Blog

As the holiday season winds down and we welcome the new year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in and contributed to our holiday events and donation drives. Your generosity, spirit, and dedication to community made this season truly special. Reflecting on the Joy and Impact This past holiday season, we set out to make a meaningful difference in our community by organizing several events and drives. Thanks to your support, our efforts exceeded expectations. Here’s what we accomplished together: Donation Drives School Supplies Drive: With your help, we provided backpacks, notebooks, and essential tools to ensure that students in our community could start the new year ready to succeed. Your contributions put smiles on countless young faces to 19 local elementary schools including the Utica City School District! Coat Drive: Winter can be harsh, but thanks to your kindness, many individuals and families now have warm coats to protect them against the cold. Every coat you donated was a gesture of care that truly mattered for the kids in Utica and Rome Elementary Schools. Food Drive: During a time when no one should go hungry, your generosity provided meals for families in need. The outpouring of support filled not only pantries but also hearts for those who utilize the Thea Bowman House Food Pantry in Utica, NY. Holiday Gift Drive: From toys and books to clothing and gift cards, you helped ensure that children in our community experienced the magic of the holidays. Your donations transformed wishes into reality for the families in the Adopt-a-Family program through ICAN! Together, We Made a Difference Through your contributions and involvement, you didn’t just donate or attend an event—you became part of something bigger. You helped build a stronger, more connected, and compassionate community. The ripple effect of your kindness will be felt far beyond the holiday season. Each meal shared, coat donated, and moment of joy created reminded us all of the power of coming together. Looking Ahead As we move into the new year, we carry with us the warmth and generosity you shared this past season. We’re excited to continue working with such an incredible community and invite you to join us in future initiatives to make a difference. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Let’s keep the spirit of giving and togetherness alive all year long. Happy New Year! From all of us at United Auto Sales of Utica!

United Auto Sales of Utica is proud to support the Clinton Fire Department’s 2nd Annual Lights Around the Park Light Show at the Kirkland Town Park!! This is a fun, family-friendly event that is one of a kind for our area. The show is held every weekend from Friday, 11/29 until Sunday, 12/29, 2024 from 6-9pm and is $10/car! On Sundays, Santa and Mrs. Clause themselves pass out candy canes during the show! The light show is a drive through light show, so you can stay warm in your vehicle, while listening to Christmas music by tuning into 93.9 FM! We have a fun display from the Steet Ponte Auto Group, and hope to see you there!

Our 17th Annual Holiday Gift Drive is going on NOW until Monday, December 16th at all of the stores in the Steet Ponte Auto Group! This year, we are adopting families in the Adopt-A-Family program with ICAN. ICAN is a non-profit organization that service Utica and Herkimer, all throughout Oneida and Herkimer Counties to help provide services to families in need. Each store in our Auto Group has tags on the Christmas Trees in our showrooms. It’s easy to participate! Simply take a tag from our tree, and return the unwrapped gift with the tag attached back to our tree by the 16th. The front of the tag has the gift or wish list item, and the back of the tag has the child’s name, age, and any relevant information like favorite colors, favorite characters, clothing sizes if applicable. We hope that you can help us spread joy for families in need to help provide a wonderful Christmas season for everyone! Gifts range from hair ties to toys, to gift cards, so there is something for everyone. We are also accepting donations of wrapping paper and tape as well!

Our 12th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive was quite the success again this year! Throughout our 8 dealerships, we donated to the Thea Bowman House in Utica, NY, Catholic Charities of Herkimer County, and the Amen Place Soup Kitchen in Amsterdam, NY! Our Food Drive was held from November 1st-November 25th, 2024. We collected non-perishable food items for the food pantries to help during their Thanksgiving meal preparations, and beyond. Together, we collected 8 vehicles of non-perishable items, filling the entire basement at the Thea Bowman House! Additionally, Steet Toyota of Johnstown was able to donated an extra $1,000 to the Amen Place Soup Kitchen along with their donations. We spent the morning loading all of our donations into the vehicles to bring over to each location, and then helped sort the items for the food pantries. The first year this Food Drive started, we filled one vehicle total with donations, and now we are up to one vehicle per store! We are so thankful for our community, employees, and customers who helped us succeed this year. Whether you brought in one item or 20, we are so happy to have provided a great Thanksgiving to those in need in our Utica, Herkimer, and Amsterdam communities.

