Valuing our communities.
Based in Massachusetts, CFF is the charitable arm of the Ciccolo Family and the Village Automotive Group.
The CFF Story
In 1963, Ray Ciccolo took a big leap, selling his burgeoning laundromat empire and buying a failing Volvo & Rambler automobile dealership in Newton Center. Success was decidedly not preordained, but through hard work, foresight, and the contributions of Ray's employees, the Village Automotive Group is now regarded as one of the most successful and respected automotive organizations in Greater Boston.
The Ciccolo Family Foundation is a byproduct of The Village's success. "I have been truly blessed in my life," explains Ray, "first and foremost because my own family life was and is so personally gratifying. Sharing and enjoying life with my wife and daughters, my siblings and their spouses, my nieces and nephews and my friends has been a defining part of my life. The 2nd part of the equation is the family I've fostered at Village. My father always emphasized that you should treat everyone like you yourself would want to be treated. It's a pretty simple rule, but it is a challenge for any of us to implement fully in our own lives, let alone embrace in our professional endeavors. But I know the main reason why we've been a success at the Village is because I tried to treat my employees like a family - everyone is welcome, everyone is respected. By treating my employees this way, they feel emboldened to not only give great customer service, but often go that extra step that separates us from the other stores. Given how well we have succeeded, we established our Foundation in 1985 to give back in our own small way."
The Ciccolo Family Foundation honors both of Ray's families.
The Village Automotive Group
Village started in a neighborhood storefront/garage in 1963. While times have changed and so have we, what has always stayed constant is a belief that we are part and parcel of our local communities.
Stereotypes are not necessarily kind to automobile dealers, but dealers are often among the oldest businesses in many communities, not only succeeding by providing valuable services and bolstering the local economy, but also by often being the first to answer a local need or a call for help. We at The Village are proud of what we are, what we do, and how we contribute.
We strive to be responsible and concerned corporate citizens. Whether it is sponsoring a Little League team, donating money to the local food pantry, or organizing a 5K to support a local charity, our stores are encouraged to step in and make a difference. Many of the efforts we support at a store-level are brought to us by our Employees themselves.
Friends & Family Program
Part of the way The Village sets itself apart - and also stays ahead of the competition - is through The Village Friends & Family Referral Program. We could spend inordinate amounts of money advertising in an increasingly fragmented marketplace, but we would much rather use that money to help out local charities. For every referral sent in from our charitable partners who buys a vehicle from The Village, we will make a $500 donation to the organization.
Participation in the program is simple: send us your name, contact information and the name of your organization, as well as the name, brand and/or store name, and contact information of the person you are referring. We'll have the General Manager of the store contact your referral, help them through the process of selecting and hopefully purchasing a car, and once sold coordinate the donation.
If you want to get started – or if you have questions - just send a note over to friends@villageautomotive.com.