Mike’s Auto Body’s Benevolence Program has been going strong for 21 years now and on Dec. 15th, Mike’s will be giving away its 100th vehicle through its nationally-known Benevolence Program at a presentation held at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA.
The Benevolence Program Director at Mike’s Auto Body is Sal Contreras. He admits he has seen every car presentation since the program’s inception, but never grows tired of them. “It has been so rewarding for the past 21 years, presenting these cars to deserving individuals and organizations who are working to improve their skills and become independent. We always say that at Mike’s, we are providing a hand up as opposed to a handout. The recipients are working towards making a better life for their families and all they need is reliable transportation to make it happen.”
The Mike’s Benevolence Program is an ideal charity model for body shops because it involves the insurance companies, local non-profits, and your local community. Everything is donated, the cars, parts, paint, mechanical inspections, tires, and one full year of insurance. The body and paint technicians donate their time and talents.
“We are fortunate to have Farmers Insurance®, Enterprise Rental, CSAA Insurance, Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance, and Recycled Rides collaborating with Mikes in presenting four refurbished cars to four deserving families,” Contreras said. “As of October 25th, 2021, we have presented 96 cars over 21 years to deserving families, individuals, and non-profit organizations. On Dec.15th we will be presenting four vehicles to reach our goal of 100 cars.”
Each year the collision repair industry comes across cars that are “written off” by either the owner or the insurance company. Often, these are older vehicles that just need some mechanical and bodywork to get them back on the road and perfectly safe to drive. Because the people at Mike’s strongly believe that these cars are going to waste when there are people out there who really need them, this MSO with 17 locations in northern California’s East Bay decided to do something about it starting back in 2000.
“We feel very fortunate to be involved with such a wonderful program and are very excited to be able to give back to the area communities that have supported us for the past 49 years,” Owner of Mike’s Auto Body Mike Rose said. “After receiving hundreds of applications over the years and reading the heartbreaking stores, we only wish that we could do more. But hopefully with increased publicity of our Benevolence Program other shops will adopt a similar program of their own.”
About Mike’s Auto Body
Fixing cars to their pre-accident condition since 1972, Mike Rose and his family has built Mike’s Auto Body into a 17-shop organization known for its honesty and integrity with an emphasis on exemplary customer service. With two locations in Concord, Antioch, and Walnut Creek and one in Lafayette, Pittsburg, Alameda, Pleasanton, Brentwood, Richmond, Fairfield, Napa, San Ramon, Fremont, and Vallejo, Mike’s Auto Body is known for being an outstanding business partner in every city where it serves the public.
Sal called into the Morning Breeze to talk to Carolyn McArdle about the event and the program. Listen below...