At Steet Ponte Auto Group, we believe in fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and appreciation among our team members. Our 22nd Annual Golf Tournament, held at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club, was a perfect example of this commitment, bringing together our employees and valued business partners for a day of relaxation, fun, and connection. On August 18th, the Steet Ponte Auto Group family gathered at the scenic Stonebridge Golf & Country Club in Frankfort, NY, for our 22nd Annual Golf Tournament. This much-anticipated event was an opportunity for our team to step away from their daily routines and enjoy a day dedicated to bonding and team spirit. With 14 teams participating, the tournament featured friendly competition, delicious food, and plenty of laughs, all set against the backdrop of a beautiful course. This year's tournament was particularly memorable, as it not only highlighted the skills and sportsmanship of our participants but also served as a reminder of the close-knit relationships we’ve built over the years. From seasoned golfers to those new to the game, everyone had a chance to showcase their talents and enjoy the day’s festivities. At Steet Ponte Auto Group and United Sales of Utica, we know that our success is built on the dedication and hard work of our employees. Events like this golf tournament are our way of showing appreciation for their efforts and creating an environment where they feel valued and supported. By investing in our team’s well-being, we ensure that our customers receive the best possible service, backed by a motivated and unified staff. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this event a success. As we look forward to many more years of growth and collaboration, we remain committed to nurturing a positive workplace culture that benefits both our team and the community we serve. Visit us today at United Sales of Utica to experience the Steet Ponte difference, where our commitment to excellence extends beyond our services and into the care we show our employees.

At Steet Ponte Auto Group, we believe in giving back to the communities that support us. This year, we proudly launched our first annual School Supplies Drive, bringing smiles to the faces of hundreds of young students as they prepare for the new school year. A Commitment to Our Community This August, our team at Steet Ponte Auto Group came together for a day of service, filling 504 backpacks with essential school supplies. Each backpack was carefully packed with a ruler, a pack of #2 pencils, two pink erasers, a notebook, a folder, a four-pack of glue sticks, and a 24-pack of Crayola crayons. These supplies were distributed to local schools across the region, ensuring that students have the tools they need to succeed. Supporting Schools Across the Region Our Yorkville stores—including Toyota Yorkville, Nissan, Mazda, Ford/Lincoln, United Auto, and VW—donated a total of 250 backpacks to ten elementary schools within the Utica City School District. Additionally, Steet Ponte Chevy in Herkimer contributed 25 backpacks to Frankfort-Schuyler Elementary School, 50 to CVA Elementary Schools, and 25 to Herkimer Elementary School. Steet Toyota of Johnstown made a difference by donating 150 backpacks to elementary schools in the Johnstown and Gloversville School Districts. Visit Us and Be Part of Our Community At Steet Ponte Auto Group and United Auto Sales of Utica, we are deeply committed to the well-being of our community. We understand that our role extends beyond providing quality vehicles; it's about making a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Our involvement in community events like the School Supplies Drive is just one example of how deeply we care about our community and its members. We invite you to visit any of our dealerships to browse our available inventory and experience the exceptional service we provide. Whether you’re looking for the perfect vehicle or just want to learn more about our community initiatives, we’re here to help. Together, we can drive forward toward a brighter future for everyone.

Community involvement is at the heart of Steet Ponte Auto Group. This summer, we were proud to be the Entertainment Sponsor for the New Hartford Farmer's Market, a vibrant event that brings together local farmers, artisans, and entertainers. Proud Sponsor of the New Hartford Farmer's Market As the Entertainment Sponsor for the New Hartford Farmer's Market, Steet Ponte Auto Group played a key role in supporting local talent and enhancing the community experience. Our sponsorship contributed to the recent installation of a new concrete pad at the market’s gazebo, providing a sturdy foundation for the musicians and performers who bring the market to life each week. A Community Hub for Local Goods and Entertainment The New Hartford Farmer's Market is a cherished local event, offering residents and visitors a place to shop for fresh produce, handmade goods, and enjoy live entertainment. By sponsoring the market, Steet Ponte is helping to foster a sense of community and support local businesses and artists. Our involvement goes beyond just providing financial support—we are actively engaged in promoting a thriving local culture. Steet Ponte Auto Group's Commitment to Community At United Auto Sales of Utica, Steet Ponte Auto Group’s trusted used car dealership, we believe in giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years. Whether it’s through our community involvement or by offering reliable, quality pre-owned vehicles and top-tier services to our customers, we are committed to making a positive impact. If you’re in the market for a used vehicle, explore our extensive inventory to find the perfect match. Need maintenance or repairs? Our service department is here to help. And if you’re looking to finance your next purchase, our finance team offers competitive rates and personalized service. Visit us today and experience how United Auto Sales of Utica and Steet Ponte Auto Group are dedicated to serving you, both on the road and in the community.

