Blog

For the third year in a row, Balise Toyota of Warwick hosted their Balise sponsored fall soccer teams from the Warwick Soccer Association for their jersey distribution and unveiling event. The Warwick Soccer Association is a non-profit organization run entirely by dedicated volunteers. They rely on generous donations to support their teams. The organization offers a variety of soccer programs for both girls and boys from ages 4-18. Available programs span from competitive travel teams to instructional clinics. 60 players and their families/siblings gathered in the Balise Toyota showroom last night to meet their teammates, coaches and to enjoy some pizza—because what builds friendships better than pizza, right? The Balise Racing Renegades, Balise Speed Demons, Balise Revving Rebels, Balise Diesel Dawgs, Balise Road Warriors will kick off their season in the coming weeks and we wish them the best of luck.

Did you catch this year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July? If you did, you'd know Joey Chestnut took home the championship belt after eating a Coney Island record of 72 hot dogs! That's pretty impressive, but how many White Hut cheeseburgers do you think he can eat in ten minutes? Well, you're going to find out this September! Balise will be returning as the presenting sponsor of the 2nd annual White Hut World Cheeseburg Eating Championship at The Big E on September 23rd. This year's event will bring the highest ranked professional eaters in the world– Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, Carmen Cincotti, Geoffrey Esper, Darron Breeden, and Eric "Badlands" Booker to name a few– together to see who will take home this year's title. Last year, Matt "Megatoad" Stonie ate 43 cheeseburgers with grilled onions to win the belt, but word on the street is that Chestnut and Cincotti are coming in hot for his title… Join us on the Court of Honor stage on Saturday, September 23rd at 4pm for the main competition. An amateur eating contest featuring local stars will take place before the event. Stay tuned for a list of local stars and a full list of the professionals.

On Wednesday, June 28 th, Balise Hyundai and Hyundai representatives from the greater-Springfield area gathered at Baystate Medical Center for the presentation of the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Grant which will directly support the Hospital’s current project of expanding the 15-year old Pediatric Procedures Unit and relocating the Sadowsky Center for Children. The $6.5 Million project—the future of Baystate Children’s Hospital —will be nearly 50% funded by community support. “Our partnership with Hyundai is extremely important to our work and we are so grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this grant recognition with you all here today,” said Kathy Tobin, Interim Leader of Philanthropy for Baystate Health Foundation. Balise representatives on hand for the ceremony were Jeb Balise, CEO of Balise Motor Sales; Brian Houser, General Manager of Balise Hyundai in Springfield, MA; Alex Balise McEwen, Marketing Manager; and additional members of the Marketing Team. Houser, a father to two young daughters, holds the Hyundai Hope on Wheels initiative close to his heart and through the dealership, has met and connected with many parents who will benefit from this Impact Grant. Hyundai Hope on Wheels, which begin with one Boston-area dealer, has since expanded to include more than 800 dealers nationwide. “Our commitment to the fight against pediatric cancer is not about selling cars or promoting our business,” said Houser during his speech. “This is truly at the core of who we are and what we do to try and make the world a better place. There is nothing more important to us.” Baystate Health is one of 25 hospitals this year receiving the Hyundai Impact Award. “There’s not a children’s hospital in the country who can do what they do without the community and philanthropy…so thank you for this support,” said Charlotte Boney, Chair of Pediatrics at Baystate Health. Following the ceremonial speeches was the signature Handprint Ceremony, where several children and teens who were once treated at Baystate Children’s Hospital added their handprints to our Hope Vehicle, joining the prints of hundreds of other children who are fighting cancer. Balise is honored to support Baystate Health in their efforts to end pediatric cancer and look forward to seeing the completed renovations of the Pediatric Unit as well as the relocation of the Sadowsky Center. Thank you to Hyundai and Baystate for allowing us to be a part of such a meaningful and inspiration campaign.

Each year, our Balise Toyota of Warwick team counts down the days until our favorite event, Always Adopt Super Dog Adoption Day. Sunday, June 4 th marked the fourth consecutive event at our Post Road dealership and another spectacular day it was! There is nothing we love more than happy customers, and yesterday, we were able to see so many smiling faces in and around our showroom and service drive. “Yet another outstanding day for over 400 families now at home with their new pups,” said Louise Anderson Nicolosi, Founder of Always Adopt. “People came from RI, CT, NH, MA, NY and Maine to adopt a rescue dog from the sparkling jewel, Balise Toyota of Warwick!” Over 3,000 people made their way onto the Balise Toyota lot yesterday with the first adopters arriving around 8am to get their spot in line for the 10am pre-approved opening. And the crowds continued all day. In total, 412 dogs were adopted into forever homes. “This is still a unique New England event where so many at risk dogs are given exposure to families wishing to adopt. Thank you to Mike O’Connell and his amazing team for making all this possible,” Anderson Nicolosi continued. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible, including our Post Road neighbor, Ann & Hope who graciously offered their parking lot for volunteer and guest parking. This event could not have happened without you!

