AAGConnect

Blog

by Leave a Comment

Deserving father goes from two wheels to four

Matt is trying diligently to make his situation better. He is a single father of 3 beautiful children. His vehicle recently broke down and was towed to Anderson Ford. The vehicle has 283,000 miles on it and was going to cost far more to get it fixed than what it was worth. Matt is currently getting to work by his bike, the bus and by others giving him rides. This is not easy for him being a single father. Hillcrest felt he was very deserving of a vehicle from Because People Matter, and we agreed.

donation_Matt 2016

Filed Under: BPM

by Leave a Comment

BPM recipient has BIG plans for her future!

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Jordan “Jay” Alford for BPM Donation. Sis. Jordan has volunteered and worked at Word of Faith FWC and our community learning center (MidCity Excellence CLC) for the past 7-8 years. She has been instrumental in choreographing praise dances for at-risk teen girls (Inspirational Angels), for the kids (God’s Little Angels), Sons of Thunder Stomp, Redemption (College & Career) and for the Golden Wings (a special needs groups of adults and seniors). She has not only worked and volunteered over 100 hours as a dance instructor, she has been an excellent role model in mentoring at-risk youth in Word of Faith Teen Church by sharing her stories of academic success, perseverance during bereavement of her baby sister’s demise at 23 months and during her grandmother’s cancer battle and facing peer pressure. At a young age, Jordan has also endured many obstacles as being bullied at a past university, staying strong during her parents recent split up, and care giving for her sick mother and elderly grandfather while being temporarily housed. Despite all of her difficult challenges, she often testifies of her love and commitment to Jesus Christ and has brought numerous college students to church.

 

It has a been a joy watching her grow up in our community center since she was 6 yrs. old and she has diligently volunteered at the nursing homes, for the Apple Blossom Parades, helped organized the annual praise dance festival and even worked in the church office. Some other events she has been instrumental in were: 1) acted as a substitute for the church drummer on Sunday mornings; 2) taught the youth during children’s church and prepped them for Resurrections/Easter Celebration services; 3) choreographed the Teen Church co-ed team in praise dance dramas; 4) has coordinated our city-wide praise dance festival; 5) has participated at our Heart of America Council Sunday School Regional Convention in the praise dance with a group of youth and 6) has served as my office assistant for many years.

 
It is for these reasons that I highly recommend Sis. Jordan Alford to be considered for this donation in order to encourage her pursuit of a Communications bachelors (minoring in dance) degree at the Missouri Western State University (St. Joseph, MO) and in her pursuits to open a non-profit dance studio for impoverished youth after graduation.

donation_J Alford 4 donation_J Alford 5 donation_J Alford 2

Filed Under: BPM

by 1 Comment

Noyes Home Block Party – St Joe BPM giving back to the youth in their area

Because People Matter in St Joe had an evening of fun and excitement at the annual Noyes Home Block Party. The Farmer’s Market theme party had free food, live music, hay rides, games and much more. There were activities for kids and adults and was a fun time for all involved.  BPM had a table with games for the children with prizes!  The Noyes Home was established in 1894 is a 45 bed establishment that provides temporary housing for children facing homelessness or other challenges.

“They have someplace safe and warm and caring that they can go that is going to empower them to grow and just be kids,” Elizabeth Leslie said. “They don’t have to worry about adult issues and can just be kids.”

All proceeds from the event to to support the Noyes Home.

Noyes_5 Noyes_6 Noyes_7 Noyes_8

Filed Under: BPM

by 1 Comment

Anderson Ford baseball team rallies to Area 5 Legion title

 Anderson Ford saved its best for last.

Jon Opfer came on in relief and drove in a pair of runs in the final two innings to help Anderson Ford earn a 9-6 victory over Union Bank in 10 innings to claim the A-5 American Legion championship Tuesday at Sherman Field.

Anderson Ford Advances to the National Division state tournament in Norfolk and will face Omaha Central. Union Bank will face Creighton Prep at Omaha Skutt in the American Division. Both tournaments begin Saturday with both games tentatively slated for 10 a.m.

Anderson Ford defeated Union Bank 3-1 Monday to remain alive.

Union Bank took a 5-2 lead into the top of the ninth before Anderson rallied on four hits, including a pair of infield hits, to tie the game. Chase Lauver was hit by a pitch and Logan Cale singled. With one out, Austin Herzog reached on an infield hit before Wade Deist singled up the middle to drive in a run. Opfer’s infield single scored Cale, and Barnes laid down a bunt to score Herzog. Opfer retired Union Bank in order in the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

“We’ve done a good job of bunting in this tournament. We had three squeezes that have worked and our bunt game was kind of an answer to their bunt game,” said Anderson coach Lanny Bolles. “We had to do that because Union Bank sure knows how to bunt.”

