Bringing the community together for a wizardry-themed food drive, Young Mazda Utah and the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation hosted their tenth annual Cast-A-Spell on Hunger event on Jan. 31.
“We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out,” said Ryan Albert, general manager of Young Mazda Utah. “The opportunity to be a part of such an amazing cause where we can watch the community come together isn’t something we take for granted. We’re so grateful to be a part of this.”
Involving local organizations such as the Children’s Treehouse Museum, the endeavor collected monetary and non-perishable food donations for the Ogden School Foundation, Weber School Foundation and Catholic Community Services. Attendees were invited to make a contribution, as well as enjoy access to face painters, balloon artists, storytellings, magic shows, spell book making stations, refreshments and wizard-like props for photo opportunities.
In addition to the festivities, Young Mazda Utah and Young Caring for Our Young gave away a Nintendo Switch.
“Cast-A-Spell plays an impactful role in our foundation’s schedule,” said Kellee Belnap, director of Young Caring for Our Young. “It starts the year off in an incredible way, and shows those who join us that giving back can not only be simple, but fun for the whole family. The partners who engage in this do an exceptional job, and they’re why this has been a major success for ten years now.”
A business within the Young Automotive Group, Young Mazda Utah engages annually in both the Cast-A-Spell on Hunger event as well as the Ogden Teacher of the Year giveaway — where they provide an exceptional educator with an all-expenses paid, one-year lease on a new vehicle. Each of these initiatives involve the Young Caring for Our Young Foundation, which was founded as a philanthropic nonprofit by the Young Automotive Group’s partner owner Spencer Young Sr. and his wife Sherry in 2007.
“The Young Automotive Group is an organization that takes pride in delivering exceptional experiences, and that extends beyond the showroom and service counter,” said Albert. “Ogden is a place we cherish, and any opportunity we have to give back to it is a privilege for our team.”