June 4 th is only a few weeks away and our entire Balise family in Rhode Island is gearing up for the big day. This year's event is the fourth held at Balise Toyota of Warwick and the 10 th Super Dog Adoption Day ever for the non-profit, Always Adopt. By now, everyone knows Louise Anderson, founder and “Top Dog” of the Always Adopt organization that hosts super-sized pet adoption events throughout Rhode Island. These events are designed to provide rescue groups from across the state and country a place to showcase their dogs in a relaxed environment. Louise and her team, as always, cannot wait to see the success of this year’s kick-off to summer! “We are finding that more and more people want to adopt their next dog here, so we are expecting even more people to be coming to this event,” says Louise. “The online Adoption Application is open and they are flooding in. Approved applicants will have early access and the pick of the pups!” The event will feature puppies and dogs of all shapes, sizes and personalities looking to find their forever homes! To take a peek at some of the dogs up for adoption NOW and at the event, click here. “Each year, we are just floored by the amount of engagement we see from the community at this event,” says Mike O’Connell, General Manager of Balise Toyota, who’s showroom sees several thousand guests on Adoption Day. “Since we began hosting four years ago, we’ve helped more than 1000 dogs find loving homes—and that’s just at our one-day Balise event. It’s amazing to be involved in such a special day for not only the community, but the animals, rescues and vendors we host.” The event opens to the public at 12pm, but applicants who are pre-screened will get exclusive early entry into the venue on a first-come-first-serve basis. The first 100 people in line will enter at 10am and the next 200+ at 11am. You must be screened before you can adopt, so the advantage will go to pre-screened applicants. To start the application process, click here. For more information about our event, visit www.alwaysadopt.com and continue watching the Balise Toyota of Warwick Facebook page for more detailed announcements about the June 4th event and the start of our #BarkSeatDriverPhotoContest!

Coming off a hugely successful campaign last year, Valley Gives raised an impressive $1,161,705 for Pioneer Valley non-profit organizations last week during their annual Give Day! The 24-hour online giving event is an opportunity to improve the quality of life for residents of the Pioneer Valley, powered by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Balise has been a premier sponsor since the event’s inception in 2012. Each year is more successful than the previous. We couldn’t be more thrilled to participate. At a kick-off luncheon held at Stern Square in Springfield on May 1st, President & COO Bill Peffer noted the importance of giving back to the community we have been a part of for nearly 100 years. “We feel a responsibility to do whatever we can, whenever we can to better our communities where we work and live,” said Peffer. “It’s not because it’s what you’re supposed to do, it’s because it’s what we have to do—too bond together as a community to make the Pioneer Valley a better place to live.” We are thankful to each and every one of the 17,401 donors throughout the Valley and beyond who helped make the 2017 event one to remember!

The inaugural season for the Springfield Thunderbirds comes to an end this weekend—April 14 th and 15 th —at the Mass Mutual Center, and the boys are saying THANK YOU to the die hard Springfield fans for making it such a great one! Balise is joining in the fun! At Saturday’s game against the Hartford Wolfpack, come see us on the concourse to enter for a chance to SHOOT TO WIN A 2017 KIA SPORTAGE EX from Balise Kia. One lucky Thunderbird (or Wolfpack) fan will be selected to shoot from center ice to win the sleek and stylish Sportage. Now, you’ll be able to see the giveaway vehicle in person at Saturday’s game, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek to encourage you to start practicing those wrist shots! This 2017 Kia Sportage EX is an All-Wheel Drive vehicle with a 2.4L I-4 Cyl engine—perfect for short drives to work or longer road trips. It also features leather upholstery, heated front seats, and Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity. You won’t want to miss a chance to shoot to win this beauty!

Each year, Subaru’s Share the Love campaign kicks off in November and for every vehicle purchased or leased during the six-week span, Subaru donates $250 to the purchaser’s choice of participating charities—ASPCA®, Make-A-Wish®, Meals on Wheels America®, the National Park Foundation, and a local charity of the dealership’s choosing. For the second consecutive campaign, Balise Subaru selected Hasbro Children’s Hospital as the local beneficiary. During the 2015 campaign, our Subaru dealership raised an impressive $30,839 for the hospital. This year, we are thrilled to report a 23% increase in donated funds for a total of $38,201 raised. On March 27 th, the Balise Motor Sales and Balise Subaru team were welcomed by Hasbro Children’s Hospital representatives for a check presentation and hospital tour—giving our Balise team a chance to see first-hand where and who the donated funds will benefit. “Many people don’t know this, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago that the Balise group expanded into Rhode Island,” Bill Peffer, President & COO of Balise Motor Sales said in his remarks. “Ever since, we’ve committed ourselves to building lasting relationships with the local community and our Subaru store is one of the best examples of that through their partnership with Hasbro Children’s Hospital.” Hasbro Children Hospital has the only pediatric emergency department, Level 1 Trauma Center, pediatric critical care teams, and 24-hour ambulance in the region, but also provides services dedicated to making a sometimes long-term hospital stay easier for family members of patients. To read the hospital's full release, click here. Balise Subaru and the entire Balise family is thrilled to make another sizable donation Hasbro Children’s Hospital and hope for a continued partnership with them for years to come.

