Streetwise Motors supports Cushing Scholarship
Streetwise Motors in Marion has made a substantial contribution to the Stormy Ray Cushing Scholarship Fund at Marion Community Foundation, announced Dean Jacob, Foundation President and CEO. The dealership raffled off a 1986 Pontiac Fierro during their annual Safety City car show and donated nearly $5,000 in proceeds to the Cushing Scholarship Fund.
“We can’t thank Streetwise Motors enough,” said Stormy’s mother, Marsha Cushing, the creator of the scholarship fund. “We are humbled at their willingness to not only build Stormy’s scholarship fund but to seek us out to do so. Their dedication to our community continuously blows me away.”
The car raffle was the idea of several Streetwise staff members, said dealership president Eric Barcus.
“The Cushing family has been extremely supportive of what we do with the Safety City car show,” he said. “This raffle was our way of helping with the scholarship that is so important to them.”
According to Jacob, the Cushing Scholarship is “the ultimate expression of what we are about at Marion Community Foundation, the people of Marion helping others in our own community. ”
In 2009, Stormy Cushing was a typical high school girl on her way to cheerleading practice when her car flipped after being struck by a motorcycle, leaving her with a life changing brain injury. Years of therapy have helped her make progress; however, she is still on her recovery journey.
According to Stormy’s mother, Marsha, a flood of support came from all over the Marion community after the accident. The scholarship fund at Marion Community Foundation was created on 2014 by the Cushing family in response to that outpouring of community support.
“When we needed help and it came from every direction,” said Cushing. “The Marion community is a blessing. Streetwise Motors continues to be a blessing.”
The Cushing Scholarship, which asks applicants to write an essay describing a life-changing event , has grown quickly at Marion Community Foundation and now makes annual college scholarship awards to a student from each of the five high schools in Marion County. The 2016 recipients include Victoria Standley of Elgin, Jesse Ansley of Harding, Noah Alexander of Pleasant, Laney Davis of Ridgedale, and Elle Hempstead of River Valley.
Streetwise’s car raffle was one of many activities at their 5th annual car show to benefit Safety City, which this year raised more than $15,500 for the community safety program attended by hundreds of kindergarteners. Barcus has served on Safety City’s Board of Directors for the past 8 years.
“Safety City is a great program, loved by all the kids who go through it,” said Barcus. “You constantly hear stories of how much the kids enjoy it, remember it for years, and learn things, like when and how to call 911, that actually save local lives. We are proud to support it, as well as the Cushing Scholarship.”
