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Letter to the Editor

SCRS Reports Continued Contributions from Collision Repair Businesses for Camp Mak-A-Dream as Deadline Nears

Auto Body World, Custom 77 Auto Rebuilders, 911 Collision Centers and Twin Cities Collision Repair may conduct business in different areas of the country, but the good will they have extended to the Camp Mak-A-Dream campaign unites them. All three have contributed by buying drawing chances that make holders eligible for one of ten travel gift certificates valued at $3,000. Winners are to be announced at the coming industry recognition night at NACE in December. Proceeds from this drawing go directly to Camp Mak-A-Dream.

The 200-plus employees of Auto Body World, a five-facility collision business with corporate offices in Phoenix, Arizona, to date have bought $2,580 worth of drawing chances, and that's only the beginning. The company continues to sell chances at all its facilities and has written letters to all its vendors that contain Camp Mak-A-Dream literature and explain the retreat's need for ongoing financial support. In December, the business will hold a major fundraiser for the camp, a "Las Vegas Casino Night" during which two separate raffles will be held to benefit the cause. Auto Body World has partnered with Sherwin-Williams and Ever-Ready Glass to sponsor the event, for which 6,000 invitational flyers have been mailed.

Owner David Fait and Joe Gorman, Vice President, Business Development Group, have believed in Camp Mak-A-Dream since it first came to their attention. "In the 56 years since David's dad founded Auto Body World, the business has been about giving back and helping," notes Gorman. "Our mission statement begins with 'To serve God . . .' and whenever our business has been asked to assist others, our employees have come forward to ask what they can do. When David brought the Camp Mak-A-Dream cause before them, they didn't hesitate, as their $2,580 attests."

Custom 77 Auto Rebuilders, located in Midlothian, Illinois, purchased $2,000 in drawing chances which it then distributed to employees as a token of appreciation for their hard work. Parts Manager Joe Bonarigo, Jr. has championed the cause within his organization, having raised an additional $500 for the camp through friends and family.

"General Manager John Kornacki and I were moved when we first heard about Camp Mak-A-Dream because cancer is something that affects everyone in one way or another," Bonarigo explains. "It didn't take long for us to decide to make a contribution in the name of our business, and we thought it would be great if we could, in the process, reward our employees."

The 911 Collision Centers Group, operating in Tucson, Arizona, has a long history of giving back to the community. A recipient of the first Pride award, owner Michael Quinn has made a concerted effort to get his employees involved in worthwhile charities and causes.

"The first time I saw the SCRS publicity for Camp Mak-A-Dream I felt strongly that 911 Collision Centers should participate as a sponsor," Quinn says. "Annually, our employees vote on a charity to support for the following year, and this year Camp Mak-A-Dream was the winner. We purchased $2,000 in drawing chances and distributed them to our customers. That way everybody is a winner and our business sets a good example for giving back to the community."

For Mike Molter, owner of Twin Cities Collision Repair in Lafayette, Indiana, the Camp Mak-A-Dream campaign strikes a very personal note. Patsy Molter, Mike's wife, is a cancer survivor.

"We've seen the effects and experienced the devastation of the disease first hand," Molter says. "Fortunately we beat it, but others are less fortunate. To support Camp Mak-A-Dream we purchased $3,000 worth of chances to give to our customers. We've also asked our managers to sell them and solicit donations for our suppliers. They have been sold at hair salons, car shows and restaurants. We set up displays in our stores, and each Friday our staff wears Camp Mak-A-Dream t-shirts to increase awareness. The camp does great things for kids. I wish we could do more."

At the outset of the year, SCRS pledged to raise $100,000 for Camp Mak-A-Dream, out of a total of $500,000 pledged by the collision repair and related industries through the National Auto Body Council (NABC). The sum will be used for the construction of a new medical center and will be matched dollar for dollar by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

"December may be approaching rapidly, but Camp Mak-A-Dream continues to find new, valuable sources of assistance from our industry," notes SCRS Chairman Joel Lofton. "It's great to see that the industry isn't taking the cause for granted and letting up in their efforts."

Through its direct members and 32 affiliate associations, SCRS is comprised of 8,300 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work with consumers and insurance companies to repair collision-damaged vehicles.

Additional information regarding Camp Mak-A-Dream and the SCRS pledge of $100,000 can be found at the SCRS website.

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