Happy Birthday from Wilson Automotive Group

Employees of the 16-dealership Wilson Automotive Group in Orange County, CA, have donated an impressive $255,000 to various charities this year. This annual donation is made in lieu of giving their boss, David Wilson, a birthday and Christmas gift, reflecting their generous spirit and community-minded values.

Vikki Murphy, Wilson’s Vice President, shared, “Instead of buying the boss another expensive gift, our employees thought of a way to give David — and hundreds of other people — a gift that would last past the holidays.”

The tradition began with 130 employees from Toyota of Orange donating $10,000 to the David Wilson Endowment Fund, benefiting the Orangewood Children's Foundation. Over the years, this initiative has expanded, with the dealership group now employing 2,000 people and the fund growing to over $500,000. Current recipients include Orangewood, Olivecrest, Lakers Youth Foundation, United Cerebral Palsy, and the American Cancer Society.

“This is quite a tribute to David Wilson that his employees are honoring him in this way,” said Gene Howard, Director of Orangewood.

The donations come from a diverse group of employees, including salespeople, managers, mechanics, clerical staff, and parts countermen. Ren Rooney, Wilson's Group President, emphasized, “This isn't something we ask our employees to do. This is something they choose to do every year.”

David Wilson himself added, “I have the best employees in the world.”

Vikki Murphy concluded, “Actually, we have the world's greatest boss. David is very generous to his employees, and this is just our way of saying, ‘thanks.’”