Tamara C. Darvish is VP of DARCARS Automotive Group and represents the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area new-car dealers on the National Automobile Dealers Association’s board of directors. A co-chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame Classic, Darvish holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwood University in business administration and an association’s degree in automotive marketing.
Darvish spoke with WashingtonExec about the upcoming Leukemia Ball, why she wanted to get involved, her favorite aspect of the Ball, how much she and the team expect to raise this year, and more.
WashingtonExec: I wanted to start off by asking you about your James Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award, how you learned you received it, and if you knew you were nominated for it?
Tammy Darvish: No, I did not know that I was nominated and when they notified me, it was a complete surprise. I am very honored to receive such a prestigious award for simply doing what I love to do.
WashingtonExec: You frequent the black-tie scene….what makes the Leukemia Ball unique?
Tammy Darvish: I just want to say that I know that I go to a lot of balls and galas and charitable or philanthropic dinners. I think the biggest difference with the Leukemia Ball is that this event actually is really a lot of fun. This is one that people really get excited to go. It’s not the same routine gala that we go to every year or the same ball. You don’t know what it’s going to be, because the Leukemia Society creates a fresh event each year.
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“The entertainment’s different, the decor is different, the mood is different, the people are just really having so much fun.”
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WashingtonExec: What’s your favorite aspect of the Leukemia Ball?
Tammy Darvish: Really, just being in that environment where thousands of uncommon people pull together for one common goal. To have all these people from different places, different companies, different reasons, all focused on the same mission. It just really shows that you how powerful citizen activism is & it can really change the world.
WashingtonExec: What made you want to take a more leadership role with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?
Tammy Darvish: With our family having been affected by lymphoma, I made a conscious decision to be a part of affecting change. The best way I could affect [change]was to be a part of it, to learn more about it, and to volunteer and do the important work that they do to accomplish our goals.
WashingtonExec: How much money do you all expect to raise this year, and are you on target? Where will the funds go after the event?
Tammy Darvish: We expect to meet or exceed the $3 million dollar mark and I believe we’re well on target. The majority of our money goes to research and patient services. The more research we can buy, the closer we come to a cure or to new medicine technology and treatment.
WashingtonExec: Are tickets still available?
Tammy Darvish: Companies and individuals interested in participating in the ball can go here. Companies and individuals can still buy tables, buy raffle tickets, volunteer, or make a donation.
WashingtonExec: Within your company, why did you want to take a larger role in terms of corporate citizenship, and why do you think it’s important to the success of your company?
Tammy Darvish: It’s important that people a) feel significant, and b) when you can let people understand that everyone has the power to be a part of making a difference, it’s not just about writing a check. The time and talent of our Associates is very valuable, & hundreds from our team take great pride in their individual contributions throughout the year. Volunteering is a great way to affect change. And when people understand that they have value, in just their talent and their time, they want to do more because when they feel like they are making a difference, they want to do more.
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“We work closely with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as they have several different kinds of events. So some events are a good match for some of our volunteers and some are better matches for other volunteers. We let them pick and choose what they would like to do and match them up.”
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WashingtonExec: What kinds of volunteer activities have you planned for your company?
Tammy Darvish: We do blood drives several times throughout the year. We do annual food and toy drives, and we participate in in a wide variety of other philanthropic activities each month. Each small contribution of our team members add up to significant results for many charitable & philanthropic organizations throughout Greater Washingon..
WashingtonExec: You work closely with Ballou High School in Washington, D.C. Can you give us an update on your achievements there?
Tammy Darvish: The work we do at Ballou High School is very important because we’re teaching kids that really don’t have a lot of confidence or a lot of hope. And just to teach hope alone, it’s so rewarding and it really makes a difference in their future. When they start to believe and they have hope, then they learn better and are more encouraged by that, wanting to learn more. When you throw into that mix, you teach them a trade and you teach them skills, that whether or not they want to go into the automotive industry, they’re still learning organizational skills or they’re still learning planning, organizing problem-solving.
