On a chilly morning in December, the team at Underriner Honda of Walla Walla gathered with anticipation for their annual holiday car giveaway.
General Sales Manager Pat Custer took a moment to explain the process. “The United Way gathers nominations,” Pat shared. “Once applications are approved, our staff has the honor of making the final selection.”
A partnership of care
United Way Blue Mountain’s Executive Director Christy Lieuallen explained the criteria. “Trusted partner agencies like the YWCA identify clients who would benefit from a reliable vehicle and who can manage the ongoing costs of ownership, like insurance, fuel, and maintenance. We collect, organize, and review the applications before submitting them to the dealership,” she explained.
When Karen Angel, YWCA Advocate/Campus Advocate, learned about the opportunity, Grace and her children immediately came to mind. A family of 5, they barely fit in their borrowed Ford Focus. More worrying were the car’s growing mechanical issues.
Karen also knew that the car hadn’t been Grace’s only struggle. When she checked in at the shelter about the family’s food security and discovered Grace was skipping meals to be sure her kids would have enough, “it broke my heart,” she said.
Grace was a perfect fit for the criteria. “She is responsible and resilient,” Karen said. “And I knew how much she would benefit from a reliable vehicle appropriate for her family.”
Grace’s success impressed everyone at the shelter, said Karen. “Not even a month after moving out, she got promoted to a supervisor position.” This made her a full-time employee, which would help reduce her family’s financial stress and secure her ability to handle the responsibilities of car ownership.
YWCA Advocates at the presentation included Karen Angel, Alisha Gonzales, and Lana Bushman. Christy Lieuallen represented United Way.
Once the decision was made to nominate Grace, Karen and Lana Bushman, YWCA’s Director of Client Services, got to work on the application, completing it during a busy week with only moments to spare.
A thoughtful selection
After the nominations were narrowed to a few finalists, the dealership staff made the final choice. “Her courage and dedication to her children stood out,” Pat said. “She’s faced so much and has worked hard to create a strong, loving home.”
Blake Underriner, owner of Underriner Honda, shared the history of the giveaway. “My parents started this program 10 or 15 years ago at their first store in Billings,” he explained. “We later expanded it to include our dealerships in Walla Walla and The Dalles.” Blake emphasized that the owners provide the car and cover a year’s worth of any necessary repairs. But what made him most proud was how the dealership’s staff embraced the project. “They chose the car, donated their time fixing it up and detailing it to make it as perfect as possible. They even pooled their own money to buy gifts for the kids.”
During the presentation, Pat struggled to hold back tears. “I get emotional this time of year,” he admitted. “No child should go without at Christmas, and I’m so grateful to work for an owner who cares this much.”
Gratitude and joy
The presentation brought immense joy to everyone involved, but the highlight was the reaction from Grace’s family. Grace had decided that this special occasion warranted missing a little school, so her children arrived at the dealership with no idea what awaited them.
Product Specialist Teya demonstrates the van’s audiovisual system.
“This is ours?” Grace’s older daughter asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Once they grasped the reality of their new eight-passenger Honda Odyssey, the children eagerly explored its features, especially the screen and DVD player. A friendly debate ensued about who would get to pick the first video.
“That’s easy,” said one brother, gesturing to his younger sister. “The littlest should pick first.”
Between the dealership’s employees and several YWCA Advocates, plus United Way’s Christy, quite a crowd was assembled to witness the moment, one filled with smiles, gratitude, and the promise of brighter days ahead for Grace and her family.
The kids enthusiastically dove into their gift bags and thanked the staff for their generosity before loading everything into their new vehicle.
For Underriner Honda and YWCA Walla Walla, this day was about more than just a car. It was a way to fuel hope and drive change in our community, one family at a time.