AutoNation’s Marc Cannon and Nick Schnelle discuss the Drive Pink Campaign’s fight against breast cancer

Each year the month of October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the CDC, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. For the past six years, AutoNation has stepped up, alongside cancer-fighting charities, and made the fight part of their culture with their Drive Pink campaign.

On today’s show, we’re discussing the importance of a campaign like this to AutoNation. We’re joined by AutoNation’s leadership Marc Cannon, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at AutoNation, and Nick Schnelle, Market President of AutoNation’s DFW, Amarillo, and Waco markets.

Every single one of us knows someone who’s been touch by cancer. This dreaded disease is a big burden on healthcare and families. Cannon says we must do something about it. AutoNation is one of a handful of companies in the U.S. that offer free cancer insurance to all of its employees and their families. AutoNation is also making a huge difference with research. It gives me great pride says Cannon. If there is anything he feels that they have done above and beyond, it’s their efforts with cancer and making a difference in people’s lives.

Schnelle iterates that they have several different campaigns across the year. They are all focused on finding a cure for cancer. They are currently involved in a fundraiser for The American Cancer Society. They are supporting Hope Lodge, which is a residence for people who are undergoing cancer treatment. He says it’s amazing to watch the associates come together, the enthusiasm they have, and the excitement they have to compete against each other to do the best they can. Cannon says it’s not about the brand, it’s about what you can do to change people’s lives at the store for their customers.

Today, Cannon says they have an excess of seven million Drive Pink plates on cars. He says there are people who come into their stores and want to put them on their cars and they aren’t AutoNation customers. On ‘Drive Across America’ Day, AutoNation will have 153 stores, participate, where they will be stuffing bags and those bags will go to cancer patients. They plan to deliver over 10,000 bags to cancer patients across the U.S. It’s letting the patients know they are loved and they are here to help them.

Schnelle says the response from the community has been outstanding. He says he is very proud of the team. Cannon also adds, people all over want to help us, and he wants people to remember is that he made a difference with Drive Pink and it’s something he left behind that is making a difference in people’s lives. Cancer is something this country and the world needs to beat and battle out now.

Did you enjoy this podcast with Marc Cannon and Nick Schnelle? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic by submitting a letter to the editor here, or connect with us at newsroom@cbtnews.com.