By: Maya Sanches—
Muncie,IN – Belle Tire Distributors Inc. has donated $10,000 to five participating non-profits during the Choose Your Charity Challenge, a contest that took place for two months following the store’s grand opening. The combined $10,000 was distributed among the following organizations: A Better Way, Brightpoint for a Brighter Future Supported Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), Muncie Police Department, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana and the Youth Opportunity Center.
“One of our core values at Belle Tire is committing to and investing in the communities we call home, focusing on customer service, job creation and local organizations that make our communities a better place,” said Don Barnes III, Belle Tire president. “This was a sincere community effort, and people in Muncie were the ones who made it possible for us to donate. They came together to support these five organizations and for that, we thank you.”
This was the first Choose Your Charity Challenge program and customers decided the amount of donations by voting for their non-profit of choice. For the first two months after the opening, community members who purchased tires or auto service at the Belle Tire Muncie location had the opportunity to choose which of the five organizations they would like Belle Tire to donate a portion of the visit’s proceeds to. All donations were made by Belle Tire, at no cost to customers.
Brightpoint for a Brighter Future SSVF topped the list with the most votes and received $2,242.10, followed by Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, whose votes amounted to $2,126.32 – worth over 8,500 meals – and Muncie Police Department, who received $2,115.79. A Better Way was presented with $1,768.42, and Youth Opportunity Center was close behind with $1,747.37.
Directors of Retail Operation Mike Barnes and Ray Turner, alongside Muncie store manager, Rocky Johnson, presented the checks to representatives of each organization.
“I’m very proud to have grown up in a community that comes together to help others. It was incredible to witness how much people wanted to vote and help donate to their favorite charity. Being from a community like this, that is truly a family, paired with working for a company that wants to help, it’s very rewarding to come to work every day,” Johnson. “I’m very grateful to be able to be with the people I love and do good things that will better the community.
Since its founding nearly 100 years ago, the tire retailer has been a staple in the communities where it does business, supporting schools and other organizations. Information on Belle Tire’s donation and hockey club programs can be found on www.belletire.com/about/community.
About Belle Tire
Belle Tire Distributors, Inc., a family-owned business in Allen Park, Mich., offers discount tires and a variety of automotive services ranging from auto glass repair and replacement, brakes, alignments batteries, shocks and struts, exhaust repair and oil changes. The company was founded in 1922 when it opened the first Belle Tire location in Detroit and has now expanded to more than 90 locations across Michigan, northern Ohio and Indiana. For more information about Belle Tire, please visit http://www.belletire.com.
