Growing Pains: Eminent Domain Pitting City Against Small Business Owner
Low Enrollment a Challenge at Compton Education Center
Council Approves Multi-million Dollar Bond Issue to Fund Public Projects
City’s Credit Rating Bumped Up a Notch
Compton Water Officials Say Tap Water’s OK
Dominguez High Football Star, USC Recruit Arrested for Robbery
Earl
Ofari Hutchinson:
Black Voters Alone Won’t Put Obama in the White House
Our
Town
Compton Resident, Carson Car Dealership Help Youth and The Poor, One
Car at a Time
Lillian Jeffries, executive director of His Sheltering Arms, is all smiles after receiving
the keys to a new van donated to her non-profit organization by Alvin
Lovett. The van was donated to Lovett by Col. J.R. Jordan, one of
his clients at the Carson-based Car Pros Chrysler Jeep dealership.
From
staff reports
Goodness
and mercy. These simple words have a profound meaning for Alvin “Alabama” Lovett,
and have played a huge part in directing the path he has taken in
life.
Once a television talk show host at an NBC affiliate, today Lovett
sells cars for a living. In the process of honing his selling skills and
becoming the top salesman at a local Car Pros Chrysler/Jeep dealership,
the Compton resident realized something.
“The Car Pros dealership is in Carson, and a lot of people from Compton
come here to buy cars. That means all the sales taxes and other revenue
leave The Hub City. I wanted to do something to change that and benefit
my city, particularly the young people. So I developed the Compton
Alabama Discount plan,” explained the Mobile, Ala., native.
“The Compton Alabama Discount Plan at Car Pros Chrysler Jeep puts
community caring and sharing center stage,” said Lovett. “The
good thing is, it does not compensate car buyers. Instead, it gets
them involved in giving back to the youth and disadvantaged in the community.
I’m trying to help young people in the community who are too young
to drive, and the poor who can not afford to buy a car.”
Under this plan, developed in conjunction with the owners of Car
Pros, Lovett donates a portion of proceeds from each car sold to a Compton
resident (or anyone who asks for Alabama) back to the city.
“Customers just have to make sure they ask for Alabama to participate
in the donation program,” stressed Lovett, who added that while the
giving-back campaign targets Compton residents, it is open to anyone
who asks for him.
One beneficiary of his donations, said Lovett, was a young wrestler
who needed financial help to go compete in Holland last summer.
Joey Davis has been wrestling since he was 6 years old, and is a
six-time California State champion.
“I want to help fund any community organization that is doing good
work, particularly with youth,” explained Lovett, a long-time community
activist.
He is also hoping that his actions can set an example to get other
businesses in the city to follow in his philanthropic footsteps.
But the Compton Alabama Discount Plan is not his only charitable
work. Lovett has also donated funds to the Angel Program at the Compton
Airport, and this funding will provide the opportunity for 20 young people
to learn how to repair and fly planes.
He also recently had Car Pros refurbish a van donated by Col. J.R.
Jordan, and then gave the vehicle away to a local youth non-profit called
His Sheltering Arms in South Los Angeles in January.
Lovett said the reason he is doing all of this is simple: “I’ve
had my setbacks and my ups and downs, and almost lost my life. Consequently,
it’s only through the goodness and mercy of God that I’m still
here. I have to give back.”
ADVERTISE | CLASSIFIEDS | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE | HOME
This site and its contents ©2008 thecomptonbulletin.com