Thursday, 04 January, 2024 From December 28th-31st, 2023, the Steet Ponte Auto Group was a proud sponsor of the Downtown Classic hosted in the state of the art, beautiful new Utica University Nexus Center in the hear of Downtown Utica, NY!  This tournament featured close to 30 of Upstate New York's top boys and girls high school teams competing under the bright lights of this beautiful new facility we have in our area. We were proud to also sponsor the Player of the Game photo backdrop! We’re so proud of these incredibly talented local athletes and can’t wait for next year’s event, we know it will be even bigger!

Saturday, 02 December, 2023 Steet Ponte Auto Group 16th Annual Holiday Giving Trees to Benefit ICAN in Utica, NY! November 24th-December 13th: Happy holidays from our families to yours! For the past 16 years we've donated to different local schools and organizations to help put a smile on the faces of our local kids in need. This year, we will be supporting the non profit organization, ICAN as well as the Amsterdam City School District! ICAN helps support a number of family and children services throughout Oneida and Herkimer Counties. Our Yorkville plus Chevy stores will be donating to ICAN, while Steet Toyota of Johnstown will be adopting families through the Amsterdam School. Take a tag from one of our giving trees located in all 8 of our showrooms and return an unwrapped gift with the tag attached to be donated! We hope you can experience the joy in paying it forward and help those in need have a great holiday! From our families to yours, thank you!

Wednesday, 08 November, 2023 Come one, come all! It’s our 11th, that’s right, ELEVENTH Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive within the stores of the Steet Ponte Auto Group! This year, our donations will be going to local food pantries around Oneida, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties. Our six stores in Yorkville’s donations will be going to the Johnson Park Center’s Food Pantry located in West Utica, NY. Our Chevy store’s donations will be going to Catholic Charities of Herkimer County located in Ilion, NY. And our Toyota of Johnstown-Gloversville store’s donations will be going to the Amen Soup Kitchen located in Amsterdam, NY, which services local towns from Johnstown to Amsterdam and Saratoga, NY. We are collecting non-perishable items to fill the vehicles located in each of our showrooms! Donations can be dropped off during business hours Monday-Saturday. Our Chevy store’s food drive will end earlier on Friday, November 17th at 10am, while our Yorkville and Johnstown store’s food drive will end on Tuesday, November 21st at 10am. Please consider donating an item listed below that the food pantries are in most need of! Thank you for your continued support over the past decade, we can’t wait to provide a great Thanksgiving holiday for those in need in our area! Johnson Park Center Most Needed Items: Canned cranberries, canned fruits, rice, pasta, cereal, stuffing mixes, reusable bags to pack items in, dinner fixings, canned corn, canned vegetables, canned chicken broth or turkey broth.

Tuesday, 03 October, 2023 It’s our 6th Annual Coats for Kids Coat Drive going on all October long at the Steet Ponte Auto Group! We created our coat drive in response to our Toy Drive that we started 16 years ago. We were getting an overwhelming request for winter coats and snow pants for kids, instead of gifts for the holidays. So we thought, why not kick off our Holiday Giving season with a Coat Drive in October, to get the kids their warm winter clothes before the snow falls! This year, our Coat Drive donations are going to: Utica & Rome Elementary Schools (Yorkville stores) Herkimer & CVA Elementary Schools (Steet Ponte Chevy) Johnstown & Fulton-Fonda Elementary Schools (Steet Toyota of Johnstown) We are asking for donations of NEW coats, snow pants, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves. Sizes needed are all children’s sizes ranging from 4T-Kids XL Husky! Last year, we donated 675 articles of winter clothing and are looking to beat that number this year, but can only do it with YOUR help! Purchase a coat or winter outerwear item and bring it to any of our eight locations. We’ll have an area in our showroom designated for the donations where you can leave it. On November 1st, we’ll tally everything up and the schools will come to take everything back to be distributed! We hope you can help keep our local kids warm this winter and help our Coats for Kids Coat Drive!!

Friday, 11 August, 2023 On Sunday, July 30th, we held our 21st Annual Steet Ponte Auto Group Golf Tournament!! The golf tournament is open to our employees, friends, family and business associates. One of our Finance Managers plans this every year and it’s bigger and better each year! Each ticket includes 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner, and entries to raffles. And since we get so many prizes for the tournament, everyone leaves with something! The winning team gets to display the trophy in their showroom for the year until the next tournament. This year, Chris Bivins’ team won of Steet Toyota of Yorkville! Last year, Dave Abdou’s team of Steet Ponte Ford Lincoln won the trophy. Our Golf Tournament is held at a different area golf course each year to support our local businesses and to change up the course for our participants. This year, we had 13 teams, including teams from 6 of our stores! We had a great day on the course and can’t wait for next year.