Throughout his 41 years in the chair as a Chrysler dealer, New Car Dealers Association of BC Chairman Jim Inkster and his Inland Chrysler dealership contributed to a wide range of community endeavours, and Special Olympics BC is grateful to be among those fortunate to benefit from his generosity.
Inkster, now in his third year as New Car Dealers Association Chairman, has been quick to support Special Olympics through the association over the years whenever called on for support.
The most recent example of many was evident at the New Car Dealers Association conference in Whistler, where Inkster entered into a friendly bidding war over a Raymond Weil watch, won it, and immediately donated it to SOBC to be used in next year’s New Car Dealers Foundation of B.C./Special Olympics Auction. He has been a generous donor and buyer in the auction over the years, which is so appreciated by SOBC as the auction provides critical funds to support our programs and opportunities for athletes.
“These folks would never be noticed or recognized should folks not get in to sponsor and support them in some kind of organized activity. This one happens to be athletics, and it’s a good one,” Inkster said of Special Olympics. “It’s all good-news stories, and you can’t help but get involved.”
As the longtime Dealer Principal of Inland Chrysler Dawson Creek, Inkster has heard about the impact of Special Olympics through reading about SOBC athletes in his area in local news coverage of their achievements and activities, and through conference presentations by SOBC athletes and supporters such as leading financial analyst Michael Campbell.
Inkster expresses admiration for the efforts of New Car Dealers such as the Keith family in support of Special Olympics, and also for the thousands of SOBC volunteers who give their time to coach and support athletes with intellectual disabilities.
“The people that are involved in coaching and guiding and providing direction are the ones who need to be thanked, because not only is it the time they put in, but the challenges to be able to interact with these folks and give them the encouragement they need,” he said. “Anyone that’s doing it gets full marks from me.”
Last year, Inkster himself was named Volunteer of the Year by his local city council.
“You can’t be Volunteer of the Year without the support of your staff and everyone around you. I don’t do it by myself,” Inkster said, noting the active involvement of his staff in community causes.
