Dear Caroline,

Thank you so much for facilitating the six-month loan of the new Chevy van for our Green Youth Farm and Windy City Harvest programs. It provides much-needed transportation of staff and materials to locations throughout the Chicago area.

These outstanding programs serve high-school students and young adults from underserved areas of the city and give them an opportunity to break out of a cycle of poverty and unemployment. It is inspiring how involved the participants become, how hard they work throughout the year, and the enormous pride they take in their accomplishments and knowledge. The lessons they learn provide an important foundation for them and will benefit their community in the future.

With warm thanks,

Sophia Siskel

President and CEO

Chicago Botanic Garden

Not long ago I purchased a 2010 Toyota Corolla at your dealership in Lincolnwood. As a result of my experience, I want to share some thoughts with you. I had researched the Corolla for some time and had decided to buy one when my current car broke down and I realized it was no longer feasible to continue to repair it. I embarked on the car buying experience with so much dread. I need to add that I am the type of individual, who, if pressured, I will simply walk away and refuse to buy from that individual. This is an experience I know many people share and the auto industry has a reputation for pressure tactics as many can attest to. My brother purchased two new Toyotas in the last few years from Carmax in Kenosha and his experience with them was very positive. He strongly recommended them so I spoke with them numerous times over the phone and was actually planning to purchase from them. I did decide, however, to speak with a dealer closer to my home so I came to Grossinger.

When I walked into your dealership, it was like a madhouse due to the Cash for Clunkers. I spoke with a gentlemen by the name of Dean Maruyama and I can honestly say is the reason I decided to come back a few nights later to negotiate a price. We agreed on a price which was actually much better than the price I got at Carmax and I must say I did not feel pressured in the least, or I would have simply gone elsewhere.

I was impressed with Dean&squot;s sincerity and professionalism. He assured me more Corollas were on their way and he would make sure one was held for me. Although I had to wait about two weeks, Dean said he would call me and keep me up on the situation. When the Corollas did arrive, Dean was sick at home but called me to encourage me to go in and pickup the car. He said his associate, Mike Curtiss would help me. I went to your dealership that night and not only did Mike handle everything in a professional manner, but also Rob Eberwin and your finance manager Agata Klos. And again, none of these people were unduly pressuring in any way. I realized also that these folks could of easily sold the car to someone else, (your dealership was still very busy) but everyone kept their word

Dear Caroline,

Thank you again for your generosity to loan the new Chevrolet van to our Garden. Our managers for the Green youth Farm and Windy City Harvest programs are so grateful to have a new vehicle to transport staff and materials to our different sites. It will help them immensely to be more efficient in their important work.

We greatly value your support of the Garden&squot;s community gardening programs. These programs help to educate and employ underserved communities of high school students and adults in the Chicagoland area. They plant, grow, harvest, and sell their products as well as receive nutrition and cooking lessons throughout the season. These programs are growing, and the Grossinger vehicle will help us to accomplish more in our urban garden locations.

Our new plant conservation science center opened last week and it is a remarkable building dedicated to saving the plans in order to save the planet. It would be wonderful to meet you and give you a behind-the-scenes tour of this building in the near future. Please give me a call when your schedule allows and I will be happy to show you our newest treasure.

Thank you again for everything,

Sincerely,

Steve Ball

Director Corporate Relations

Chicago Botanic Garden

Caroline Grossinger and her brother Gary took over the family business in 2000, when Irwin Grossinger passed away. Since then, Caroline and Gary have continued to follow in their father&squot;s footsteps and have expanded their operation to include the opening of a new Hyundai dealership in Lincolnwood.

Grossinger Auto started as a single Pontiac dealership and has grown to include 13 dealerships representing 9 major automotive brands.

Caroline Grossinger serves as the President of Grossinger Autoplex and remains extremely active within her community. Caroline currently serves on the local marketing board for Pontiac and GMC. She is also on the board for Volvo on the R.A.B. (Retail Advisory Board) as well as R.M.B. (Retail Marketing Board). In addition to her automotive activities, she also serves as a director for First Bank and Trust of Evanston as well as the alumnae board of Wellesley College. In the past she served on the board of the United Way and Chamber of Commerce.

Caroline recently addressed about 200 work-study students at the Niles North and Niles West High Schools at District 219&squot;s annual Employer Appreciation Breakfast. There, she told students, that she believes her family-owned business has been successful because of three key priorities: having a vision for the business; honestly communicating with customers and employees; and recognizing employees for the contribution they make. She compared running a business to participating in a sporting event and advised, "You should approach every day as if it&squot;s game day."

“That&squot;s the concern about closing these dealers is that I personally do not want to see these dealers close because it’s a lot of jobs,” said Caroline Grossinger.

Grossinger responded to the content of the open letter to the president’s auto industry task force. It appeared in newspapers today. It was from the chair of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, who says the plan to cut 2,600 general motors dealerships would be a disaster.

“Car dealerships are, if not the largest source of sales tax, one of the largest sources of sales tax,” said Tim Wiberg of Lincolnwood.

Caroline Grossinger says; why not simply allow the weak dealerships to fail on their own?

“I think we would naturally lose and the ones that, that continue would be the ones that could survive,” said Grossinger.

That&squot;s not the view among the task force members. They believe one way to save General Motors is to cut the number of GM Dealerships to reduce expenses. That would mean fewer places for you to buy a car or get yours serviced.

That would be an inconvenience, which is certainly not pleasant, but far less daunting than the prospect of substantial job cuts, which may now be an unavoidable part of the plan to save GM