VIP Tires & Service, a leading provider of retail tire installation and professional automotive services, announced today it is donating $52,511.86 to Make-A-Wish. The funds were raised during the company’s ninth annual Season of Wishes Campaign, which took place during the 2016 holiday season at its 56 stores located in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. VIP encourages employees and customers to make individual contributions and then matches the funds collected.
During the holidays, VIP customers were asked to make a minimum $1 donation and, in turn, received a paper star with their name on display in their VIP store. Together, the 56 VIP stores raised $26,255.93 through the generosity of their customers and employees and then VIP Tires & Service matched that amount to bring the total donation to $52,511.86. Maine VIP stores raised the most ($17,613.07) followed by New Hampshire stores ($5,176.26) and then Massachusetts stores ($3,466.60). The funds raised in each state benefit their local state Make-A-Wish chapters. To date, VIP has raised $350,000 for Make-A-Wish through its annual program.
Alex Gaeth, Maine’s Make-A-Wish Executive Director, accepted the donation on Monday, February 6, 2017, from John Quirk, President and CEO of VIP Tires & Service at the company’s headquarters.
“We can all play a part, big and small, in helping kids with life-threatening illnesses get their wish,” said Alex Gaeth, Executive Director of Make-A-Wish Maine. “The team at VIP works tirelessly to talk with their customers about Make-A-Wish and gives them the opportunity to support the organization by buying a paper star. Each year their donation grows and more kids get wishes. We’re endlessly appreciative and thankful for the VIP team.”
Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions all across the country. On average, Make-A-Wish in Maine fulfills one gift to a seriously ill child every five days; in New Hampshire its every four days and in Massachusetts Make-A-Wish grants a wish each and every day. Wishes typically cost about $7,000 and the funds that support the wish granting effort in each state are raised through campaigns like the one VIP Tires & Service holds each holiday season. Wishes range from trips to theme parks, meeting a favorite athlete or celebrity, attending a major sporting event or concert, receiving a computer, tree house, or shopping spree.
“Each year I’m incredibly grateful to the enthusiasm of our employees and loyal customers for our Make-A-Wish Season of Wishes fundraiser,” said Quirk. “All of our VIP employees worked really hard to help raise money, and we had a record number of customers making contributions. I want to thank our employees and customers for helping us in our on-going quest to deliver wishes to children suffering from life threatening illnesses. We know these funds bring joy to the families and children who need it most.”
