DAPHNE, AL – The Shawn Esfahani Foundation continues its mission to fund organizations helping the tri-county (Escambia, Baldwin & Mobile) area by donating a total of $1,000,000 to four local charities – Prodisee Pantry, The Lighthouse, Penelope House, and the Baldwin Humane Society. These organizations will receive checks in a presentation at Eastern Shore Toyota scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, at 1:45pm. Founder Shawn Esfahani – also owner of the Esfahani Automotive Group, including Eastern Shore Toyota, Eastern Shore Hyundai, Headquarter Nissan and Genesis of Eastern Shore – will personally hand out the checks during the presentation.

Prodisee Pantry will receive $100,000, The Lighthouse $300,000, Penelope House $300,000 and the Baldwin Humane Society $300,000. This will bring the total amount of money donated by the Shawn Esfahani Foundation to local charities in the tri-county area to a total of $4.3 million since November 2023. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to commit $10 million in donations, or more, in the years to come.

Founder Shawn Esfahani is making these donations in honor of Southeast Toyota founder Mr. Jim Moran, whom he credits as an unshakable force in his life.

“To Mr. Moran, owning an automotive dealership was about more than just selling cars,” Esfahani said. “It was about building trust, serving families, and creating opportunities – exactly what we strive to do here at Eastern Shore Toyota. Without Mr. Moran’s influence in my life, the Esfahani Automotive Group would not exist.”

Mr. Moran started his automotive dealership legacy in Chicago, and by the late 1950s, he had built the largest Ford dealership in the world with Courtesy Ford. In 1961, he became the only automotive dealer ever featured on the cover of Time magazine. Seven years later, in 1968, he established Southeast Toyota – a business move that transformed the automotive landscape of the southeast United States forever. Esfahani credits Mr. Moran’s commitment to serving people as the reason for his success.

“Mr. Moran’s story is about more than cars. It’s about people – about believing in them, uplifting them, and leaving behind a foundation of generosity that continues to make a difference today,” Esfahani said. “On behalf of Eastern Shore Toyota and the Shawn Esfahani Foundation, we’re saying ‘Thank you’ and honoring Mr. Moran’s legacy. May his legacy continue to remind us that ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’”

Additional Press Coverage:

• Fox 10 | Shawn Esfahani Foundation presents checks to 4 Baldwin County charities
• WKRG News 5 | Generous donation boosts 4 Gulf Coast charities

Esfahani Automotive Group, in partnership with The Shawn Esfahani Foundation, and their Corporate Director of Fixed Operations, John P. Curry, generously donated a full pallet of bottled water to the Daphne Police Department Substation located on US Highway 90.

This act of support reflects their ongoing commitment to giving back to the community and ensuring local first responders have the resources they need—especially during the hot summer months. The Daphne Police Department expressed sincere appreciation for the donation, which will help keep officers hydrated and mission-ready.

Thank you to Esfahani Automotive Group, The Shawn Esfahani Foundation, and John P. Curry for their continued support of our community’s safety and well-being.

DAPHNE, AL – The Shawn Esfahani Foundation continues its mission to fund organizations helping the tri-county (Escambia, Baldwin & Mobile) area by donating a total of $700,000 to three local charities – the Manna Food Pantry, The Lighthouse, and the Baldwin Humane Society. These organizations will receive checks in a presentation at Eastern Shore Toyota scheduled for Friday, May 30, at 11:00am. Founder Shawn Esfahani – also owner of the Esfahani Automotive Group, including Eastern Shore Toyota, Eastern Shore Hyundai, Headquarter Nissan and Genesis of Eastern Shore – will personally hand out the checks during the presentation.

The Manna Food Pantry will receive $200,000, The Lighthouse $350,000, and the Baldwin Humane Society $150,000. Founder Shawn Esfahani said he is thrilled his organization can give back to the community that has helped him achieve the success he has today.

“I’m fortunate to have built a thriving automotive group, but at the end of the day, the success is not truly enjoyable unless we can do everything we can to give back to those in the greatest need right here in our own communities,” Esfahani said. “The Shawn Esfahani Foundation supports these charities because they are doing phenomenal work in protecting the most vulnerable lives in our area and beyond.” Between November 2023 and March 2024, the Shawn Esfahani Foundation pledged $2.3 million dollars to several local charities in the tri-county area – including Penelope House, Inc.; The Lighthouse; Prodisee Pantry, Inc.; Kidz Eatz, Inc.; Baldwin County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch; the Manna Food Pantry; and the Baldwin Humane Society. Friday’s donations will bring the total commitment to $3 million. The foundation’s ultimate goal is to commit $10 million in donations, or more, in the years to come.

“What we’ve donated so far is just a drop in the bucket,” Esfahani said. “There’s more to come, and we can’t wait to see how great the tri-county area can be.”

Additional Press Coverage:

• Fox 10 | 3 Baldwin County organizations share $700,000 donation from Shawn Esfahani Foundation | Published: May 30th, 2025
• WKRG News 5 | Shawn Esfahani Foundation gives total of $700,000 to 3 local charities | Published: May 30th, 2025

PENSACOLA, FL. - February 7, 2024 - On a cold and drizzly day (Monday, February 5, 2024), Shawn Esfahani, founder of the Shawn Esfahani Foundation, attended the “Souper Bowl of Caring” food drive ni Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Esfahani’s foundation sponsored the event, so he stopped by to show his support.

But, while he was there, M.r Esfahani encountered an extraordinary person—Melissa Branton-the Marketing and Events Manager for Manna Food Pantry, a local charity founded over 40 years ago to feed the hungry and eliminate food insecurity within the local community.

