American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) has donated $270,000 to four charitable organizations: The Ada Jenkins Center, The Urban Ministry Center, The Austin Hatcher Fund and The Independence Fund.
The gifts were announced at the company’s 26th Annual ATD Charity Classic golf tournament, an event that has now contributed more than $1.5 million in total support to local and national nonprofit organizations.
This year’s donations were raised by contributions from vendors participating in the golf tournament and a contribution from ATD.
“We’ve been an active member in the communities in which we operate for over 75 years and we believe it’s absolutely essential to support groups that help address the important needs of people in our communities,” says William E. “Bill” Berry, president and CEO. “We want to thank all our vendors whose generous contributions, along with ATD’s direct gift, have made it possible to support this year’s worthy recipients.”
In addition, ATD is establishing a long-term relationship with The Independence Fund, a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to move the nation’s severely injured veterans toward greater independence.
The Independence Fund distributes TrackChairs, which are customized wheelchairs, to qualifying veterans to provide them with improved mobility. ATD donated $100,000 to The Independence Fund at the ATD Charity Golf Tournament awards dinner. Brian Conwell, a severely injured U.S. Army veteran, was on-hand with his son to accept a TrackChair at the ATD event.
The other charities and the amounts donated to each are:
*$100,000 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. This foundation’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing through survivorship. The Austin Hatcher Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, at no cost. Services are funded solely through donations from foundation supporters.
* $35,000 to The Ada Jenkins Center, which supports people in the North Charlotte area become better educated, healthier and economically self-sufficient. The Center accomplishes this objective through the integrated delivery of health and human services. “We are so very pleased to receive this donation from American Tire Distributors,” says Georgia Krueger, development director of The Ada Jenkins Center. “This donation comes at a great time. As we enter the holiday season and the winter months, ATD’s generosity will allow us to serve so many members of the community in need.”
* $35,000 to The Urban Ministry Center, which is an interfaith organization dedicated to bringing the community together to end homelessness. The Center serves as a point of entry to services offered by a network of agencies that work together to provide necessary opportunities and services for the Charlotte homeless population. The Urban Ministry Center provides these services through private support in a more cost effective manner than local shelters or other government funded options.
