Local Hyundai dealers gifted a brand new car to a woman at the Springfield Thunderbirds game Friday night.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Local Hyundai dealers gifted a brand new car to a woman at the Springfield Thunderbirds game Friday night.

More than 300 people were nominated to win the brand-new Hyundai Tuscon.

Heather Ingram, a residential counselor at Cutchins Program for Children & Families, was picked to win the vehicle.

Participating dealers including Balise Hyundai, Country Hyundai, and Gary Rome Hyundai say it was difficult to pick one winner but Heather’s story stood out to them like no other.

“This is really such a beautiful surprise I couldn’t believe it and then it’s like they told me about this and I was like oh my god I can’t believe it, I won. It was such a great feeling”, says Heather Ingram, winner of the new Hyundai.

“I’m so glad that we could give them the car and the sales tax and the registration. Heather is just an amazing person”, says Gary Rome, President of Gary Rome Hyundai.

“The Western Massachusetts Hyundai dealers see the big picture of helping a person in the community and we couldn’t find a better recipient than Heather,” says Brian House, General Manager of Balise Hyundai.

“My heart is so full just seeing her reaction and her face and how excited she is and learning so much about her and what she does for the community and teenagers”, says Carla Cosenzi, president of Country Hyundai.

The winner’s mother wrote a 10-page nomination letter for her daughter, however, her other daughter narrowed it down all to less than 300 words, to ensure she could be nominated.

“I just think Heather does an extraordinary job. She’s been asked many times to go into management and she’s used to do it because she likes direct care and the clients just adore her,” says Phyllis Ingram, Heather’s mother.

If you’d like to nominate a local hero, you can learn more information about the Salute To Heroes program here.

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