Bill Colwell Ford was featured in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Iowa Auto Dealer magazine, in a feature story titled "Geared Up For Giving" by Pete DiSalvo. The piece looked at how Iowa dealerships — including Bill Colwell Ford, Colwell Motors of Mason City, Pritchard Family Auto Stores, and Knoepfler Chevrolet — give back to the communities they serve. Bill Colwell Ford's programs got specific attention throughout, along with a note about a recent award closer to home.
Fill a 50: A Truck Month Tradition Since 2012
One of the longest-running programs mentioned in the article is Fill a 50, which started back in 2012. The idea is simple: fill the bed of an F-150 with donated items for a cause, timed around Truck Month each April. In its first year, the program collected more than 500 items — board games, snacks, and other care package items — for troops serving overseas.
This year's Fill a 50 partnered with the Hudson Honor Society, who helped collect and distribute donation bags throughout the community. Everything gathered went to the Cedar Valley Warming House. It's a good example of how the event has grown from a single truck bed of donations into a coordinated community effort involving local students and multiple drop-off points.
Supporting the Next Generation of Technicians
The article also highlighted Bill Colwell Ford's support for automotive education, specifically the Hudson High School Automotive Center. The dealership has provided equipment donations to help keep the program's tools and technology current for students.
Blake Colwell, owner and general manager of Bill Colwell Ford and Colwell Motors of Mason City, spoke to the magazine about why this matters given the ongoing technician shortage across the industry — noting that getting students excited about the trade early, with modern equipment to work with, benefits everyone down the line. As Colwell put it in the piece, "these kids need shiny new things."
The dealership has also recognized similar needs at Hawkeye Community College, where automotive facilities are currently being remodeled.
Beyond the Planned Events
Not everything Bill Colwell Ford supports fits into a set annual calendar. The article touched on the dealership's approach to requests that come up throughout the year outside of Fill a 50 and other planned programs — things like partnering with other Cedar Valley dealerships to support the Northeast Food Bank through discounted oil changes, or providing baseballs and softballs for a Hudson Parks and Rec preschool league after being approached directly.
Whitney Burke, marketing and business development director at Bill Colwell Ford, described this as an ongoing mindset rather than a fixed program — responding to needs as they come up, whether that's a monetary donation, a service certificate, or equipment for a local cause.
Recognized at the Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards
Alongside the magazine feature, Bill Colwell Ford was also named Business Partner of the Year at the 2025 Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards luncheon. Blake Colwell, Bill Colwell, Whitney Burke, Katie Unland, and Suzanne Benda accepted the award on behalf of the dealership — recognition that reflects the same kind of year-round community involvement covered in the Iowa Auto Dealer piece.
Why It Matters
Between Fill a 50, support for local automotive students, and responding to community needs as they arise, Bill Colwell Ford's approach to giving back isn't built around a single big event — it's a mix of long-standing traditions and showing up when something new comes up. That combination is what earned a spot in a statewide feature on Iowa dealerships doing the same.
You can read the full article in Iowa Auto Dealer's Spring/Summer 2026 issue.