“I was on my way to the bathroom and suddenly this young lady (Melissa Branton) with the most beautiful smile introduces herself and asks me to donate a can of food to the food drive,” Esfahani said. “She didn’t seem to be the least bit bothered by the weather. In fact, she was clearly excited to be out helping others, and she was determined to collect as many cans of food as she could.”

Unwittingly, Ms. Branton put Mr. Esfahani in an awkward position-he’d shown up to a food drive sponsored by his own foundation without a can of food to donate. “I was so impressed by Ms. Branton and Manna Pantry (headed by DeDe Flounlacker) that I knew Iwanted my foundation to be a bigger part of this wonderful organization,” said Esfahani.

So, instead of donating a can of food that he didn’t have, M.r Esfahani announced that the Shawn Esfahani Foundation would immediately donate $50,000 to the Manna Pantry and an additional $150,000 over the course of the next ten years, for a total of $200,000.

Since 2023, the Shawn Esfahani Foundation has donated over $2 million in cash and grants to local charities that are active in the local community feeding, clothing, sheltering and protecting the most vulnerable citizens.

Mr. Esfahani’s mission is to support local charities who operate primarily through local volunteers. fI you wish to join Mr. Esfahani’s mission and contribute to those in need in our community, please visit www.shawnesfahanifoundation.com.

The Shawn Esfahani Foundation has committed to donating $400,000 in cash, cars, and in- kind services to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch over the next ten years. The Boys Ranch, which is supported by Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack, provides family-style residential homes for Baldwin County’s at-risk young men.

The Ranch’s mission is to provide young men a safe haven in which to grow spiritually and physically into responsible members of society. The Shawn Esfahani Foundation will support the Ranch’s stated mission by providing mentoring and valuable vocational training through team members employed by Eastern Shore Toyota and other dealerships affiliated with the Shawn Esfahani Foundation.

Specifically, the Shawn Esfahani Foundation has established a paid internship for qualified residential candidates. Those candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic and a desire to work with others will have the opportunity through an on-the-job-training program to obtain ASE certification. For each candidate who completes the certification process, the value of the education and training provided by the Shawn Esfahani Foundation will be in excess of $40,000.

The Shawn Esfahani Foundation will also donate vehicles to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch to assist in the transportation of candidates to and from their internship, and the Shawn Esfahani Foundation will purchase a set o f tools for all qualified candidates who successfully complete the certification program.

All candidates who participate in the program (regardless of whether they progress to completion) will acquire valuable vocational training that will assist them in their ultimate career path. Those who remain in the program and obtain their master technician certification, may qualify for full-time employment at a dealership affiliated with the Shawn Esfahani Foundation.

In time, the Shawn Esfahani Foundation intendsto expand its vocational training and internships to other important areas of business-including customer service, food service, sales, and management. And, the Shawn Esfahani Foundation is assessing how to best assist the Boys Ranch increase its capacity to accept more residents and to extend residency beyond the current maximum age of 18.

This latest $400,000 commitment raises the Shawn Esfahani Foundation’s total committed donations to$ 2 million since the Foundation became operational in 2023. The Shawn Esfahani Foundation remainscommitted to enriching the lives of the most needy, encouraging the challenged to persevere, and inspiring the most fortunate to join the Foundation’s founder, Shawn Esfahani, in philanthropy.

It is Shawn Esfahani’s goal to increase the Shawn Esfahani Foundation giving base to $10M through donations and fundraisers to be able to increase the amount of giving back to the community.

DAPHNE, AL.— November 13, 2023 — This Thanksgiving local charities in Southern Alabama have much to be thankful for. On Wednesday November 15, 2023, Shawn Esfahani, founder of the Shawn Esfahani Foundation, will present $1.6 million in grants to the following local charities: Penelope House, Inc., The Lighthouse, Prodisee Pantry, Inc., and Kidz Eatz, Inc.

“Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s a time to contemplate our blessings, and I have so much to be grateful for,” said Shawn Esfahani. “Mr. E” (as his employees affectionately call him) moved to the United States when he was just 17 years old. “I had loving parents and a wonderful family, but they were thousands of miles away. When I was young and all alone, this country essentially adopted me, and I never forgot that. I didn’t want to get here just to ‘get here,’ I wanted to be able to give back.” said Mr. Esfahani.

Mr. Esfahani, the owner of the Esfahani Automotive Group which owns car dealerships in Alabama and Georgia, including local dealerships Eastern Shore, Toyota, Eastern Shore Hyundai, and Eastern Shore Used Car Center, is donating $600,000 to Kidz Eatz, $500,000 to Prodisee Pantry, $350,000 to Penelope House, and $150,000 to The Lighthouse.

“I chose these four charities because they are very active in the local community and collectively, they feed, clothe, shelter, and protect our most vulnerable neighbors” said Esfahani. Since moving to Daphne, Alabama in 2006, Mr. Esfahani has loyally supported local charities. Nevertheless, in 2022, Mr. Esfahani formed his 501(c)(3) charitable foundation to further his commitment to donate even more to the community and to encourage other like-minded philanthropists an opportunity to support those in need.

Mr. Esfahani will honor these four charities in a ceremony at Eastern Shore Toyota at 11 AM on Wednesday November 15, 2023. If you wish to contribute to those in need through the Shawn Esfahani Foundation, please visit www.shawnesfahanifoundation.com.

Additional Press Coverage:

• Fox 10 | The Shawn Esfahani Foundation | Published: Dec. 20, 2023
• My NBC 15 | Gulf Coast philanthropist pledges support in $1.6 million donation to local nonprofits | Published: Nov. 15, 2023
• Fox 10 | Shawn Esfahani donates $1.6 million to local charities | Published: Nov. 15, 2023