Driven Brands

20 12, 2023

Take 5 Oil Change reaches milestone with 1,000th location grand opening

2023-12-20T22:14:20-05:00December 20th, 2023|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Take 5 Oil Change, a leader in the quick lube industry, celebrated a momentous occasion today with the grand opening of its 1,000th location. This marks an extraordinary achievement, propelling the brand’s growth by more than 1,400% since its acquisition by Driven Brands in 2016.

Following on the grand opening of its 300th franchised location in the U.S. earlier this year, Take 5 Oil Change continues to solidify its position as a leading player in the quick lube industry. The stay-in-your-car oil change franchise climbed the ranks on the Franchise Times’ Top 400 and Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 lists in 2023, coming in at #87 and #106, respectively.

“This is a major milestone for our brand, which started with humble beginnings as a local oil change shop in New Orleans back in the 1980s,” said Mo Khalid, EVP and Group President, Maintenance, Driven Brands. “Since acquiring Take 5 Oil Change with only 50 locations, we have seen tremendous growth and have more in the pipeline to look forward to.”

The newest service center, operated by franchisee Purple Square Group and located in Fort Pierce, Florida, hosted a 1,000th grand opening celebration in honor of the milestone. The event featured Take 5’s partners and premier oil suppliers, RelaDyne and Mobil 1. RelaDyne showcased a sprint car exhibition and hosted a meet and greet with accomplished sprint car driver, Logan Schuchart. Mobil 1, one of Take 5’s newest collaborators, added to the excitement with a NASCAR vehicle display and an immersive racing simulator, creating an unforgettable experience for attendees.

As part of its commitment to local communities, Take 5 Oil Change will make a charitable donation of $5,000 to GraceWay Village, which serves the Fort Pierce community. GraceWay Village is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting residents who face challenges related to poverty, food scarcity, homelessness, and other pressing needs. Take 5 Oil Change’s support of local communities runs deep. Throughout 2023, Take 5 Oil Change locations collectively raised over $1.1 million for children’s hospitals nationwide and organizations supporting active duty military, veterans, and their families.

About Take 5 Oil Change
Established in 1984, Take 5 Oil Change® is a quick lube service featuring a unique drive-thru concept that allows customers to never leave the comfort of their car. The brand offers an on average 10-minute oil change service and ancillary services such as air filter replacement, wiper blade changes, and coolant exchanges. Take 5 has more than 900 company-owned and franchised service centers throughout the United States and Canada. Take 5 Oil Change is a member of Driven Brands, the largest automotive services company in North America. For more information, visit https://www.take5.com/oil-change/. To learn more about Take 5 Oil Change franchise opportunities, visit https://take5franchise.com/.

About Driven Brands
Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,900 locations across 14 countries, and services over 70 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates approximately $2.3 billion in annual revenue from more than $6.2 billion in system-wide sales.

1 11, 2023

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

2023-11-01T12:13:43-04:00November 1st, 2023|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

–Revenue increased 12% powered by 6% same-store sales growth and 6% net store growth–

–Reaffirms fiscal year 2023 financial outlook–

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DRVN) (“Driven Brands” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

For the third quarter, Driven Brands delivered revenue of $581.0 million, up 12 percent versus the prior year. System-wide sales were $1.6 billion, up 10 percent versus the prior year driven by 6 percent same-store sales growth and 6 percent net store growth. The Company added 55 net new stores in the quarter.

During the third quarter, we had an $851 million non-cash goodwill impairment in the Car Wash segment as well as $111 million in non-cash asset impairment charges and lease terminations. This drove a Net Loss of $799.3 million or a Net Loss of $4.83 per diluted share versus Net Income of $38.4 million in the prior year. Adjusted Net Income1 decreased 39 percent to $33.7 million or $0.20 per diluted share1, and Adjusted EBITDA1 decreased 2 percent to $127.2 million. Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, increased 26 percent to $212.0 million compared to $167.7 million in the prior year.

“This quarter, we continued to see meaningful growth and strong operational performance across our portfolio excluding our US Car Wash and Glass businesses. I’m delighted to report we recently opened our 300th franchised Take 5 Oil Change location and I’m looking forward to celebrating our 1,000th location in the fourth quarter,” said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“As discussed at our Investor Day on September 20, we remain focused on operational improvements in the US Car Wash business, while making steady progress on the US Glass integration. Given continued weak consumer demand and increasing competition in the US Car Wash sector, we are strategically pausing capital investment in this business. Looking ahead to 2024, the Driven Brands team is prioritizing continued progress in our US Car Wash and US Glass businesses, disciplined deployment of capital, and generating free cash flow, which will primarily be used to pay down debt.”