Luke Recker got the winning rally started when he was hit by a pitch. He came home when Chase Lauver’s bunt was mishandled and the throw sailed wide of third base. Union Bank got a pair of outs before Herzog tripled in another run and then scored on Opfer’s single to right. Wade Deist, who walked, came in on a single by Kaden Barnes.

Union Bank got a run when Spencer Scheer singled in Riley Ward, who also reached on a hit, but Joe Richter, who relieved Opfer, got two fly balls to end the game.

 “There’s just no quit in these guys. In the 10th, we knew we had a nice lead and had to pitch to contact. They had a couple of great strokes to get it started,” said Bolles. “They hit a couple to the wall, so they could have tied it there.”

Anderson Ford took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Opfer singled and scored on a bases-loaded walk. Union Bank answered in the bottom of the inning when Riley Ward doubled and scored on a wild pitch.

Anderson went back on top in the third when Braden Dey singled and came around on a dropped fly ball. Union Bank responded in the bottom of the inning when Scheer and Brock Wordekemper both singled, Scheer stole third and scored on a safety squeeze by Derek Kolbush.

Union Bank took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning. Scheer singled, Wordekemper sacrificed and Kolbush singled before Scheer scored on a wild pitch. Tyler Crouse drove in Kolbush with a single to left.

Wordekemper singled to lead off the seventh and three straight bunts — a sacrifice by Kolbush, a bunt single by Crouse and a safety squeeze by Micah Hoage — brought him in.

“You expect the area tournament to be close games and the guys know that. This ended up higher scoring, but it was low scoring to start,” Bolles said. “This gives us so much momentum. It was a matter of getting the guys to believe they were good enough to win games like this.

“There’s no sugar-coating it. We were 4-20 last spring, but these guys kept at it to find a way to work on their craft. Our record doesn’t look like a championship team, but we just kept believing.”

(article and photo from Lincoln Journal Star, 7/20/16)

AF Baseball

by Leave a Comment

Cole Anderson Memorial Fun Shoot was a BIG success!

Since the passing of our son Cole, we wanted to do an annual event in honor of his life.  His passion was shooting trap and having fellowship with others around that sport.  We began annually hosting the Cole Anderson Memorial Trap Shoot at the Izaak Walton shooting range, where he spent many hours perfecting his shooting which ultimately led to him becoming a first team All American in that sport. To do that, one must register as a shooter with the ATA (Amateur Trap Association) and travel to different states to compete.  Cole always had a desire to help others in that sport, so as part of this event we have the (Fun Shoot) for those people that aren’t registered shooters and/or who have never shot trap before.  This year, we had the honor to give an award to Steve Snapp for being the top shooter in the Fun Shoot, where he shot 25 straight without a miss.  I think Steve should shoot more often competitively as he obviously has a strength in that area.
Next year our goal would be to do the same thing, however start a little later in the day and have people stick around and enjoy free BBQ and good conversations with friends, family, or co-workers. Thanks to all that came and Congrats again Steve on your great shooting.
Mike_shoot out winner

by 3 Comments

Top Gun June 2016

Please log in to view this content.

Contact your local People Resource Representative with access questions. If you are already logged in and see this message, then the content is restricted to a different department or role.

Lost Password ?

by Leave a Comment

Hillcrest Transitional Housing Salsa Challenge Fundraiser – Salsa Summer Standoff

Shannen White from Hillcrest Transitional Housing in St. Joseph, Mo has asked us for assistance. This is going to be their biggest fundraiser so far this year and she is asking for us to get the word out to local businesses/restaurants. They are needing entries for the challenge. Hillcrest is a great addition to our St. Joe community. They offer a hand up and education to local residents that are struggling. They educate local residents and help them become self-sufficient. They are seeing 5th year welfare recipients and I think it’s incredible that when they graduate this program, 85% of graduates are still self sufficient after 5 years!! THAT’S HUGE!!

BPM is entering the challenge and we would like our employees to join in on the fun. Also, if anyone can contribute any ingredients from their garden, it would be much appreciated! WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT!!

Please contact our St. Joe BPM contact Tracy James (tracy@andersonautogroup, or ext 8076) for all the details.  Tracy will email the entry and information to you.  Please pass it on to any of your contacts that may want to participate.
salsa photoBPM logo

 

Filed Under: BPM