As a long-standing community business and good corporate citizen, Fitzgerald Auto Malls believes strongly in the need to support the communities we serve. It is for that reason that we have implemented a number of programs ranging from consumer safety and education to improving our environment and reducing our energy consumption.
Supporting The Community
Child Car Seat Inspection Events
In 1997, Fitzgerald conducted our first inspection station for Child Safety Seats with local Government agencies. We were shocked to find that at the time the misuse rate was actually 100%. Every seat that came in that day, more than 100, was either installed incorrectly or the child wasn't harnessed correctly. We knew we had a problem.
With the help of the National Safe Kids Office, that first year we trained more than 60 employees how to properly install and secure a child seat through the NHTSA 4-Day Curriculum. Since then we've trained more than 100. We started holding regular seat checks at our stores. Now twenty years later, our employees have helped check almost 50,000 safety seats, and we hold the record for the most checked in a single day, when we checked 777.
Each month, Fitzgerald now holds a safety seat inspection for the local community without an appointment on the third Thursday of each month. In addition, each dealership teaches parents and caregivers by appointment how to install car seats. The goal is to train the parents and caregivers to be experts on THEIR seat in THEIR vehicle. Thankfully, the misuse rate has declined to around 50%.
Manufacturers are responded with new systems called "LATCH": Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. While easier to use in most cases, directions can still be confusing, and recalls on car seats abound. It will take years for the fleet of vehicles in use without lower anchors to come out of circulation, and car seats are still being used without the new system.
Fitzgerald has been working as a member of our local Safe Kids Coalition, with County Fire & Rescue, State Police, County Police and the local hospitals to continue to reach out to the community and let them know about this free service offered once a month at our Rockville Buick GMC Dealership on Nicholson Lane.
Pet Adoption Events
In 2013 Fitzgerald Auto Malls formed a partnership with the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) to host the first of many adoption events to support their efforts to end animal homelessness. In February, 2016 WARL merged with the Washington Humane Society to form the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA.)
The Humane Rescue Alliance's motto is "to protect animals, support families and advocate for positive change to create
a world where all animals can thrive. We enrich the humanity of our communities by promoting compassion and encouraging people to find joy, comfort and companionship through the love and appreciation of animals." Fitzgerald passionately supports our role in advocating animal-friendly communities and to date have aided in the adoption of over 200 animals.
Every other month, Fitzgerald hosts a pet adoption event at one of the locations in Maryland (rotates) (as well as several events throughout the year at our Florida location with the Humane Society of Pinellas County.) In addition each dealership collects donations year round for HRA's Community Outreach program (food) as well as operating supplies - toys, towels, harnesses, etc. (Our Lexington Park location supports Pets with Disabilities in Prince Frederick, Maryland.) In October we support "Subaru Loves Pets" at our Subaru locations with a large pet adoption event (25 + furry friends dogs, cats and maybe a rabbit or 2!)
We work with the Humane Rescue Alliance in support of their passion to create a community where there is a loving home for every homeless animal, affordable medical care for every sick and injured animal, an end to animal abuse and cruelty and stronger bonds between animals and people through education and training.
There are many ways you can help. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us in raising awareness to end animal homelessness and abuse.
Child Identification Events
Our Child Identification Events provide a sense of comfort to parents. Parents who choose to participate receive a CD including digital fingerprints, picture ID, and voice recognition of their children. This information is endorsed by the Maryland State Police, Montgomery County Police AND The National Center for Exploited & Missing Children. We host these events each month at our various Fitzgerald locations.
Yellow Ribbon Fund
Fitzgerald Auto Malls has supported the Yellow Ribbon Fund and their families since the very beginning. The Yellow Ribbon Fund was created in 2005 to assist our injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Yellow Ribbon Fund is able to provide these cars at no cost to the injured and their families with the support of Fitzgerald Auto Malls and NextCar Auto Rentals.
To stay up-to-date on our community events, follow us on Facebook!
Helping The Environment
Fitzgerald's Environmental Management System
Fitzgerald Auto Malls, an ISO 14001 registered company recognizes our impact and responsibility to the environment, our customers and our associates. This sets Fitzgerald apart from other automotive dealerships, in that we have considered the ways that we impact our environment, from our major recycling efforts, to our consumption of energy.
Fitzgerald is on a course unmatched by even many manufacturers that demonstrate to our customers and to each other that we take our impact seriously, and we're constantly looking for ways to preserve the environment in which we operate as a business.
Green Power
Fitzgerald Auto Malls is doing its part to reduce the effect of fossil fuels on the environment. All of the electricity at Fitzgerald facilities is purchased from Green renewable energy sources, mostly wind power at all of the dealerships.
The company was recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency in the Leadership Club as a Green Power Partner. Fitzgerald Auto Malls is the only Green Certified Auto Dealership Business in Montgomery County.
Our Commitment To Recycling
Fitzgerald is committed to recycling 80% of the solid waste generated at each of our facilities. From scrap metal to fluorescent light bulbs, Fitzgerald recycled more than 6 million pounds of materials in 2017.
Fitzgerald Auto Malls were honored to be named a 2017 Environmental Responsibility Award Winner, for its 12th consecutive year, by the City of Gaithersburg. Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce awarded Fitzgerald Auto Malls with Innovator of the Year in Environmental Management Award in 2017. While Montgomery County has a requirement to recycle 70% by 2020 of solid waste generated, Fitzgerald Auto Malls has traditionally exceeded this goal. In 2017 they recycled a combined average
of 82.9% of all waste generated. That's over 6 million pounds of solid waste
diverted from the landfill.
Just as recycling plays an important role, purchasing recycled materials is also a big component of Fitzgerald's EMS. Fitzgerald requires that the purchasing of office supplies prioritize the selection of recycled materials. For 2015, they achieved a rate of 38%-recycled materials purchased. From office paper to business cards, this has been a cost effective and environmentally friendly program.