Capital and Liquidity

The Company ended the third quarter with total liquidity of $386.8 million consisting of $211.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, and $175.5 million of undrawn capacity on its variable funding securitization senior notes and revolving credit facility. This does not include the additional $135.0 million Series 2022 Class A-1 Notes that expand the Company’s variable funding note borrowing capacity when the Company elects to exercise it, assuming certain conditions continue to be met.

Share Repurchase Program

During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company repurchased 3,601,694 shares of its common stock for approximately $50 million at an average price of $13.87, completing the repurchase authorization approved by the Board of Directors in August 2023.  All repurchases were made on the open market.

Fiscal Year 2023 Outlook

The Company reaffirms its financial outlook for fiscal year 2023.

Conference Call

Driven Brands will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2023 results today, Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at 8:30am ET. The call will be available by webcast and can be accessed by visiting Driven Brands’ Investor Relations website at investors.drivenbrands.com. A replay of the call will be available for three months.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, trends, plans, objectives of management, impact of accounting standards and guidance, impairments, and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (i) our strategy, outlook and growth prospects; (ii) our operational and financial targets and dividend policy; (iii) general economic trends and trends in the industry and markets; (iv) the risks and costs associated with the integration of, and our ability to integrate, our stores and business units successfully to achieve anticipated synergies; (v) the proper application of generally accepted accounting principles, which are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates, and judgments and (vi) the competitive environment in which we operate. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but instead represent our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as well as in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its website at www.sec.gov. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following information provides definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company has provided this non-GAAP financial information, which is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the financial measures presented in this earnings release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release. The non-GAAP financial measures in this earnings release may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures in Guidance

Driven Brands includes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS in the Company’s Fiscal Year 2023 Guidance. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures and have not been reconciled to the most comparable GAAP outlook because it is not possible to do so without unreasonable efforts due to the uncertainty and potential variability of reconciling items, which are dependent on future events and often outside of management’s control and which could be significant. Because such items cannot be reasonably predicted with the level of precision required, we are unable to provide outlook for the comparable GAAP measures. Forward-looking estimates of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are made in a manner consistent with the relevant definitions and assumptions noted herein and in our filings with the SEC.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted net income attributable to Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (“Adjusted Net Income”) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to Driven Brands common stockholders (“Adjusted Earnings Per Share”) are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules because they exclude certain amounts included in the net income attributable to Driven Brands common  stockholders and diluted earnings per share attributable to Driven Brands common stockholders calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are meaningful measures to share with investors because they facilitate comparison of the current period performance with that of the comparable prior period. In addition, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share afford investors a view of what management considers to be Driven Brands’ core earnings performance as well as the ability to make a more informed assessment of such earnings performance with that of the prior period.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules because it excludes certain amounts included in net income calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure to share with investors because it facilitates comparison of the current period performance with that of the comparable prior period. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA affords investors a view of what management considers to be Driven Brand’s core operating performance as well as the ability to make a more informed assessment of such operating performance as compared with that of the prior period.

Please see the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023, for additional information on Adjusted EBITDA. The tables below reflect the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to the three and nine months ended September 24, 2022.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,900 locations across 14 countries, and services over 70 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates approximately $2.3 billion in annual revenue from approximately $6.2 billion in system-wide sales.

7 10, 2022

Driven Brands Doubles U.S. Take 5 Oil Change® Franchise Locations in Last 12 months Supported by Consumer Demand and Compelling Economics

2022-10-07T10:27:32-04:00October 7th, 2022|Tags: , , |

Take 5 Oil Change® expands total footprint to over 800 locations across the U.S. and Canada, with over 950 additional locations in pipeline, providing a multiyear runway for growth.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DRVN) (“Driven Brands” or the “Company”) the largest automotive aftermarket company in North America, announced today that Take 5 Oil Change® opened its 200th U.S. franchised location this week, in Hutto, Texas. Ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2022 list of the Fastest-Growing Franchises, Take 5 Oil Change® has doubled its U.S. franchise store count over the last year.

Since acquiring Take 5 Oil Change® in 2016 with its differentiated fast, friendly, 10-minute stay-in-you-car oil change model, Driven Brands has scaled the business from less than 50 locations to more than 800 company-operated and franchised locations across the U.S. and Canada today. Franchise openings have accelerated as the differentiated speed and service of the Take 5 Oil Change® offering continues to resonate with consumers and drive strong unit level economics and high return on investment.

