Salute to service

American car dealers are among the most generous and charitable businesspeople in the world. In good times or bad, dealers support charities and worthy causes in their local communities. Often, they accomplish things that would not get done without their help.

In this issue, Automotive News salutes 20 of those caring dealers in a special section, Dealers of Distinction. Each profile highlights a community service that is particularly near and dear to the dealer's heart.

By no means are they the only dealers of distinction in the United States -- or even necessarily the best and most active when it comes to serving their communities. But they are excellent examples of the devotion and outstanding service demonstrated by thousands of dealers every day in communities across the nation.