Providing 675 students with school supplies, the Young Automotive Group’s Hyundai and Genesis of Ogden dealerships partnered with the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation and New Bridge Elementary School to host their second-annual Fill the Backpack event on Aug. 12.
“Engaging with the community in this unique way is incredibly meaningful to us,” said John Burgett, general manager of Young Hyundai and Genesis of Ogden. “Our team is dedicated to making a difference, and we’re grateful for opportunities like this to connect with the people of Ogden as more than just a business.”
An event that took place during back to school night, the dealerships parked seven cars outside of the Weber County elementary — each carrying a trunk-load of items for class. Students then visited the vehicles to gather school supplies.
Fill the Backpack — which took place just days before the foundation completes their 15,000 pantry pack challenge — adds to Young Caring for Our Young’s recent efforts to prepare students for class. A nonprofit charity founded by the Young Automotive Group, they recently supplied over 170 children with clothes for school during their Julie’s Clothes for Kids event in Burley, Idaho.
“It’s around this time of year that we begin to see some of the greatest needs in our communities,” said Kellee Belnap, director of the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation. “Preparing a student for the first day of school is important, but can be expensive. Our initiatives are focused on empowering children, and providing them with resources to succeed — especially in the classroom.”
Acquired by the Young Automotive Group in 2018, Young Hyundai added Genesis of Ogden to their operation at the turn of the decade. The only dealer for the luxury vehicle manufacturer in a 50-mile radius, the dealership has been recognized for their consistent efforts to support the community, including a 2024 project that provided Ogden city police dogs with Christmas presents.
“With any philanthropic endeavor, we try to tie back what we do to this incredible area,” said Burgett. “The support we’ve felt from Ogden has been invaluable throughout our time here, and we continually strive to find ways to give back to this city.”