“The Take 5 Oil Change® team has done a phenomenal job at taking a differentiated go-to-market strategy and building it into one of the most well-respected brands in the category. We offer a simple operating model with compelling unit level economics and operate in a highly fragmented industry that provides us with a significant runway for growth,” said Danny Rivera, EVP and Group President of Maintenance at Driven Brands. “That momentum has continued with an expanded pipeline of over 950 future locations, primarily franchised, that provide us strong visibility into unit growth over the next few years.”

Take 5 Oil Change® franchisees are often multi-unit developers and operators who commit to opening multiple locations in a geographic region. Given the strong return on investment, many franchisees are already signing their second multi-location development agreement. The 200th U.S. franchisee, Larry King is a longtime CARSTAR® franchise owner, who expanded his Driven Brands relationship to also own and manage four Take 5 Oil Change® locations, with two more to open later this year.

Take 5 Oil Change® is a quick lube service featuring a unique drive-thru concept that allows customers to never leave the comfort of their car. It offers a convenience to retail and commercial customers with a simple operating model and focused menu that enables industry-leading speed of service.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: (i) our strategy, outlook and growth prospects; (ii) our operational and financial targets and dividend policy; (iii) general economic trends and trends in the industry and markets; and (iv) the competitive environment in which we operate. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead represent our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2021 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its website at www.sec.gov. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,600 locations across 15 countries, and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates more than $1.7 billion in annual revenue from more than $5.0 billion in system-wide sales.

Established in 1984, Take 5 Oil Change® is a quick lube service featuring a unique drive-thru concept that allows customers to never leave the comfort of their car. The brand offers an on average 10-minute oil change service and ancillary services such as air filter replacement, wiper blade changes, and coolant exchanges. Take 5 has more than 800 company-owned and franchised service centers throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.take5oilchange.com.

10 11, 2021

Study Shows 70 Percent of Consumers Report Transparency Is “Very Important” When Selecting an Automotive Repair Shop

2021-11-10T10:51:53-05:00November 10th, 2021|Tags: , , |

Meineke’s eInspection Tool Meets Need by Providing Customers with Real-Time Updates.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four out of five consumers say transparency is “very important” when choosing an automotive repair shop, according to a new Maru public opinion poll.

The researchers’ findings boost the argument that new technologies, such as Meineke’s® eInspection  offering, are crucial in fostering transparency and building trust with consumers. Thanks to the commitment to transparency, customers are empowered to make informed decisions about auto repair services straight from their phones, when they receive real-time service updates, inspection pictures and repair videos from Meineke technicians.

The study showed that consumers want more from their auto repair shop than regular service alone, and local Meineke franchisees have experienced customers’ preferences firsthand.

“Now more than ever, my customers want to know exactly what is going on with their vehicle,” said Bert Figearo, who owns 22 Meineke centers in Las Vegas. “They want transparency about the pricing of our repair services, and they want to understand the work that is being done on their vehicle.”

The eInspection tool allows customers to better understand services offered and recommended, including oil changes, exhaust and mufflers, brakes, tires and wheels, air conditioning, steering and suspension, and more. As a result, customers can make informed choices about their vehicles.

The survey, conducted in early October, assessed consumers’ preferences when selecting an automotive repair shop. Researchers also found that more than half of consumers are more likely to choose an auto repair shop that offers a loyalty program (59 percent) and gives back to its local community (54 percent).

“At Meineke, we’re proud to offer eInspection and a rewards program, so that our customers can see what technicians are working on in the garage, and they can earn points toward free maintenance services,” said Kaitlin O’Malley, digital marketing manager for Meineke. “We’re also excited that consumers share our commitment to supporting charitable organizations like Operation Homefront, which provides financial relief to military families in need.”

Consumers interested in visiting their local franchise can learn more about Meineke’s® eInspection, Rewards Program, philanthropic work and services at www.Meineke.com.

About the Survey
From October 1st to October 2nd 2021 an online survey of 1,519 randomly selected American adults who are Maru Springboard America Community panel members was executed by Maru/Blue. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been weighted by education, age, gender and region to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of America. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive service businesses including  Take 5 Oil Change®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C® and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,300 locations across 15 countries and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands’ network generates more than $1 billion in revenue from more than $4 billion in system-wide sales. For more information on the power of Driven Brands, visit www.DrivenBrands.com.

14 10, 2021

Merlin Complete Auto Care Launches New Website

2021-10-14T10:07:57-04:00October 14th, 2021|Tags: , , , , |

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — After months of hard work and dedication from our team, Merlin Complete Auto Care is pleased to announce the launch of its new website at www.merlins.com!

