Mercedes-Benz USA proved it has dedication to the improvement of local communities recently with its first-ever "Community Stars" social media challenge. Honoring local, grass-roots initiatives and celebrate its 125^th birthday, Mercedes-Benz donated $25,000 each to five deserving community-service groups across the country (a total of $125k). Launched with the help of social media in September 2011, Mercedes-Benz challenged interested community-service organizations to upload sixty-second explanatory videos and enlisted the aid of its Facebook fans to choose the five winners in categories such as education, the arts, the environment, human services, and youth empowerment. Once the videos were submitted (comprising over 183 applications!), a group of Mercedes-Benz employees selected 15 finalists which were then voted upon and narrowed down by Facebook fans.

Five Mercedes-Benz "Community Star" Winners:

-  Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind (Talladega, Ala.) - For providing education and rehabilitation for blind, deaf, and multi-disabled children and adults.
-  Camp Okizu (Novato, Calif.) - For offering  camping programs for families affected by childhood cancer.
-  The Children's Museum of Richmond (Richmond, Va.) -  For investment in their "Waterplay" exhibit, a new addition to which houses several permanent displays that influence children's emotional, social, and physical development.
-  V.A.C.C. Camp (Miami, Fla.) -  For working with the Miami Children's Hospital to host a free week-long overnight camp for children who need help breathing (for example, children needing a tracheostomy ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing) and their families.
-  Sleepyhead Beds (Kansas City, Mo.) -  For keeping  used/like-new mattresses out of landfills by providing them to children who would otherwise sleep in vehicles, on floors, on sofas, etc.

Mercedes Benz is not only a company dedicated to improving local communities; they are also dedicated to offering their drivers the finest vehicles, including 14 models, ranging from the S-class sedans to the sporty C-Class, along with other gorgeous, new Mercedes-Benz models. Interested in being the "star" of your community? Visit us at Mercedes-Benz of Henderson today. We're located at 925 Auto Show Drive (in the Valley Auto Mall). Or, click here for directions.