Dealerships make donations with “Purpose in Expenses”

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) --Two local car dealerships made big donations to Central Oregon charities today with the help of another community partner.

Team Kia of Bend gave $1000 to NeighborImpact's Head Start program.

Shortly after that, Team Hyundai of Bend donated $1000 to the Central Oregon Humane Society.

It was all made possible by 'Purpose in Expenses', or "PIE". PIE finds ways for businesses to work with service providers like payment processors to convert part of their operating expenses into donations.

It's important to PIE that local money stays local. CEO Jamie Bianchini said "We come in and look at where companies are spending money already: Where where is money leaving the Bend community? Where where is it leaving the Central Oregon community? We want that money to be coming back into our community, nonprofits, and not so much leaving, going to bank accounts out of state, into service providers out of state.”

PIE matched the dealership's donations with their own $1000 for each charity.

PIE also works with many of the other dealerships in town as well as groups like the Tower Theater, Pahlisch Homes, and the Rooted Hemp Company.

Also at today's event, the Humane Society brought in a dog named Rose, who was adopted almost immediately.