Customer experience is something we value at Merlin Complete Auto Care. We want every customer to have a great impression of our brand and walk away knowing they received the best service. With that in mind, we crafted a brand-new website that is easy to navigate and since you can find all the necessary information you need it saves you time.

Our brand transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Getting our customers’ cars to 200,000 miles takes lots of care and commitment — and a little bit of magic. Our brand highlights the moments built from “Merlin Magic,” both with the car owner and the technicians that extend the life of the owner’s car. It is these moments that separate a traditional automotive service experience from a magical one.

Some key features of the new site to note are:

  • Advanced location searching
  • Updated offers by location
  • Robust appointment setting
  • Franchise opportunities

“We are excited to announce the launch of our new website,” said Valerie Zabriskie, Marketing Director at Merlin Complete Auto Care. “Our goal with this new website is to improve the customer’s journey through clear messaging of all our services and new navigation designed for ease of use.”

Merlin Complete Auto Care invites visitors to explore the new website allowing customers to fully see all the services Merlin has to offer.

About Merlin Complete Auto Care:     

With over 4200 centers in North America, Merlin Complete Auto Care is part of the Driven Brands family of companies. We offer a neighborhood approach to automotive service and provide both repair and maintenance services as well as tire services.

For more information, visit www.merlins.com.

20 11, 2020

Merlin Complete Auto Care Small Business Wins Synchrony Pillars Project Awards

2020-11-20T10:19:03-05:00November 20th, 2020|Tags: , , , , |

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill. — Merlin Complete Auto Care today announced that small business owner, Muffadal Simba, has won a Synchrony Pillars Project award from Synchrony, a premier consumer financial services company. Muffadal Simba has supported the Glendale Heights community through times of change. As a winner he will receive a $10,000 prize to grow his business and honor its resiliency and ability to transform the lives of those in their communities.

“Muffadel Simba’s community service has been a guide that we can all hope to emulate,” said Abraham Nunez, General Manager of Merlin Complete Auto Care. “On behalf of the Merlin team, we are proud of his business and community accomplishments.”

“He has been an inspiration of care and support to those in need in the community of Glendale Heights,” said Valerie Zabriskie, Marketing Director at Merlin Complete Auto Care. “This award is a testament to Muffadel’s extraordinary character; we are proud to have him in the Merlin family.”

“A 2020 Synchrony Pillar is someone who brings bold new thinking to the table, a leader who is passionate about their community and supports it through the ups and downs,” said Neeraj Mehta, CEO, Payment Solutions, Synchrony. “We are honored to recognize this year’s award winners for their successes and how they are changing what’s possible for their business and community.”

About Synchrony

Synchrony is a premier consumer financial services company. We deliver a wide range of specialized financing programs, as well as innovative consumer banking products, across key industries including digital, retail, home, auto, travel, health and pet. Synchrony enables our partners to grow sales and loyalty with consumers. We are one of the largest issuers of private label credit cards in the United States; we also offer co-branded products, installment loans and consumer financing products for small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as healthcare providers.

Synchrony is changing what’s possible through our digital capabilities, deep industry expertise, actionable data insights, frictionless customer experience and customized financing solutions.

For more information, visit www.synchrony.com and Twitter: @Synchrony

About Merlin Complete Auto Care

With over 3500 centers in North America, Merlin Complete Auto Care is part of the Driven Brands family of companies. Locally-owned and operated in Glendale Heights, Illinois, franchise owner Simba Muffadal and his team are dedicated to premier service, customer education, and community service.

For more information visit: Merlins.com

6 10, 2020

Celebrating Ten Years of Putting the Brakes on Breast Cancer!

2020-10-06T10:36:04-04:00October 6th, 2020|Tags: , , , , |

Throughout October automotive repair shops across the country are looking to end breast cancer with a unique fundraising campaign.

GENEVA, Ill. — During the month of October, Merlin Complete Auto Care in Glendale Heights, IL, and more than 200 Independent Auto Repair Shops across the US are raising funds for a breast cancer vaccine as part of the Brakes for Breasts fundraiser.

As part of the fundraiser, these auto repair facilities are giving away FREE (quality) brake pads or shoes.  The customer simply pays the labor and any other ancillary parts necessary to complete the brake job and the shops then donate 10% of the brake job directly to Dr. Vincent Tuohy & the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund.

100% of what we donate goes directly to research!  Celebrating our 10th year and $1,000,000.00!

2020 marks the tenth year for the Brakes For Breasts fundraiser.

