"I think it's important for businesses to be involved in the community," McMahon said. "Sometimes that's just donating money or services or something like that. But there are certain ones that we get more involved with than others.
"We like to keep it local because I think that's really important that the money stay in the area. … I've always felt that strong companies create strong communities. And I just wanted to be a part of that."
Following a career in banking, McMahon, who is married to Patrick "Bubba" McMahon III, began working at her family's dealership in 1999 and became president in 2008.
Her father-in-law, Patrick McMahon Jr., who founded the dealership in 1969, always contributed to the Salvation Army and a couple of other organizations during the holidays.
As the company has grown, so has its donations and number of recipients. Donations of some kind are dispersed nearly every month.
"That's what we're here to do. That was instilled in me by my dad," Bubba McMahon said, adding, "We're successful enough that we're able to give back to the community. Buying local, being local, that's what it's all about.
"Anybody can sell a tire out of the back of a truck, but it's what we do with it in the community and building a stronghold. ... We've grown every year, and I think that's because of what we do in the community."
He said by donating to local charities, the company and the employees get to see the results.
Sometimes the company will find a donation recipient from watching the local news.
For instance, the McMahons may see a community need for winter coats for the poor and so they encourage employees to bring in a coat to donate, he said.
"Next thing you know, everybody is bringing in a coat. We have enough employees that you can fill something up really quick," he said.
The dealership is especially keen on assisting non-profits that support local veterans. Kim McMahon's father-in-law and her stepfather both served in the military, but it is her friendship with Garigen that also made an impact.
"He really touched my heart with the work he was doing with the homeless vets. It was a combination of all those things," she explained. She became a charter board member of his organization.
It's important to go beyond just writing a check, she said.
"The money part of it is, obviously, very important but knowing their stories and knowing the integrity and what they are bringing to the charity they are working with and really feeling the dedication that they have makes it much easier to want to (help)," she said.
"We've involved all of our employees, whether it's collecting books for Kate's Kart or accepting donations for some of the other places that we work with. When you see the work (the non-profits are) doing, it's much easier to be excited about it and explain it to everybody and get them to want to be involved.
"If all you're doing is writing checks, and we do that — I mean I'm not actively involved in everything we do — but I think that added element takes it to a different level," McMahon said.