FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2001)—Goodguys Tire & Auto Repair has raised $36,977 for the American Red Cross “Disaster Relief” and “Fallen Hero” funds.
The money, donated in conjunction with the Fresno Fire Department, will aid families of the New York fire fighters who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in September.
Goodguys President Pete Shubin presented the funds to Red Cross officials Nov. 5, concluding what the dealership called the “Great American Relief Effort” conducted at its eight retail locations in October. During that month, the Fresno-based company contributed 10 percent of its retail tire sales to the relief efforts.
Also taking part in the ceremony were Scott Shubin, the company's vice president; George Hayek, general manager of retail sales, and Goodguys' eight retail sales managers. The dealership, founded in 1976, also operates a wholesale distribution center serving customers in the central and northern portions of the state as well as parts of Southern California.
Scott Shubin, son of the company's president and founder, said his father conceived the fund-raising event while vacationing in Europe and finding himself stranded due to the suspension of all flights to and within the U.S. following the Sept. 11 attacks.
“All of us wanted to do something to help in the relief efforts,” the younger Mr. Shubin said, “and this was something we knew we could do.” He said the results far exceeded the company's initial goal of raising $28,000 for such efforts. Tire buyers responding to the company's fund drive also increased Goodguys' October tire sales by approximately 30 percent compared to those of the previous month.