2011 Our 1st year – 5 shops in Ohio raised $10,000 
2012 Our 2nd year – 27 shops in 17 states raised $32,848
2013 Our 3rd year – 66 independent auto repair shops in 27 states raised $66,499
2014 Our 4th year – 143 independent auto repair shops in 29 states raised $115,236.53
2015 Our 5th year – 174 independent auto repair shops in 32 states raised $141,868
2016 Our 6th year – 131 independent auto repair shops in 35 states (most ever!) $125,867.37
2017 Our 7th year – 114 independent auto repair shops in 34 states raised $114,389.20
2018 Our 8th year – 138 independent auto repair shops in 34 states and 2 countries raised $141,061.80
2019 Our 9th year – 141 independent auto repair shops in 38 states and 2 countries raised $194,160.04

To date donation total is $940,931.74!

This Brakes For Breasts fundraiser is different from any other breast cancer fundraising campaigns:

  1. Dr. Tuohy at the Cleveland Clinic has actually created a vaccine that has proved effective in laboratory animals in actually preventing breast cancer. Think about polio, eradicated because of a vaccine, a distant memory for most generations. This is the same principle!
  2. Dr. Tuohy and his team are rounding the corner and are hoping to start Phase 1 trials in 2020.
  3. 100% of the proceeds from the ‘Brakes for Breasts’ fundraiser goes directly to the Cleveland Clinic for research on the Breast Cancer Vaccine.
  4. These are just “mom & pop” shops across the country, independent business owners that have joined hands for a great cause.

For more information about the breast cancer vaccine, Dr. Tuohy and a list of participating shops, go to www.brakesforbreasts.com, download our “Brakes for Breasts” app to your smart phone and like us on Facebook!

About Merlin Complete Auto Care:

With over 3500 centers in North America Merlin Complete Auto Care is part of the Driven Brands family of companies. Locally-owned and operated in Glendale Heights, Illinois, franchise owner Muffadal Simba and his team are dedicated to premier service, customer education, and community service.

More information visit: Merlins.com

30 01, 2020

Merlins of Glendale Heights IL, Vehicle Donation

2020-01-30T10:32:17-05:00January 30th, 2020|Tags: , , , , |

Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops of Glen Ellen, IL Donates a Vehicle to Help the Bridge Communities.

ST. CHARLES, Ill. — Merlin 200,000 Mile Shop of Glendale Heights is excited to donate a vehicle to a family in need. Franchise owner Muffadal Simba sought to help his community and families. As a father and husband, he understands how important family is.

The Village of Glendale Heights recommended Bridge Communities as an organization helping Glendale Heights families in need. Car donations are one of the biggest challenges that client families in the Transitional Housing Program struggle with, as well as finding and retaining a good job that will support their families.

“I am delighted that the Village was able to facilitate the connection of our local Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop and Bridge Communities,” said Mayor Linda Jackson, Mayor of Glendale Heights. “The Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop has been in the Village of Glendale Heights for quite some time, and Simba continues to demonstrate his dedication to our community and our residents.”

One of the most significant barriers to finding and keeping employment is that of unreliable transportation. Many client families enter Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program with no car or cars that soon break down. Most of these cars are not worth the cost of repairing. There is limited public transportation in DuPage County, and owning a car is a real necessity for any family. Client families use donated cars to transport themselves to work and their children to school, childcare, and activities.

“Bridge Communities provides an essential service assisting residents getting back on their feet via its many programs and housing opportunities,” said Jackson. “The pairing of these two organizations and the donation of this vehicle to our resident shows the importance and value of public and private partnerships, along with greatly assisting our resident and her family.”

On January 29th, Simba and his Merlin 200,000 Shop of Glendale Heights donated the vehicle to a Bridge Communities client family.

“We are proud to be partnered with this organization and hope that this donation will help the family with their transportation needs,” said Valerie Zabriskie, Merlin’s Marketing Director.

About Bridge Communities

 Bridge Communities is a dynamic, grassroots, non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community. Our program of housing, mentoring and empowering families focuses on moving them towards a goal of self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.bridgecommunities.org

About Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops

Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops offer a neighborhood approach to automotive service and provides both repair and maintenance services as well as tire replacement and tire services. Merlin’s DRIVE FOR 200,000, the industry’s most comprehensive and affordable maintenance program, supports vehicle owners thousands of miles beyond the usual manufacturer’s maintenance requirements and has positioned Merlin as the leader in vehicle longevity. Founded in 1975, Merlin is headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois. In February 2014, Driven Brands™, North America’s leader in the automotive aftermarket, acquired Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops. For more information, please visit www.merlins.com