Collex Collision Giving Away 6 Cars
2008 Collex Collision Experts
"Wheels of Hope"
Benevolence Car Program
Wheels of Hope BrochureWheels of Hope Donation Form
Wheels of Hope Application - Michigan
Wheels of Hope Application - Florida
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Friday, December 12, 2008 6:32 AM EST
By Mitch Hotts, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Six weeks ago, Tonya Compton of Eastpointe thought her world was coming to an end.
The mother of seven children, whose husband is hospitalized recovering from a stroke, lost her home when a fire broke out in her kitchen.
But on Thursday, the Detroit native was left almost speechless as she received a refurbished car along with hundreds of dollars in goods and services.
"This is a blessing, that's all I can say," Compton said. "You cannot begin to know how this car will help me and my family. Things have been kind of turned upside down in my life recently."
Compton was one of four female recipients of goodwill offered by the employees and vendors of Collex Collision Experts' Wheels of Hope program, which involves more than 70 companies and individuals donating money or labor to the women.
The Clinton Township-based Collex Collision, a family-run operation, started the program three years ago, giving away two used cars that Collex workers provided with extreme makeovers including paint jobs, tune-ups and mechanical repairs.
The company works with charitable organizations to identify people deserving the gently used — and almost new— vehicles.
"It's just nice to give a jump-start to four families from our family at Collex," said Collex co-owner Robert Gagliano.
Working with their customers and vendors, Collex also was able to deliver more than $10,000 of labor in goods in the refurbished vehicles, along with a year's worth of insurance, gas cards, car wash coupons, restaurant gift cards, grocery cards, AAA road service and a bag of presents for the children.
For Compton, it was almost too much.
Her husband, John, remains in the intensive care unit at St. John Hospital and there's no telling when he'll be released. Their family home burned down in October, leaving Compton and her children to stay at a hotel. She had no insurance on the home.
Her current vehicle is unreliable and often stalls several times when she takes her children to school in East Detroit Public Schools.
Still, Compton remains positive about life.
"I am simply grateful to be alive," she said. "My students are on the honor roll, we're still alive, all with God's help."
Her mother agreed.
"That is one praying child," said Rosa Richardson of Detroit. "Thank god someone is helping her because she deserves it. Words can't express how we feel about this."
Other women receiving early Christmas presents from Collex include:
Connie Bongiorno of Sterling Heights, a single mother of twin 9-year-olds, who recently was able to obtain a new job.
Erica Traylor of Clinton Township, a single mother of a 4-year-old girl, who sits on a bus for four hours a day traveling to her day care job in Troy and back home to attend classes at Baker College.
Pa Patricia Fitzpatrick of South Lyon, a single mother of four, including a son with special needs.
Click to Watch Wheels of Hope on fox 2 News
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For over 30 years, Collex Collision Experts has supported and actively given back to the local communities that we do business in. Two years ago we began the Wheels of HOPE program, in which our technicians restore used
vehicles to like new condition and then donate them to deserving families that have no means of transportation. The vehicles are acquired through donations by Collex
Collision, charitable organizations, including Charity Motors and
Volunteers of America, and individuals.
Over the past two years we have been able to give away 7 vehicles along with gas cards, gifts cards, and vehicle insurance for one year. Through the donations and support of our employees, vendors, and local communities we have given over $50,000 to these families.
We have receive applications from local non-profit organizations including Compassion Pregnancy, Michigan Works, the Military Relief Foundation, and the Yatooma Foundation. The recipients are narrowed down by a thorough selection process including background checks and interviews. Our goal is to find individuals who have legitimate transportation needs, clean driving records, and are actively trying to provide for their families.
This year our goal is to give away 6 vehicles. If you are interested in making a donation or donating a vehicle, please contact Julie Gagliano at (586) 615-7753. All donations including vehicles are tax deductible.
See previous year href="wheelshope2.htm">Benevolence Car Program
Collex Collision Experts is your auto body and collision repair specialist in Metro-Detroit and Southwest Florida with shops in:
Ann Arbor,
Clawson,
Clinton Twp.,
Livonia,
Novi,
Orion Twp.,
Rochester,
Sterling Heights,
Warren,
Washington,
Wayne, Michigan (MI) and
Ft. Myers (FL),
Naples (FL),
Cape Coral (FL).