Humanitarian winner helps tornado-ravaged Kentucky

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ron Katz is at it again: Helping others in need.

The co-owner of Midas of West Palm Beach — and the recipient of the 2021 Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Medal — spearheaded an effort to send a truckload of goods to the area of Kentucky recently ravaged by tornadoes.

Katz, who also operates Midas shops in Cutler Bay and Cocoa Beach, Fla., filled a truck packed with essentials such as non-perishable food, bottled water, generators, clothing and other items donated by the Florida community. The supplies, which he valued at more than $20,000, will arrive in Kentucky in a week, transported in a truck donated by a local business, Good Greek Moving and Storage.

As part of the donations, Katz raised more than $2,000 in cash. He used that money to purchase supplies, including blankets and other essentials to keep victims comfortable.

"I feel we need to help the people who have a tragedy in their lives," Katz said. "Being in Florida, if we ever got hit bad by a hurricane, we would want people to help us."

Local church Operation Kingdom International helped Katz raise and organize the goods which filled up two bays at his West Palm location.

Powerful tornadoes ripped through several Kentucky towns Dec. 10-11, killing almost 80 and destroying hundreds of buildings.

Katz is no stranger to such humanitarian efforts. In 2017, he collected money and supplies — topping $20,000 — to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

He followed the same script two years later, when Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas.

In November, the 59-year-old Katz became the 28th winner of the prestigious Humanitarian award, which recognizes an independent tire dealer or retreader in North America who during the past year has made significant contributions to the betterment of his or her community through charitable and/or public service work.

As part of his award, Tire Business donated $2,500 to the charity of his choice: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

"It's great to see the community give back," Katz said.