Fred Beans Automotive Group donates $500K to community organizations

The Fred Beans Automotive Group recently contributed $500,000 to 16 area  organizations that provide scholarships, educational services and innovative school programs. The donations were made through the company’s involvement in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.

At the end of 2023, the company selected 12 recipients to receive $25,000 each and four recipients to receive $50,000 each, the company said in a press release.

Two of the recipients are Chester County organizations: West Chester Library, $25,000; and Chester County History Center, $25,000.

Victoria Dow, director of the West Chester Public Library, said the EITC funds from Fred Beans provide a “real boost” to the library’s Summer Reading Program. She said the youngest readers especially benefit and even recognize the importance of the program.

The $500,000 donation from Fred Beans was double the amount donated last year, the company said.

“We were able to increase our donation amounts this year after the Pennsylvania legislature passed and the governor subsequently approved a $150 million increase for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs,” Beth Beans Gilbert, vice president of Fred Beans Automotive Group. said in a statement.

She added that the company has participated in the EITC program for more than 10 years, “recognizing the many benefits of directing funds back into the community to specifically support education.”

The remaining recipients are in Bucks and Somerset counties. Since 2011, Fred Beans has contributed $3 million to the community through its participation in the EITC program.