Bob Geist Wins Car During AAC’s Deserving Rides Vehicle Giveaway
Original Article Posted on Jan. 1 – 13, 2017 by The Beacon & Good Humour
When Advanced Auto Clinic owner Tony Lynn created the Deserving Ridges program, the idea was to provide a dependable automobile to someone who really needed it.
“The program reward a Walworth county resident who consistently puts the needs of others before his or her own,” an information sheet revealed.
“We refurbish a vehicle and ask people in the community to nominate a worthy person who could really use a reliable vehicle,” Lynn said. “It’s a way for us to give back, using our mechanical skills and expertise.”
Pictured above: In attendance at the Dec. 10, 2016 ceremony were (from left): Brad Deschner, WSLD Radio; Advanced Auto Clinic owner Tony Lynn; Santaʼs Sleigh winner Tracy Fate; WSLDʼs Reggie Michaels and Deserving Rides winner Bob Geist. Photos by Pure Concept Media.
When the nominations came in, a committee of five people evaluated the needs of 72 nominees before choosing the winner.
“Seven people nominated Bob Geist,” said Lynn. “ He is retired and spends his time volunteering for the Twin Oaks Homeless Shelter and area food pantries. He won last year’s Herb Kohl Helping Hands Award. So when Geist found himself without a car, not only did he suffer, but so did the many people who depended on him for help.”
Advanced Automotive had acquired a 2007 Ford Fusion that needed a tremendous amount of work before it fit the definition of dependable transportation. Lynn and his employees volunteered their time on evenings and weekends to put the car into shape.
“We replaced a blown engine, brakes, suspension and gave it a new interior to replace the one that was pretty much shot,” said Lynn. “We completely detailed the car and made it look like new. NAPA Auto PArts donated $500 worths of equipment for the car. By the time we had finished, we had put about $6,000 worth of work and parts into it.”
On Dec. 10, Lynn combined the Deserving Rides presentation with the denouement of WSLD RAdio’s Santa Sleigh promotion. People from the radio station presented $3,500 worth of prizes to winner Stacy Fate. Then AAC staff handed the key to the Fusion to Geist, who was obviously overcome by the gift.
The 65-year-old Geist, who retired in 2012 after working as a supervisor at the Wag-Aero shipping warehouse in Lyons, Community Action. This year he handled the fundraising for the annual Twin Oaks golf outing.
There were approximately 150 people on hand for the ceremony at Advanced Auto Clinic on December 10. One of the attendees was so impressed by the program that they donated a car for next year’s project. Lynn said he isn’t sure whether they will conduct another program in the summer, or make it an annual December event.
“Our team at Advanced Auto believes in rebuilding rides to rebuild lives,”.
WHAT IS DESERVING RIDES?
Deserving Rides is a program that was started in 2014 by automotive shop owners who were grateful for the communities in which they lived and worked in by passing down the value of giving . They find used cars, fix them up, make them safe and turn them into reliable transportation. The car is then given away for free to someone who is deserving. The program rewards community residents who consistently put the needs of others before their own. Deserving Rides is a way for us to give back to our great community!
