CARSTAR COLLISION CENTERS MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN WITH SOAPS IT UP CAR WASH, BREAK WORLD RECORD FOR MOST CARS WASHED IN ONE DAY
More than 140 Stores in the U.S. and Canada Washed More Than 4,100 Cars and
Raised $40,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and Local Charities
Denver CARSTAR Stores Help Restore Jeep to Deliver Wish for Area Teen
OVERLAND PARK, KS (June 13, 2010) – Abracadabra! CARSTAR Collision Centers has once again made magic happen for children in need across North America – delivering incredible support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America and kids with cystic fibrosis in Canada – and made it a very special day for one Denver-area teen.
In the second annual CARSTAR Soaps It Up Car Wash, initial numbers show that CARSTAR
washed some 4,100 cars at more than 140 locations across the United States and Canada. This surpasses the world record that CARSTAR set in 2009 by washing 4,000 cars in an eight-hour period.
Themed “Making Magic Happen – One Car at a Time”, the Soaps It Up Car Wash was held across the U.S. and Canada on June 12, 2010 as a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis in Canada and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America in the U.S., as well as some local market charities. Tickets were sold at participating CARSTAR stores for $10, with 100 percent of the ticket purchase benefiting the selected charities. The event in the U.S. raised more than $40,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and the local market charities.
As part of the Soaps It Up Car Wash, a special event was held at Pomeroy CARSTAR Collision Center in Denver, Colo., to celebrate CARSTAR’s long-standing relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Daniel, age 16, wished to have his Jeep restored, and with help from area CARSTAR Collision Centers and One Lap of America, Daniel’s newly-restored vehicle was presented to him at a special celebration on Saturday.
“This is really cool to get my own car,” said Daniel. “My goals were to get my driver’s license and a car to drive, so this is a dream come true. I like to hike, so I’m looking forward to taking my Jeep to the mountains.”
Daniel’s parents, Lori and John, were overwhelmed by the presentation from CARSTAR and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“It means so much to see him here today getting his wish,” said Lori. “It’s just unbelievable that CARSTAR and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have done so much to make this possible. It’s so exciting to see Daniel get his health back and get his independence, too. The work that the Make-A-Wish Foundation does to help families going through this is really amazing.”
The CEO of CARSTAR, Dick Cross, applauded the CARSTAR organization’s efforts to benefit children in need.
“We are proud to once again hold the CARSTAR Soaps It Up Car Wash across North America to benefit the communities where we do business,” said Dick Cross, Chairman and CEO of CARSTAR. “It has become a great tradition to bring all of the CARSTAR Nation together to support these two important causes.”
CARSTAR partnered with 3M to offer a $3 rebate on either the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System or the 3M Lens Renewal Kit, products which make headlight lenses clearer and keep people safe on the road, as well as with Hertz, which provided an offer of up to $15 off of a weekend rental with every ticket purchase.
“I’m grateful that CARSTAR is doing so much to bring hope, strength and joy to our courageous wish kids,” said David Williams, president and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. “The Soaps It Up event does a great deal to raise funds, and also raises awareness for our life-affirming mission in so many communities.”
CARSTAR stores in Canada have been conducting the “Soaps It Up!” Car Wash for the past seven years, and this is the second time the program has been done in the United States. Last year’s event was the first attempt for any organization to set the world record for the largest car wash across multiple locations.
For more information on the “Soaps It Up!” Car Wash and for participating locations, visit www.CARSTAR.com.
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR is the largest group of branded collision repair centers in North America with over 400 locally owned and operated locations in 28 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is committed to providing consistent quality services to our customers and insurance partners and has repaired more than 2.5 million cars since it was founded in 1989. Our technicians and front office staff receive ongoing training to ensure they are qualified to work on any vehicle. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as we consistently lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings. ved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For more information, visit www.carstar.com.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 188,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.