A Red Deer car dealership celebrated its 50th anniversary on Saturday by donating $50,000 to a fund that assists underprivileged students.

Garrett Scott is the dealer-operator at Kipp Scott GMC-Cadillac-Buick, a third-generation car salesman following in the footsteps of his grandfather, who started the business in April 1968.

“One of the big things for us is, trying to help out in our backyard — north Red Deer,” Scott said. “We look for something to sink our teeth into that was a little more unique. That one popped up for us.”

Kipp Scott GMC-Cadillac-Buick invited hundreds to its 50th birthday bash in north Red Deer on Saturday. Here, Garrett Scott speaks to guests.

The Step Up Fund is a new project by the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools that will help provide students in need with necessities such as meals, winter clothes and transportation.

“One of the priorities for Red Deer Public Schools is equity and reducing some of those barriers,” said Bruce Buruma, the foundation’s executive director.

“The line that I use is, it’s hard to learn when all you can think about is food.”

Buruma said the dealership approached the foundation, wanting to contribute after hearing about the fund from a teacher in the division.

Scott also announced the donation of a fire truck to Red Deer Emergency Services.

The truck originally came from the Kamloops Fire Department, Scott said, with its body dating back to 1973. However, the interior and apparatus have been upgraded, he added.

At the dealership, it has been used mostly as a novelty item, to wash cars.

“We loaned it out on a lot of different occasions and we just thought, the best thing to do with this truck is to get it to the people that want to use it the most,” Scott said. “And Red Deer Emergency Services loves a chance to have an antique fire truck in their arsenal and they can take it to events and draw more attention to what they’re trying to get across.”