LAS VEGAS (Nov. 15, 2013) — The Aftermarket Foundation's annual golf tournament, held at the Las Vegas Country Club during the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, Nov. 5-8, generated net proceeds in excess of $400,000 — a new high for the event.
Aftermarket Foundation President, Robert (Bob) Hirsch said the event was staged this year in honor of recently deceased board member Bob Schoeberl.
"The Aftermarket Foundation has had an exceptional year," Mr. Hirsch said. "It is true that case-demand is up significantly this year, but that was not unexpected. Overall industry awareness has been increasing, and we are not at all displeased that more cases of need on the part of bona fide aftermarket families are reaching us, and donor revenues have also increased proportionately."
He added that although the foundation is a charitable organization, it relies on a "number of sources of contribution revenue" and the "Celebrity Golf Tournament is our single largest fundraising event of the year.
"It is very important to our continued strength and successful operations, and I am in awe of what our golf committee has been able to achieve for the foundation with this year's tournament."
The foundation—a 100-percent volunteer 501 [c] (3) charitable organization founded in 1959—provides assistance to persons in the aftermarket who are in need based on circumstances, with support taking the form of immediate, one-time assistance or longer-term support.
Andy Dudash, executive vice president of purchasing for TBC Corp., and chair of the Aftermarket Foundation golf committee said: "The loss of our friend and colleague Bob Schoeberl back in September was a real blow to the board and especially to our committee, but Bob had always been a great inspiration to the rest of us."
Mr. Dudash said the foundation decided to dedicate the outing, calling it the Bob Schoeberl Memorial Golf Tournament, and that "even in his passing, he inspired us —every one of us on the committee—to dig in and work even harder to produce a record year in his name."
Mr. Dudash said the foundation gained additional inspiration from a letter from Arnold Palmer that recognized "Bob's leadership in elevating this tournament into the great stature that it now enjoys.
"We put in that extra effort, and we are very proud of this fantastic success, and truly grateful to all of our sponsors and contributors for sharing and participating in this worthy goal."
Mr. Hirsch said the foundation had a "very successful year in meeting increasing needs within our aftermarket industry."
He said the foundation has taken steps to further strengthen its board with some "exceptional new people this year" and its relationships with other industry associations, such as the AAIA, AASA and SEMA, "have never been better, and never been stronger."
He added: "We know there have been real needs out there that have not been reaching us so, as awareness of the foundation grows, we know we will face increased case-demands, but we have a great battery of volunteer talent on our Board, and we are absolutely confident that this wonderful industry of ours will always rise to the real needs of its committed people."