It's the holiday season so it seems appropriate to talk about what corporations are willing to give away or give back to the community. And I'm going to get to that, but before I do I have to preface those remarks with this: nothing makes me angrier than some corporate do-gooders who are doing good just to make themselves look good.
What's worse are the do-gooders who make a big deal about doing good, but whose actions are actually opposite of their corporate speak. Case in point is beer magnate Pete Coors who we have all seen on TV dozens of times. His message is, "When we at Coors say, '21 means 21,' believe me, it's no joke. We'll wait for your business." Now if you can't think of why you haven't seen these commercials lately, it may be because Pete was recently arrested for DUI, plus the fact that he's gotten a little bad press over the minor detail that he has lobbied to lower the drinking age.
My favorite example that exemplifies the "Hypocritical Oath" is the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which ran a TV ad that said, "Some politicians want to label carbon dioxide a pollutant...Carbon dioxide: They call it pollution. We call it life." What the institute doesn't tell you is that it has received almost $2 million from a major oil firm.
It's much too easy to find examples of do-goodery hypocrisy. What's not so easy to find are the businesses that are doing good just for the sake of doing good. However, I have two examples of businesses in our own market that deserve praise and gratitude.
Through its Bumper to Bumper and Auto Value membership made up of warehouses, parts stores, service centers and 14 vendor partners, the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance will help provide more than 500 refurbished vehicles next year to victims of domestic abuse nationwide. The vehicles to be overhauled are provided by Charity Cars, a nonprofit organization that has been giving away cars for about 10 years. This national campaign was derived from a local campaign organized by Chicago-based Lee Auto Parts, a Bumper to Bumper member. This event — which featured the giveaway of 100 vehicles — was the most emotionally powerful event I've ever attended.
My second example is NASCAR, which recently rolled out a new TV show called "NASCAR Angels." Truly a gift from above, so to speak, the show features vehicle owners who are in desperate need of a break in life. By providing crucial automotive repairs, NASCAR, along with its service partner Goodyear Gemini, are helping to alleviate some of the daily stress for some who are experiencing hard times. Show Director David Miller said it best when the cars are given back to their owners, "It's Christmas every week." (See Nov. 2006 issue for the full story.)
So when you sit down to watch all of the football games over the holidays and break open that can of anything but Coors beer, please reflect on these heartfelt programs in which the providers are not looking for anything in return. Your holiday and life will be a little richer for it.
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