COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Automotive Service Excellence-Education Foundation (formally known as A-YES)

[ ASE-EF ]

Over the past 19 years ASE-EF has placed more than 1,500 high school students from 31 schools in internships at the 100 Houston area dealerships who participate in the program.

Right now, new car and truck dealerships are paying more than ever to hire and retain the best employees for their service and collision repair departments. The Automotive Service Excellence-Education Foundation Program (formally known as A-YES) serves as a resource to help develop skilled technicians to fill those positions. Not only is the ASE-EF program essential to meet this ever-growing demand, it is a great way to introduce Houston’s youth to a fulfilling and rewarding career field.

The ASE-EF Program is a partnership among participating auto manufacturers, dealers and select high school/vocational schools.

This is an industry-wide “school-to-career” effort to address the nationwide need for qualified service technicians.

Motorist Assistance Program

[ MAP ]

The Motorist Assistance Program indirectly affects every Houston motorist. Being stranded alongside a freeway can be a frightening and potentially dangerous experience. However, the sight of a MAP patrol vehicle pulling up behind is a welcoming and comforting sight.

Launched with two service vans in 1986, there are now eighteen specially-equipped MAP vehicles driven by Harris County Sheriff’s deputies. These officers travel hundreds of miles on Houston-area freeways each weekday between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The deputies keep a watchful eye for motorists who need fuel or other basic roadside assistance. The Houston Automobile Dealers Association’s goal is to have MAP deputies assist motorists as quickly and safely as possible, which also helps to alleviate traffic congestion.

Since the MAP program’s inception, HADA has donated and placed 123 new vehicles into service and more than 800,000 drivers have been assisted.

The program is administered by the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and funded by H-GAC (Houston Galveston Area Council), Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County, Verizon Wireless and HADA.

Scholarship

In 2019, HADA awarded 127 $3,000 scholarships to dealership employees, dependents of employees and ASE-EF students.

The HADA is dedicated to assisting dealer employees and their dependents in furthering their education. The HADA sponsored scholarship program is in its 17th year. In the spring of each year prospective applicants are screened and selected by a special committee based on financial need, community engagement and academic excellence.