Adam Slobin and Bryan Weissman started their vehicle brokerage service DriveWise Auto just as the U.S. economy began to tank in 2007. But with a business model centered on helping car buyers save money and hassle – plus a program to channel money to local and global charities – the company has thrived, recently handling its 3,000th car sale or lease. When customers want to buy a vehicle, they contact Van Nuys-based DriveWise and explain what they are looking for. The brokerage performs research and presents options that meet the customer’s criteria. Once the customer selects a car, DriveWise negotiates with the dealer on price, financing or lease terms and facilitates delivery of the new car, the trade-in of an existing car and any accessories the client may want. “The service is designed for people to get whatever type of car they are looking for at a competitive price but using a method that is easy and hassle-free,” Slobin said. Clients do not pay directly for the service. DriveWise is paid by the dealer who sells the car, but the brokerage deducts a donation from those proceeds. Its slogan “Charity Driven” promotes its model of making donations of $50 to $100 to the charity of choice for the client. In the early years, the company donated between $500 and $700 a month to charities, an amount that now averages $4,000 to $6,000 a month, Weissman said. After brokering 3,000 deals, the company has made donations totaling about $215,000 from those transactions. Another $85,000 has been donated by the company. Organizations that have received donations include the Guardians, a subsidiary of the Jewish Home for the Aging, American Cancer Society, City of Hope, Autism Speaks and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. DriveWise added one new employee recently and has plans to bring on another soon. In addition to its main office in Van Nuys, the company last year opened a second office at the Glendale Area Schools Credit Union after becoming one of two of the institution’s auto-buying partners. Slobin said it feels good that he and Weissman can, every time a customer buys a car, affect the community in a positive way that the customer feels connected to. “I know it sounds crazy but by selling vehicles we are helping to cure cancer and we are helping homelessness and we are helping provide educational materials to students who cannot afford them,” he said. – Mark R. Madler