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On Dec. 15, Mike’s Auto Body (MAB) gave away its 100th vehicle through its nationally-known Benevolence Program, at a presentation held at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA.
It was a cold and rainy night, but the power of benevolence kept the crowd of approximately 500 people warm and fuzzy.
To reach the milestone of 100 vehicles given away, MAB presented four families with “nearly new” completely refurbished cars.
Enterprise donated a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, repaired at MAB’s CFS Concord location, for Josue Hernandez and his family.
Farmers donated a 2015 Ford Focus for LaTraina King, repaired at MAB’s North Broadway location, in conjunction with the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
Liberty Mutual/Safeco donated a 2018 Mazda 3 Sport for Robert Coston, repaired at MAB’s Concord VDM location.
CSAA donated a 2019 Nissan Sentra for Ashley Fox, repaired at MAB’s Fremont Street location. The evening kicked off with an invocation and a brief description of the program by Sal Contreras, followed by a speech by owner and founder Mike Rose.
Then, Concord Mayor Dominic Aliano said a few words of encouragement and thanked MAB for its charitable work for the community. Past recipient Tito Ramos, a soldier and family readiness specialist for the California National Guard who received a vehicle in 2014, also spoke.
Daniel Herbst, director of sales, replacement and leisure division, for Enterprise, then presented the car to Hernandez, followed by a presentation from Dane Dearlove, a retired member of the MAB team.
Kevin Hennessey from Farmers Insurance and Financial Services presented the vehicle to King.
Tom Donahue, claims manager of Liberty/Mutual/Safeco Insurance, gave the car Coston. Robert Luis, a 2019 recipient, spoke.
Contreras talked about CSAA IG’s involvement with MAB’s Benevolence Program. Dustin Cooper, community impact manager for CSAA IG, presented Fox with her car. Finally, Contreras offered his closing remarks. CSAA IG has donated 19 cars throughout the years, so the people at MAB thought it appropriate to name CSAA IG’s car its official 100th giveaway.
Contreras said 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,” Contreras said. “We always say that at Mike’s, we are providing a hand up as opposed to a hand out. These deserving people are working towards making a better life for their families and all they need is reliable transportation to make it happen.”
MAB’s Benevolence Program is an ideal charity model for auto body shops because it involves insurance companies and local nonprofits. 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 grateful for this presentation to have Farmers Insurance, Enterprise Rent a Car, CSAA IG, Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance and NABC Recycled Rides collaborating with Mike’s in presenting four refurbished cars to four deserving families,” Contreras said. “As of Oct. 25, 2021, we have presented 96 cars over 21 years to deserving families, individuals and nonprofit organizations, and on Dec. 15 we gave away four more vehicles to hit the century mark!”
Each year the collision repair industrycomesacrosscars“writtenoff” by either the owner or the insurance company. Often, these are older vehicles that just need some mechanical and body work to get them back on the road and perfectly safe to drive.
Because the people at MAB strongly believe these cars are going to waste when there are people out there who really need them, the MSO with 17 locations in northern California’s East Bay decided to do something about it, starting in 2001.
“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,” 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.”
Contreras is known now as the MSO’s Benevolence Ambassador because he has been associated with the program since it’s conception. He never tires of the tears of joy he sees every time someone gets a vehicle— including his own.
“The gift of transportation is an amazing thing, and we have seen it transforms peoples’ lives,” he said. “We never get tired of helping others and this program is now part of our DNA. So, we will never stop doing it because we are honored to be in a position like this where we can help so many people in a very tangible way.”
The Hernandez family received a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu donated by Enterprise� Mia Hernandez discovered Christmas started Dec� 15 this year� Liberty Mutual/Safeco donated a 2018 Mazda 3 Sport for Robert Coston�
CSAA donated a 2019 Nissan Sentra for Ashley Fox�
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