Ancira Winton Chevrolet offers nearly $60,000 in sponsorships to area schools

If there’s one thing Ancira Winton Chevrolet is known for, it’s giving back to the community.

According to Darrell Dixon, vice president and general manager, the company is always actively partnering with other organizations to contribute to worthy causes in the San Antonio area.

Throughout the year, the company and its employees donate through United Way, and also do backpack drives throughout the year to donate school supplies.

The dealership’s parent company, Ancira Enterprises, also has a charitable foundation, he noted.

“There’s always something going on,” Dixon said.

This year, Ancira Winton Chevrolet opted to contribute in a big way to four area schools by offering special sponsorships.

“The Chevrolet Motor Division and the San Antonio Chevy Dealers Advertising Group were trying to think of ways to spend some advertising dollars, but at the same time do some good in the community,” Dixon said.

That’s when Ancira Winton Chevrolet chose to focus on their market area and come up with ideas on how to advertise locally with sponsorships – which would also at the same time benefit those with whom they shared their advertising dollars.

“We spend a lot of money on advertising – newspapers, TV, internet and everything else,” said Dixon, “and sometimes right in our own backyard we have needs and we have opportunities to let people know we’re here.”

The dealership chose local schools as their focus area.

“With COVID going on and all the schools struggling to make things work with students learning from home, we knew they were going to struggle financially to try to make it all come together, so we focused on the schools in our market area,” said Dixon.

The sponsorships came in the form of $14,340 for each school selected – for a grand total of $57,360.

Northside School of Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship was one of the schools selected, said Dixon.

“It’s one of the magnet schools – they’re involved with teaching the kids to code, learn about businesses and plans, and we figured that would be a good tie-in for us, because obviously we’re a business as well, and they could use the dollars to help those students be successful in business,” Dixon added.

Ancira Winton Chevrolet also offered sponsorships to the FFA program at Sandra Day O’connor High School in Northside Independent School District, as well as the John Jay Science and Engineering Academy, another magnet school in NISD.

St. Paul’s Catholic School was the fourth beneficiary of the sponsorship, Dixon said.

“We thought we’d go with a nonpublic school as well,” he said. “There are a lot of schools who need the extra dollars to give.”

The way the sponsorship works is that the schools will put up Ancira Winton Chevrolet banners, letting parents and families in the market area know that the company is involved in the community.

He noted that it’s a win-win for everyone, as the company gets the word out about all they have to offer the community, and the school receives funds as well.

“They all have our banners somewhere in the school,” Dixon said, “and that way the parents and kids know that Ancira is thinking of them.”

The owner of the company, Ernesto Ancira, Jr., founded Ancira Winton Chevrolet in 1972, and the dealership has become a longstanding fixture of the San Antonio area.

“[Ancira] has 13 franchises under 11 rooftops, including this one,” Dixon said. “We have so many diverse dealerships – we’ve got Chevrolet, we’ve got Chrysler, we’ve got Volkswagen, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Kia and Nissan – there are lots of options, both new and used, within the Ancira family.”

But there’s one thing that sets Ancira dealerships apart, Dixon said – and that’s their commitment to family.

“What sets us apart is it’s been a family-owned dealership from day one,” he said.

Those interested in learning more about Ancira Winton Chevrolet can call 210-681-4900 or check out ancirachev. com, or follow the dealership on Facebook.

“There’s no appointment necessary,” said Dixon. “We’re open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed on Saturday, and open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.”

In December, he added, the company has special employee pricing for all buyers on most Chevrolet vehicles.

Dixon noted that he’s proud to be a part of the sponsorships initiative

Ancira Winton Chevrolet has made in 2020 – and considers it a long-range plan for the betterment of all involved.

“These are our future customers,” said Dixon. “These kids are going to be graduating and going out into the world, so it’s investing in our future as well.”