Once again this year the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) will be hosting its annual All-Industry Golf Outing to kick-off Industry Week in Las Vegas just prior to the start of AAPEX and the SEMA Show. The event will take place with a “shotgun” start at 8:15 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 just off The Strip at the Las Vegas Country Club. All proceeds help fund the foundation’s work as the industry’s only charitable organization dedicated to helping aftermarket industry workers at their most critical time of need.
“Our golf committee is amazing,” said Foundation Director Joel Ayres. “They work tirelessly in a volunteer capacity to organize the biggest and most well-executed golf event our industry has ever known.”
The event, which sells out every year, is organized by a committee consisting of industry leaders Andy Dudash of TBC Corp., Lynn Parker of Lynn Parker Associates, Larry Magee of Heartland Automotive Services, Rich Scovner of Tenneco, Mike Wilcox of Hennessy Industries, Shane Willis of Acel and Jeff Helfrich of TBC Corp.
“The golf committee is proud to put forth this effort on behalf of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation,” said committee member Dudash. “We’ve had tremendous support from so many wonderful companies across the landscape of our industry. It’s just an honor to pull it all together for them and to see everybody gather to have a great time in support of a great cause!”
Due to increased awareness and expanded coverage into all facets of the aftermarket industry, the AACF is now helping record numbers of people in need, supporting more cases than ever before. But, as the mission grows and the far-reaching aid expands, so too does the need for more contributions and support from the industry.
“This is the foundation’s single largest event of the year,” said committee member Parker, “and it’s a time when industry leaders can gather at a beautiful ‘outdoor’ location in Las Vegas to take a short break from competing in business and put their collective efforts into supporting this great cause!”
In addition to the golf tournament, the event also includes a continental breakfast and award luncheon just prior to and after the golf outing. There’s also a pre-event reception, held from 5:30-8:30pm on Sunday evening Oct. 30, also at the Las Vegas Country Club. The golf outing and all sponsorship opportunities are open to all industry participants – from parts manufacturers and specialty products suppliers, to tire manufacturers and distributors, to rep agencies, advertising and marketing firms and technology providers, to automotive service chains, collision repair shops and individually owned repair facilities. You do not need to golf to be a sponsor.
To learn more about how to become a sponsor and/or sign up to play in the event, go to the foundation’s website at aacfi.org/golf. While there, read more about AACF to better understand the work they do and the families and individuals they’ve helped.
In closing, Ayers said, “This is truly a special organization. The cause is one that applies directly to those working in the automotive aftermarket. For more than 50 years, the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation has been assisting individuals and families from the automotive aftermarket industry who have fallen on extreme hard times because of death, serious illness or other financial hardship. The tournament’s fundraising greatly contributes to our continuing efforts to achieve industry-wide awareness and let people know that the foundation is there to help in times of urgent need. This is truly the industry taking care of its own.”
