AutoTrader Donates Life-Changing Gift in Partnership with Turner Sports

Press release from the issuing company

Monday, February 16th, 2015

For the ninth consecutive year, AutoTrader.com has once again partnered with Turner Sports and the National Basketball Association to change the lives of a deserving family with the donation of a brand new car.

During the regular NBA season, hosts of the Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA studio team of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley faced off in the AutoTrader.com All-Star Drive fantasy basketball challenge, with the winner receiving a donation of a new vehicle to the charity of his choice, courtesy of AutoTrader.com. This year's winner was Kenny Smith, who was playing to benefit Feed the Children, a charity that serves meals to more than 350,000 youth around the world each day. 

In the weeks leading up to the NBA All-Star Game, Smith worked with Feed the Children to identify a local family in need as the recipient of the vehicle. On Saturday, Smith presented Dave Mathews of Queens, N.Y., with the gift of a brand new 2015 Kia Sorento LX, sourced from Prestige Kia of Tenafly, NJ.

The car was handed over during a surprise ceremony at Saturday's community outreach event with HopeNYC.

"I am humbled to be part of this gift donation in partnership with Feed the Children," said Kenny Smith. "A sincere thanks goes to AutoTrader.com for generously donating the vehicle to Mr. Mathews."

This annual activity is one component of AutoTrader.com's 10-year partnership with Turner Sports and the NBA. Footage from the event will be featured within Sunday evening's TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com pre-game show that airs prior to the 2015 NBA All-Star Game presented by Kia.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to donate this Kia to Mr. Mathews," said John Kovac, senior vice president of marketing for AutoTrader. "Partnerships like this, which allow us to give back through charitable organizations, are a key element of our commitment to serve the communities in which we do business.