On Wednesday, February 15th, two popular Springfield Thunderbirds, Eric Robinson and Ed Wittchow, stopped by Balise Hyundai to meet fans, take photos and sign autographs. The guys are heading into a home and home weekend where they will host Utica and Wilkes-Barre before traveling to Hartford to take on the Wolfpack on Sunday. Fans young and old were thrilled to spend time with a couple of their favorite players in the intimate venue of the Hyundai dealership downtown. Among the fans were brothers, Jacoby and Eric, who along with their father have attended every home Thunderbirds game except for one this season–including preseason. Dedication like this is a prime example of why it's such a great thing to have professional hockey return to Springfield. "I think I speak for all of us when I say it's great to have the Thunderbirds here in Springfield," says Brian Houser, General Manager of Balise Hyundai. "Being able to host an event like where the fans can meet the players in such a personal setting is something we're always going to be excited for." Last month, the Balise group hosted Balise Car Wash night at the Springfield Thunderbirds game where fans were given free car washes, interior details and unlimited monthly wash plans. Mascot Squeaky Balise was also present for the night, playing musical chairs on the ice with his good friend, Thunderbirds mascot, Boomer. Stay tuned for more Balise and Thunderbirds events in the near future!

There’s truly nothing more exciting than spending time doing something you love and 7-year old Jason L. loves Balise Collision Repair! Back in January, Brian Stone, Collision Repair Director in Rhode Island, showed Jason and his dad, Todd, around both Balise Collision Repair Centers in Warwick and West Warwick for a behind-the-scenes shop tour. Not only did he get to go where most don’t, he was welcomed by the team with some Balise Collision apparel and gift items to make the trip a memorable one. “He was in his glory, to say the least,” recalls Stone thinking back on the day. It was one he’ll never forget. The next week, the Balise Collision team received a letter from Jason’s school teacher thanking them for taking the time to make Jason feel special. “Recently a student of mine, Jason, came in for a tour. His father took some video that Jason was able to share with us at school. For quite some time Jason has been very interested in cars, and Balise Collision,” she wrote in the note. “The joy on Jason’s face when he was able to share the video with not only our class, but the second grade class, was priceless.” And Jason isn’t the only one who will look back on the day fondly. The entire Balise group is honored to have welcomed Jason into our family and couldn’t be happier to have made his day special. We hope he’ll come back and visit soon!

Sunday, January 29th was a wonderful day, not only for Billy Gilman fans across Rhode Island, but for the local children’s hospital. In one short afternoon, $3,252 was raised for the cause. Balise Toyota of Warwick hosted over 500 of Billy’s biggest fans for an intimate, up close and personal appearance to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital. For a donation of $20 to the cause, fans were given a professional photograph of NBC’s The Voice runner-up to be signed at the meeting. They also took selfies with the star. The meet-and-greet followed a short 15-minute performance where Gilman belted out the single that put the young artist on the map back in 2000, One Voice. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the song spoke to the meaning of the day–making the world a better place and supporting the causes and the people who deserve it. “I truly am grateful that you are all here today…I really wanted to pay it forward and continue to create awareness for people and causes and foundations that I truly get inspiration from and believe in,” noted Billy in a speech to the crowd during his performance. “So when Balise said ‘we want to partner with you’…I said ‘can we get Hasbro involved,’ and I’m very happy that they said yes.” Balise has a long-standing relationship with Hasbro Children’s Hospital including announcing the hospital as the Balise Subaru “Share the Love” beneficiary for the second year in a row this past fall. Last year, the campaign which ran from mid-November 2015 to early January 2016 raised over $30,000 for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The day was an incredible success and we are thankful for each and every person who came out, sang along with us and made a donation to support local children.

Our Balise team is thrilled to announce we will be hosting Rhode Island native and NBC’s The Voice: Season 11 runner-up Billy Gilman at Balise Toyota of Warwick on January 29th! After hearing many of Billy’s biggest local fans were unable to obtain tickets for his show at Veteran Memorial Auditorium on January 28th (his first show in RI since returning from The Voice), we knew we could help! Beginning at 3:00pm, Billy will perform a few of his popular songs as well as meet and take photos with his biggest fans. We’re also partnering with Hasbro Children’s Hospital– a organization near and dear to both Balise and Billy. With a $20 donation to the hospital, fans will get a photograph of Billy to be signed that day! As we’re sure most of you already know, Billy rose to fame in 2000 when he released his hit single “One Voice”. His debut album went double platinum in the United States and he was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to reach the #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts. Billy’s run on The Voice was just another amazing step in his musical career and we couldn’t be more supportive! We’re excited to have him–and to host all of you! The event is open to the public.