The third annual Dick’s Auto Group 5k was held Memorial Day weekend at Dick’s Country Dodge in Hillsboro. It was a great success and the man behind Dick’s Auto Group was at the front of everyones mind. I was not one of the lucky ones to know Dick, but he is a legend in an industry where giving back without incentives to do so is not always common. (I should say that this is me speaking as a blogger who has been in this industry for nearly a decade, and not as a blogger for Dick’s.) He was a legend when he was alive, and an icon after his passing. To drive the point home, if all of us lived the way he did with his values and giving back spirit, the world would be a much better place. His family is carrying on the tradition and I am truly honored to know them.
Shannon Inukai-Cuffee gives away scholarships to Hayley and Rebekah.
For those that were lucky to have known Dick, they already know of the great impact he made on different causes in Oregon. For those that weren’t fortunate to know him, he was a business owner with a huge heart and he gave back greatly to his community.
Getting ready!
Inukai devoted much of his work in the community to dozens of organizations with causes that impact children, such as providing books and readers to elementary schools through Operation Outreach; providing food, gifts and adopt-a-family coordination during the holidays for the Domestic Violence Resource Center; and with Hillsboro Parks and Recreation.
In 1997, Dick joined the board of directors of the Citizens Crime Commission of Portland. Upon his appointment to the board, he quickly began tackling problems involving youth and led efforts to strengthen the Portland Police Bureau through increased staffing and greater emphasis on community policing. Inukai also helped establish the Homeless Youth Assessment Committee, which received nationwide recognition for its work to boost resources and services for the area’s homeless teens.
Warming us up!
ick’s passion for serving kids led to his greatest contribution in supporting the rebuild of the Hillsboro Boys and Girls Club, now called the Inukai Family Boys and Girls Club, earning him ‘Philanthropist of the Year’ from Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Inukai was honored by the Hillsboro Chamber with two additional awards in 2003 and 2004, being presented the ‘Honorable Business of the Year Award’ and the ‘Bob Herb Leadership Award’, respectively.
For his outstanding corporate citizenship, Ford Motor Company named Inukai among nine recipients of its 2004 ‘Salute to Dealers Award’, established to demonstrate a commitment to its dealer principals who work to improve the lives of those in their communities.
Stretch!!!
Inukai’s roots drew him to the Japan-American Society of Oregon (JASO), serving as a member for over 20 years. In 2000, Inukai was instrumental in taking an active role when a large number of Asian businesspeople and travelers were being mistreated, detained or turned away at the airport by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service. Inukai’s efforts resulted in increased relations between the Asian community and INS.
Get ready to run…or in my case, walk!
Past grant recipients include:
- Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
- Hospice and Palliative Care of Washington County
- Japanese-American Society of Oregon
- Meals on Wheels People programMore pictures below, it was a truly awesome morning!
My buddy and his Mom during the race! Thanks for walking Lou-Lou!
