PHILADELPHIA & KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the year comes to a close, Pep Boys employees, partners, and customers across the country opened their hearts to help make the holidays brighter for children in need. Earlier this year, Pep Boys announced a national sponsorship of Toys for Tots, the program run by U.S. Marines which collects new, unwrapped toys to give to less fortunate children for the holidays.
As a corporate sponsor, Pep Boys donated $25,000 and worked with Toys for Tots to place collection bins in nearly 1,000 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, significantly adding to the number of locations where Toys for Toys donors can drop off. Customers who brought a Toys for Tots donation to Pep Boys received a coupon for 25%1 off their purchase of parts, accessories, or service as a thank you. Pep Boys corporate offices and distribution centers also had collection bins so all of the Company’s 22,000 employees could participate.
“Our Pep Boys teams really embraced the spirit of giving,” said Chris Cox, CEO-Parts. “The holidays are a busy time for our stores, and our teams worked extra hard this season to make sure their Toys for Tots collections were a success and brought holiday cheer to the community.”
In greater Baltimore, several Pep Boys Speed Shops collaborated with car club partners Ghost Ryders and Koncrete Cruisers and supplier Coca-Cola to bring their Toys for Tots efforts to the East Coast Indoor Nationals Car Show. The effort started the week before when Pep Boys Glen Burnie held a car show with Santa and his holiday helpers collecting toys and bikes. In total, the team collected more than 30 boxes full of toys, 160 bikes and helmets, and raised over $9,000 in t-shirt sales and through an auction of Pep Boys merchandise, a customized 4x4 electric quad, and tickets to local sporting events and amusements parks.
“Every Pep Boys location cares for more than just their community’s cars,” said Brian Kaner, CEO-Service. “We’re proud of how our teams came together to support the Toys for Tots national effort and make an even bigger impact in their neighborhoods.”
Stores in the following locations hosted car shows and community days to help drive toy donations and bring customers and Marine volunteers together for festive holiday activities: Mobile, Ala.; Ontario and West Covina, Calif.; Lakeland, Fla.; Bossier City, La.; and Albuquerque, N.M., where the team participated in the annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run which kicks off the season locally; and Woodbury, N.J., where the store gave both children and family pets the opportunity for photos with Santa.
“Pep Boys’ support of our program has helped to fill a gap that was left by fewer brick and mortar locations serving as collection points,” said Ted Silvester, Vice President-Marketing and Development, Toys for Tots and Colonel, USMC (Ret). “We’re thankful to Pep Boys for coming on as a corporate sponsor and to their tremendous store teams for rallying around the effort and sharing in the spirit of the season with our local Marine coordinators and, most important, their neighbors in need.”
Employees at Pep Boys Philadelphia Store Support Center also continued a 15-year Adopt-a-Family tradition of fulfilling holiday wish lists for local children and families in partnership with the West Chester, Pa.-based Delaware Valley Children Charity. Over 200 gifts were purchased for 36 children and 29 families in need including bikes, clothing and winter coats, and household necessities.
About Pep Boys
Since 1921, Pep Boys has been one of the nation's leading automotive aftermarket chains, providing premium tires; automotive maintenance and repair; premium-brand parts and expert advice for the do-it-yourselfer; commercial auto parts delivery; and fleet maintenance and repair to customers across the U.S. Pep Boys operates more than 9,000 service bays in approximately 1,000 locations in 35 states and Puerto Rico, and the Pep Boy Mobile Crew service trailer, which offers automotive maintenance on location. Customers can find the nearest location by calling 1-800-PEP BOYS (1-800-737-2697), by visiting www.pepboys.com, or following Pep Boys on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
About Icahn Automotive
Icahn Automotive Group LLC (Icahn Automotive) was formed by its parent, Icahn Enterprises L.P. (NASDAQ: IEP), to invest in and operate businesses involved in aftermarket parts distribution and service. Our businesses have a singular focus: provide premium automotive parts and services at a great value. Icahn Automotive today consists of Pep Boys® automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, Auto Plus® automotive aftermarket parts distributor, Precision Tune Auto Care® owned and franchised automotive service centers, and AAMCO Total Auto Care franchised service centers. The Company also is the licensor of Cottman Transmission and operates under several local brands. The businesses of Icahn Automotive total over 22,000 employees, over 2,000 company-owned and franchise locations, and 25 distribution centers throughout the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit IcahnAutomotive.com.
1 Limit one coupon per customer. Must surrender coupon. Not valid on tires, wheels, alignments, oil, antifreeze, refrigerant, electronics, gift cards, special orders, commercial or fleet purchases. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or promotions. Service maintains a maximum savings limit of $25.
