ATLANTA — Cox Automotive presented its 2018 Community Impact Award to Joe Rodi, national auction manager for Chase Auto, at the 2018 National Remarketing Conference/NAAA Convention during an awards luncheon on Nov. 15. The annual award is sponsored by Manheim, a Cox Automotive brand.

Presented by Julie Picard, regional vice president for Manheim’s West region, this award recognizes a remarketing industry leader for outstanding contributions to the community and the innovative ways they collaborate with community partners to help further their missions.

“Joe’s passion and commitment to make positive differences serving others exemplifies the spirit of the Cox Automotive Community Impact Award,” said Picard. “Community service is a guiding value for how Cox Automotive operates, and we congratulate Joe on his impactful and inspirational work.”

Rodi was diagnosed earlier this year with prostate cancer and made a personal commitment to help raise money and awareness through the Rally with Rodi campaign which supports the T.J. Martell Foundation. The T.J. Martell Foundation has raised more than $280 million since 1975 to fund innovative media research focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer.

“I am truly honored and humbled to receive the Community Impact Award from Cox Automotive,” said Rodi. “When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I talked with Mark Davidson from Manheim about getting the word out about everyone getting a yearly physical and that men should check with their doctors about when they should get a PSA test. We in remarketing are a close-knit group and need to spread the word and not let this issue fade away.”

As a result of more than 25 "Rally with Rodi" events and fundraisers at Manheim locations, numerous people have made appointments to have prostate, colon and other cancer preventive check-ups and $50,000 has been raised for the T. J. Martell Foundation. Additionally, Rodi is allocating the $10,000 Cox Automotive Community Impact Award donation that he is receiving to the T.J. Martell Foundation.

“I personally couldn’t be prouder that Joe is being recognized with the Cox Automotive Community Impact Award,” said John Urness, executive director of vehicle sales for Chase Auto. “His longstanding dedication and commitment to the T.J. Martell Foundation, even before his own diagnosis, is deeply inspiring to not only me, but our whole organization. Chase Auto is honored to #RallywithRodi.”