Family Matters

The Wheaton family name may be most synonymous with the automobile industry, but the large family has a cause besides cars that they keep equally close. Three generations of Wheatons have been donating their time and money to United Way for over 25 years.

King of Cars: The Wheaton family, including Will Wheaton, Don Wheaton III and Don Wheaton Jr. has been supporting United Way for over 25 years.
Photo by Kelly Redinger

“My father always said that out of every eight-hour work day, one hour was always to be spent giving back to the community,” says Don A. Wheaton Jr., one of Don H. Wheaton Sr.’s eight children. “He passed on to our generation to carry on that support and we are passing that on to the next generation.”

Family patriarch Don Sr. opened the Whyte Avenue location of Don Wheaton Chev Olds 50 years ago. Today, Wheaton GM is the largest General Motors merchandiser in Canada, with 19 western Canadian dealers. The Whyte Avenue location remains the company’s flagship store.

Don Sr.’s story starts in Saskatchewan, where he was born in the 1920s. After spending time in the Air Force near the end of the Second World War, Don Sr. married Marion in 1948. The young couple moved to Porcupine Plain, where Don Sr. became a partner in the town’s general store. In 1955, an opportunity to become part-owner of a GM dealership in town became available. The next year, when Don Sr.’s two partners decided they were not cut out for automotive sales, Don Sr. became the sole owner.

Don Jr. recalls the story his father, who is retired and spends most of his time in Florida with Marion, told him about entering the auto industry. “Dad was asked to go work for the head office but he liked being in sales,” says Don Jr. “So they moved him to Edmonton and he opened up the Whyte Avenue location, which we’ve had ever since. We’ve maintained the original structure of the building and the neon lights … and Don Wheaton Chev Olds is about to celebrate our 50th year.”

Much of Don Sr.’s family followed him into the auto industry, and they’ve similarly followed his lead when it comes to supporting United Way. Don Jr. doesn’t know the exact year his father became involved with United Way, but says that his father was truly sold on the way the organization looks after the community as a whole.

“I remember him saying that United Way was such an efficient way to help the most people, because they make sure the money and time goes to all the places it is needed,” says Don Jr. “He didn’t need to worry about figuring out where to give the money – they handled that part. That’s why he has supported it for so many years.”

Don Sr. was a member of the United Way board of directors from 1985 to 1988. He was also the United Way campaign chair in 1985 and exceeded the campaign’s goal of $5,708,835 by over $80,000. Don Sr. spent many years as a United Way account executive.

The Wheaton family’s involvement with United Way doesn’t stop there, though. Two more generations of Wheatons have been loyal supporters of United Way and they’ve extended that sense of community giving inside the business. The Wheaton Group of Companies, of which Don Jr. is president, has interests in automotive, retailing, aviation, insurance and banking. “We have a matching program with our own employees, so we help them in their support of the community,” Don Jr. says. “It’s an interesting culture … it’s always around us. We have very dedicated people here.”

Don Jr. says that his parents set a strong example; he and his siblings grew up seeing first-hand what generosity and investing in people can do. As youngsters, Don Sr. also took each of his eight children to work with him at the dealership; now all eight children are share-holders and five of the second-generation Wheatons are involved in the day-to-day operations of the car business in Western Canada.

Don Jr. is working to engage the third generation, too. Don Jr.’s son, Don C. Wheaton III, is one of the more than 30 Wheaton grandchildren and one of four of Don Jr.’s children. The third generation Don Wheaton now works with his father and uncle, Will Wheaton, for the Wheaton Group of Companies in a legal consulting capacity. Don III, who returned to Edmonton last year after studying in the United States and Toronto, has recently accepted a position on the 2011 United Way Major Donor Cabinet.

“It’s an honour and a really good opportunity to give back to the community,” Don III says. “It’s a great way to get involved and connect.” Though he hasn’t started a family of his own yet, Don III is already planning to keep the Wheaton’s relationship with United Way alive for many years to come. “I believe generosity and giving to those less fortunate is an important value to instil in future generations, just as my family has done for many years,” Don III says.

Jadeene Wheaton, who married second-generation Will Wheaton in 1984, joined a family with a strong history in both automobiles and philanthropy. “I met my husband and we fell in love, and the bonus was inheriting his family,” says Jadeene, who met Will at the dealership he ran in suburban Vancouver. “I had bought a car from him and I had some issues with the car and I had to take it back and that’s how I met him,” Jadeene says.

The couple moved to Edmonton in 1993 and Jadeene has since become heavily involved with United Way. She recalls an evening discussion with her father-in-law, Don Sr., who asked her if she’d be interested in continuing the Wheaton’s legacy of support.

“At the time I really didn’t know that much about United Way,” Jadeene says. “But it has been a cause that my father-in-law and mother-in-law have adamantly supported for many, many years, and I wanted to get involved.”

Jadeene, a mother of five, has volunteered a lot with United Way over the past five years. She’s served as a United Way cabinet member-at-large and volunteered on the Major Gifts Team. “United Way is such a wonderful asset to the community, because they help so many different partners and give help to so many of those less fortunate,” Jadeene says.

Strong Example: The Wheaton Group of Companies encourages giving to United Way with a matching program for employees.
Photo by Kelly Redinger

While joining the Wheaton family has spurred Jadeene’s involvement, she’s also been a volunteer YMCA fitness instructor for over 27 years. “When I give back, it’s so gratifying to know that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life,” Jadeene says. “A smile on someone’s face means so much to me.”

Just like her family members encouraged her to become involved, Jadeene is also engaging her five children to give back to their community. Her children range in age from 13 to 24 and her oldest daughter already volunteers with the YMCA.

“They know that giving back is good,” says Jadeene of her children. “Engaging that next generation and continuing that relationship is really special to the family. Giving back to United Way is our way of thanking the community that has been so good to us. I hope my children continue this as they get older.”

The Wheaton family – which now has 56 members, including three great-grandchildren – continues to support their community. Jadeene Wheaton attributes the loyal generosity that extends through each generation to the family’s strong foundation, Marion and Don Wheaton Sr.

“Don’s an incredible businessman and much of his success comes from his honesty and hard work,” says Jadeene. “Both my father-in-law and mother-in-law have acknowledged that they have been blessed in many ways, and they continue to share that success with the community who supported them.”