Scott Stephens knows the pain of a teen in a family dealing with cancer and the hardships it creates emotionally and financially.
That drives Stephens, today, to give back to others in need in any way he can. It’s his way of paying it forward for the kindness shown by others when he and his family needed it most.
The 53-year-old Stephens, the general manager of Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Las Vegas, has been nominated as a Game Changer by the American Cancer Society that will hold its gala in March to announce the annual winner.
“When times are tough, everybody is at our front door,” Stephens said. “The Chapmans are huge supporters,” Stephens said. “Anytime I ask them for something, they OK it. They let us do a lot for charities. The Chapmans want me to be involved in the community as much as we possibly can.”
Stephens said he’s honored to be nominated and credits Dr. Timothy Beckett, the 2025 honoree as Game Changer of the Year, for the recognition. He said he shared his personal family story with Beckett two years ago and that ultimately led to his nomination.
Stephens’ mom, Eleanor, died from ovarian cancer when he was 15 and lived in Garden Grove, California. She was 44 at the time and a single mom who was bedridden for two years before she died. That ordeal and her passing created hardship for him and his sister, Kim, who was recovering from a brain tumor and legally blind.
“It was a bit of a struggle,” Stephens said. “If it wasn’t for the local churches and charities — they paid our rent, buried my mother, fed us and brought us gifts on Christmas — we wouldn’t have had anything because she was the only income.”
At the age of 18 after graduating from high school, Stephens took a bus to Columbus, Ohio, where his brother, Charles, lived. He ultimately started selling cars when he was 20 and has been in the business ever since, working his way up in leadership roles. Stephens has worked for Chapman since 2017 after arriving in Las Vegas in 2005 where he ran Tobin Dodge for 13 years as general sales manager.
“I took a Greyhound bus to Ohio to live with my brother in his apartment, and now I have a beautiful home, amazing family (with wife, Jessica, and son, Noah) and a really good life,” Stephens said. “I think that’s where Tim took my story and what I do for the community after that happens.”
Stephens thanks the Chapmans for fostering the charity work of himself and the employees in the dealership. They do a lot of work with HELP of Southern Nevada, an organization that assists people in becoming self-sufficient. He and the company also work with Make-A-Wish Nevada supplying candy to children. Twice a month, Stephens helps pass out food every other Saturday for Parent Citywide working through Three Square. Chapman’s female staff also works with a women’ s shelter.
“When our people take an opportunity to help out one of the charities it’s game changing for them because it’s something they may not see on a regular basis,” Stephens said. “There’s a lot going on in Las Vegas where help is needed.”
Stephens said it’s humbling to be nominated and knows that there are a lot of deserving nominees that have done so much in the community. Every nominee has dealt with cancer in their life, whether it’s with themselves or a family member.
“It makes me feel good (to get involved with charities),” Stephens said. “It’s amazing. I was talking to my sister when I was selected for this. Back then, when I was 15 I was more embarrassed because families would come over and bring you food. Sometimes, I would notice kids I went to school with or a kid in the community. There was one family that paid me to do their yard work that brought us food on a regular basis. I tell my sister I wish I could pay them back. I can’t return the favor to all of those kind people that paid our rent over the years. Instead, I am paying back the people that took care of me.”
Stephens is one of 15 people nominated for the Game Changer of the Year. They all help raise money for the gala held in March for the American Cancer Society mission.
“The people honored usually have some sort of connection to cancer, and they typically are key executives and leaders in the community when it comes to philanthropy and helping out the community,” said Gabriella Sandoval, senior development with the Las Vegas chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Sandoval called Stephens an amazing person who has a great story of where he got to where he is today and how cancer impacted his life.
“I think he does a lot for the community, and he’s such a bright spirit,” Sandoval said. “He lights up the room. I look forward to honoring him at the gala.”
