Blog

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, 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 our Ford dealership 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 Steet Ponte Auto Group, we believe in giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years. Whether it’s through our sponsorships or by offering quality vehicles and services to our customers, we are dedicated to making a positive impact. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, explore our inventory at Steet Ponte Ford 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 financing department offers competitive rates and personalized service. Visit us today and see how Steet Ponte Ford is committed to serving you, both on the road and in the community.

Wednesday, 02 August, 2023 We sponsored the amazing Fire Truck Spectacular for the 10th year in a row this year! The event is always a huge success, drawing thousands of local residents to the New Hartford Shopping Center. There, you can find fire trucks and rescue vehicles from area Fire Departments such as New Hartford, Whitesboro, Utica, Floyd, Sylvan Beach, and New York Mills, NY. This is a free event, held conveniently in the parking lot of the Shopping Center directly in front of Nicky Doodles Ice Cream! The event is geared towards kids and families to educate on fire prevention and safety, with a smokehouse, contest with firemen to see who can gear up the fastest, police vehicles and a rescue helicopter that lands at the end of the show. Our personal favorite? The sirens that all of the trucks let off at the very end as they depart!

Monday, 17 July, 2023 We had our 25th Annual Company Picnic at Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge, NY on Sunday, July 16th! We had a blast, as usual, and fully enjoyed our own private pavilion, all you can eat lunch buffet, and never ending ice cream! Our picnic has grown so much, when we first started in 1998, it was just our first 3 stores, United Auto Sales, Steet Toyota of Yorkville, and Steet Ponte Chevy. We started it to build camaraderie and as a way to thank our hard working employees for all that they do for us with a relaxing day out. Since then, we’ve acquired 5 more stores and had a total of over 200 attendees this year! Tickets are included for you and your immediate family for a full day pass to the park. The weather in the Adirondacks was perfect, despite the forecast that called for rain all day, and we can’t wait for next year. Thanks to all who attended, we had a great day!

Monday, 10 July, 2023 We are sponsoring the annual Classic & Antique Car Show held at Munson, our local art museum this year! This is a FREE event held on Sunday, July 23rd that is kicking off the annual sidewalk art show that features art from our local artists and students in the Pratt Institute, a branch of the renowned Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. All are welcome to attend this great show, which includes food trucks, music, and of course, all of the classic and antique cars you can think of! Sunday, July 23, 2023 10 am to 4 pm (Rain or Shine) Museum of Art Parking Lot 310 Genesee Street Utica, NY

Tuesday, 02 May, 2023 Summer fun with the Steet Ponte Auto Group! We are excited to kick off the summer with our first Auto Group sponsored event: the New Hartford Memorial Day Parade!! This event is held on Monday, May 29th at 7pm. The parade goes through the village of New Hartford, starting at the New Hartford Shopping Center, and ending at the New Hartford Fire Department.? All of our stores will be representing the Auto Group with a vehicle driven by our awesome team. We’ll end at the Fire Department for a small memorial service to honor all of have served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Following that, there’s always refreshments and tours of the fire house for some added fun! We can’t wait to see you there, be sure to tag us in photos when you see us drive by!

Friday, 04 November, 2022 On Tuesday and Wednesday, November 1st and 2nd our 5th Annual Coats for Kids Coat Drive came to an end after a month long drive! We donated all of our winter coats, snow pants, hats, gloves and scarf donations to the Utica, Rome, Herkimer, CVA, Mayfield and Gloversville Elementary School Districts! We were blown away this year, as this is a bit of a milestone year for this Coat Drive. Together with all 8 of our locations, we donated 675 articles of winter clothing including coats, along with snow pants, hats, gloves and scarves. We know how long and cold our winters are in Upstate and Central New York, and that is why we wanted to be able to help our local kids in these elementary schools stay warm this winter. Utica, NY, Rome, NY, and Johsntown, NY and the surrounding areas offer so many fun winter activities. From skiing at Woods Valley, Royal Mountain Ski Center, Gore Mountain, or Oak Mountain, to sledding at Val Bialas on the Parkway, to ice skating at the New Hartford Recreation Center, there are so many things for kids to enjoy, but appropriate clothing is needed. Now, we hope that many kids are able to enjoy those activities while being warm. Not only that, but many kids walk to school and in the winter weather, they now can walk comfortably to school and back this winter season. Thank you to everyone who donated winter clothing to our drive, we are so happy we could help our local children!

Thursday, 03 November, 2022 Happy Halloween from all of us at the Steet Ponte Auto Group! This year was our 9th Annual Halloween Costume Contest!! We had a blast dressing up on Monday getting into the Halloween spirit in Yorkville, Herkimer, and Johnstown! Each year, we make it a contest for those who have dressed up, giving away 8 cash prizes for different categories. Joe Steet Sr. and Steve Ponte Sr. pick the costumes and their favorite costumes! This year, we gave away 8 prizes for the following categories: Scariest, Funniest, Cutest, Best Group Costume, Most Creative, Best DIY, Joe Sr.’s favorite and Steve Sr.’s favorite! Thanks to all who participated and made having Halloween on a work day fun for everyone! We can’t wait to see what our Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest brings this year!!

Monday, 02 May, 2022 The Steet Ponte Auto Group is excited and proud to be first time sponsors of the America's Greatest Heart Run and Walk! The 2022 Heart Run and Walk will be held on Saturday, May 7th at Accelerate Sports on 5241 Judd Road in Whitesboro, NY. This year, you can Heart Walk Here, there or anywhere! Choose our path or yours. We invite you to walk with us at our in-person event or wherever you feel inspired. No matter where you choose to walk, participating and donating to the Heart Walk will save lives and improve lives. Being a sponsor helps The AHA in Utica, NY szin their mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Fundraising and donations to our local AHA help fund lifesaving science. Science that can create an artificial heart valve. Prevent a stroke. Put scientific advances into doctors’ hands. Correct heart defects in newborn babies. And someday, find a cure for high blood pressure. Science that can teach us all how to live longer and healthier. We're happy to be able to participate in this great local event this year, and will be forming a team to partake in the 3 mile walk or 5 mile run! You don't have to be an athlete to participate, just a willingness to help save lives in our local area!