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Previously, WFLA’s toy drive has traditionally filled a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or two with toys to give to children via local charities. This year, the group joined forces with local businesses that have also been assuming the role of Santa Claus for less-fortunate children—including Kelly’s Chic-A-Boom Room in Dunedin, Stroker’s in Palm Harbor, BobCAD-Cam, and Showtime Transportation—to make a bigger impact.
“We’ve been buying bikes for underprivileged kids as a small group, so when the WFLA proposed joining forces with us, I was all about more bike donations,” said Shawn Brown of Showtime Transportation, who has been a driving force for the cause as a contributor and bike donor for many years.
Prior to the event, the WFLA went on a shopping spree of its own to buy a few bikes for boys and girls of different ages. WFLA’s President Jeremy Jenkins of His & Hers Limousines and Vice President Ryan Hilberth of Rental Limo, Book.limo, and LMS filled a Sprinter with various bikes they purchased on the association’s behalf as donations that they hope inspire the same holiday cheer they experienced as children.
“I remember getting a bike for Christmas as a kid, and it was one of the best feelings,” said Jenkins.
On December 13, Bikes for Children met at Kelly’s Chic-A-Boom Room in Dunedin, Fla., with many representatives from the Children’s Home Network in attendance as dozens of bicycles, toy donations, and attendees alike poured in all night long. In total, more than a hundred toys and 90 bikes were collected on behalf of the benefitting charity. Among them, Dave Shaw and Steve Gould of Olympus Limo showed up with a pink chrome trick bicycle as their donation, while Jerry Hval of Luxor Limousine donated a Batman bike that delighted attendees’ inner children.
The WFLA board considers the event a resounding success.
“Imagine all the positives from giving so many children a bike this holiday season,” said Hilberth. “It was amazing to see the overwhelming amount of support that Bikes for Children received not only within the WFLA but also outside of our industry, and I’m so excited to be a part of this.”
Anyone interested in further supporting either Bikes for Children or Children’s Home Network can find out more at either bikesforchildren.org or childrenshomenetwork.org, respectively.
Visit wfla.org for more information about the WFLA.
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A strategic business unit leader with extensive sales and marketing experience, Apple’s role at MCI will include leading a team of 10 MCI pre-owned sales professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada while ensuring the best pre-owned trade-in valuations in the industry and the right mix of available inventory.
Apple will be based at MCI at its Sales and Service Center in Des Plaines, and will report to Patrick Scully, MCI executive vice president of sales and marketing.
“We built the pre-owned business based on MCI’s closeness to our customers, and with Mike’s background, skillset and drive, we’re going to only build on our reputation as the industry leading OEM offering 24/7 roadside assistance, technical support, OE parts supply and an unrivaled North American system for maintenance and repair,” said Scully.
Apple said that he is honored to step into his new role. “Pre-owned sales allows operators large and small significant flexibility in building their fleets and marketshare, and MCI knows pre-owned. I look forward to building what is already the best team in the industry,” he said.
MCI’s pre-owned sales inventory is based at each of the MCI Sales and Service Centers throughout North America. Renovations are going on now at every location with upgraded parts and service offerings to mirror the newest, state-of-the art San Francisco Bay area location that opened in 2017 in Hayward, CA. All locations now offer new and pre-owned coach inventory in addition to an all-new OE parts supply system and expanding technician training opportunities.
“With Mike’s dedication to our future strategic plans, it’s a win-win for MCI and our customers,” said Scully.
Visit mcicoach.com for more information.
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Polio is a highly infectious disease that causes paralysis and is sometimes fatal. The disease remains endemic in three countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, and other countries remain at risk for imported cases.
To help increase polio awareness, John Bailey, president of Bailey Coach and a Hanover Rotarian, created a Rotary coach with his newest Van Hool CX45, which was purchased earlier this year from ABC Companies. Bailey has also donated four weeks’ use of this coach to do humanitarian work in the Eastern U.S. with Rotarians assisting in the efforts.
The coach has been showcased at several events including the Hanover Rotary Club luncheon event in October, which featured special guest speaker John Nanni, a Rotarian and 64-year polio survivor. Nanni, who chairs the Delaware district 7630 Rotary, spoke of his experience to continue efforts of building awareness that this disease remains an endemic throughout the world.
Bailey Trailways is no stranger to designing theme coaches or sharing its resources for charity. Bailey themed his first to honor the military and dedicated it to his father, WWII veteran, Captain J. Bailey. They have also themed coaches for York County Visitors Bureau, Rotary Club, and one for Gold Star families. The company believes highly in giving back to the community and to those in need. They operate an annual veterans’ trip where they transport more than 425 veterans on eight coaches to Gettysburg for a museum and tour experience as well as to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. They also played a very active role in hurricane relief efforts in Texas and Florida, in which nearly 1 million pounds of supplies were collected.
“I will do almost anything to gain a better awareness for a non-profit,” said Bailey. “We need to be good stewards to our communities. We believe in instilling in our staff that we all need to go above and beyond making a profit by making a difference in the community and helping those that are less fortunate.”
Visit baileycoach.com for more information.
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