As a local business owner I believe returning profits back into our community helps sustain it. I also believe in our future; the children who will run our country and the world in future years. In 2008 I pledged to donate a minimum of 2% of our net profits directly back into the community. In 2010 we expanded to not only include our community but to also include other areas both in our country and out that needed our assistance. In 2010 we donated over $12,500, well beyond our 2% minimum pledge, here’s a breakdown of those donations, a brief description of the agency, and our motivation for the donation.
Just as the new year was upon us Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake that leveled the countries capitol, prior to this Ben Stiller had set out to raise money to build schools in Haiti and even started an organization to raise funds “Stillerstrong” utilized the power of Twitter and some help from celebrities to raise money for the schools. Once the earthquake hit the decision was made to redirect funds directly into building temporary schools as students were relocated to to other areas of the country. Futrell Autowerks Inc contributed $1000.00. The people of Haiti and its children still need help, if you’d like to make a donation we suggest the following organizations: http://architectureforhumanity.org , http://www.redcross.org . To date the Stillerstong program has raised more than a quarter million dollars used to help build schools for children in Haiti.
Also in January via Twitter Tony Hawk reached out to his followers to help by making donations for a Skatepark in Watts, California. The city of Watts had already received a grant donation through the Tony Hawk Foundation but was still coming up short for the park build. Futrell Autowerks inc. donated $750.00 directly to Global Giving which was tasked with the additional fundraiser, this was also our first real exposure to the Tony Hawk Foundation and its cause which I’ll get into more later in the report. Global Giving has raised more than $44 million dollars since its inception in 2002, they raise money wherever its needed, its a wonderful organization and I encourage to you visit their website and see if they have a project you might be interested in helping raise funds for. http://www.globalgiving.org
Our next project was a repeat from 2009 and also the program that kicked off our community donations. The SKID (Stop Kids Intoxicated Driving) program provides students at local high schools with a firsthand look of a simulated drunk driving accident. The program is largely privately funded and involves several agencies including the fire department and sheriff’s office. TVFR partners our annual donation with a matched donation from Comcast and airs the previous years event on their VOD (video on demand) service, it’s also regularly played throughout the prom season on news casts. Drunk driving is not the only issue but driving while texting or talking on your cell phone can also lead to a momentary distraction that can permanently change or end lives. This program brings that concept into visual reality for students and I encourage every parent with a teen at home to watch the video or attend a presentation. http://www.skidprogram.org for a list of school’s receiving the presentation this year: http://www.co.washington.or.us/Sheriff/OtherServices/CrimePrevention/skid-program.cfm. Futrell Autowerks contributed $1500 to last year’s program.
With prom season out of the way and summer upon us we received a call from the Tony Hawk Foundation about their annual fundraiser event. The Tony Hawk Foundation provides grants to build skateparks in low income communities, the pretense being that by providing these parks you’re helping a youth stay out of trouble by giving them a positive outlet for their energy and time. The vision of the Tony Hawk Foundation is one I can relate to very closely; provide a child with an outlet and a recreational focus and they’ll stay out of trouble. Baseball, soccer or football aren’t for everyone and these skate parks provide an additional structure that’s missing from many towns and communities. Throughout the rest of the year we were heavily involved with the foundation and traveled to various fundraisers and helped raise awareness. In all we contributed over $6500 into the building of skate parks in Watts, Long Beach and Las Vegas. To learn more about the Tony Hawk Foundation or make a donation you can visit: http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org
Knowing my customers is part of my job and I knew that long time customer Hanna Vaandering was involved with the school district but had a title from a different division; the OEA (Oregon Education Association) finally one day I asked her what the OEA foundation was about. The foundation allows members to submit a request to provide a student with an item(s) they need, like reading glasses, coats, medical care, books, etc. It’s a solid program in that the OEA member will actually follow through on the donation so the funds aren’t misused by a parent/guardian or lost in the bureaucratic shuffle of the school systems (which need a massive budget overhaul by the way). Even as our economy strengthens the OEA Foundation still receives requests of over $2500/per week for items children need right here in our community and throughout the state. To learn more about the OEA Foundation or to make a donation that will directly help a student in need visit http://www.oregoned.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dKKKYMDH&b=130921 . Futrell Autowerks donated $2500 to the OEA last year.
As we closed out the year and with the holiday season upon us I did what I’ve done for many years now and that was visit the Toy & Joy tree at Washington Square. This is the tree that you can review the needs of a child or mentally disabled person and the item they are requesting then go pick the item out for them, purchase it and put the card on the item. Its a direct line to help someone less fortunate during the holiday season. This year I allowed my oldest son to help pick out the recipients so he can began understanding the value of helping someone in need at a very special time. We picked out just over $300 in toys, movies and blankets this year.
Contributing profits back into our community doesn’t stop here, we’ll continue to be involved as we have in the past and one area we hope to really focus in on is our high school automotive classes. Over the years teaching students auto shop at high school has dwindled down to being nearly non-existent throughout the Hillsboro and Beaverton school districts. We need to get this course back into place so students have the option of learning about auto mechanics and can explore joining the automotive industry. It’s my goal to see this program be restored and flourish; being an automotive technician is a viable, sustainable career and needs to be an option for our students.
Thank you for your business,
Dean Futrell, CEO
Futrell Autowerks Inc.
