5th AR solidifies partnership with Casa Ford

By Capt. John Brimley, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, Public AffairsApril 3, 2013

5th AR solidifies partnership with Casa Ford
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Left to right: Amy Schacht, Family Readiness Group leader of Division West's 5th Armored Brigade; Col. Eric Schacht, 5th Armored Brigade commander; Gus Rodriguez, West Texas state president of the General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Chapter, Associat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th AR solidifies partnership with Casa Ford
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Eric Schacht, left, commander of Division West's 5th Armored Brigade, and Luke Lowenfield, vice-president of operations for the Casa Ford vehicle dealership in El Paso, Texas, sign certificates of appreciation to seal the deal making Casa Ford t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5th AR solidifies partnership with Casa Ford
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – As Luke Lowenfield, left, vice-president of operations of the Casa Ford vehicle dealership in El Paso, Texas, watches, Gus Rodriguez, West Texas state president of the General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Chapter, Association of the United States Army... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BLISS, Texas -- After more than a year of courtship, the Casa Ford vehicle dealership and Division West's 5th Armored Brigade made their relationship official last month when Casa Ford joined the Bradley Strong Guardian Program, becoming the brigade's guardian.

The Bradley Strong Guardian program is an initiative of the Association of the United States Army to connect the El Paso community and businesses with Fort Bliss Army units. It allows corporations such as Casa Ford to sponsor unit events with monetary donations.

"This partnership is representative of the outstanding support to Soldiers and their Families by the El Paso community," said Col. Eric Schacht, 5th Armored Brigade commander. "I look forward to fostering and developing this relationship over the coming years."

Casa Ford's guardian status gives the dealership the opportunity to support the brigade by sponsoring events while, at the same time, building upon the relationship between the El Paso community and Fort Bliss.

"It's an honor to return the support that Fort Bliss has provided us," said Luke Lowenfield, Casa Ford vice-president of operations.

Before the guardianship became official, Casa Ford had already been a supporter of 5th Armored Brigade and other Fort Bliss units, having previously sponsored at least three others.

"The values the Army stands for are foundational principles we establish and like to have for Casa," Lowenfield said.

And, while the benefits of Casa Ford's relationship with 5th Armored Brigade and Fort Bliss are felt through monetary donations for official unit events such as military balls and Family readiness group activities, the partnership extends beyond the purse.

"It's not about money. It's about what Casa Ford can give," said Gus Rodriguez, West Texas state president of the General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Chapter, AUSA, who brokered the relationship. "It's about relationship-building. It's about making Families and Soldiers feel like they're at home here in El Paso."

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