he said. I think that makes our relationship with Reinhardt really neat.”
Of course, it’s deeper than just this clever connection. Faith Radio’s mission to educate, inspire and encourage with Christian music, Bible-based teaching programs and more operates in pursuit of one goal: to build strong families.
“Strong families mean strong neighborhoods, which mean strong communities, a strong city, and it goes on from there,” Irvin said. “The Reinhardts share our goal. They want to see more positive messages put out there for our community.”
And the Reinhardts ensure Faith Radio can keep spreading its message by continually making financial contributions. “We are unique in the media world because we don’t sell ads, and we don’t do donation telethons,” Irvin said. “We depend solely on the support of our listeners.
Faith Radio receives the bulk of the funds it requires to operate from individuals, but the involvement of local businesses like Reinhardt Lexus is crucial too, and it goes beyond a dollar amount. “They are really open about who and what they support and have a big Faith Radio poster hanging in their dealerships that promotes us to their customers,” Irvin said. “They hand out Faith Radio magnets and encourage their customers to support us too.”
And what Faith Radio offers is vital, according to Mike Reinhardt, son of the dealership’s founder, who now runs the business with his siblings. “My dad always impressed upon us the value that faith-related charities add to our community,” he said. “So we have always looked for organizations that are using faith to improve our area. Faith Radio is one of them. We know that we are helping Faith Radio continue to provide its ministry, and we’ll keep doing that so they can keep doing what they do.”
GIVEBACK + BRIEFS
WE SALUTE YOU - The Chamber appreciates the many businesses that showed their gratitude for our local military community by offering discounts and specials to members of the military in November, during Military Appreciation Month.
| USAmeriBank Helps Fight Hunger - Last fall, during national Hunger Action Month, USAmeriBank employees collected food donations and raised funds for the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Caryn Hughes, USAmeriBank’s Montgomery Area Executive, presented Rich Deem, the food bank’s CEO, with a $5,000 check on September 28. USAmeriBank employees then spent the day volunteering at the food bank. “USAmeriBank is proud to support the Montgomery Area Food Bank’s efforts to fight hunger,” said Hughes. “All our employees at USAmeriBank really value opportunities to make a difference in the community in which we live and work.” | Coca-Cola United Company, Inc. Donates Playground - Catoma Elementary School’s students have a new place to play thanks to the school’s Partner in Education, South Alabama Coca-Cola UNITED Company, Inc. The playground was dedicated on October 5, and on October 7, representatives for the company returned to host a Coca-Cola-sponsored picnic on the school grounds and hand out free T-shirts. Both students and staff took advantage of the opportunity to express their appreciation to Coca-Cola UNITED and its employees for the generous gift. |
The Chamber wants to share the good news of businesses doing good in our community. Please send story ideas for our Giveback section to jminiard@montgomerychamber.com.
