FreedomRoads, Nation's Largest RV Retailer, Announces Creation of Charitable Arm: Miracle Miles
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--Aug. 9, 2005--| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R), World Vision and Recreational Vehicle Dealer's Association Learning Center (RVDA) to Receive First Grants |
FreedomRoads, LLC., the nation's largest RV retailer, today announced that it has created an arm of the company named Miracle Miles that will provide funding to charitable organizations. It is projected that Miracle Miles will distribute in excess of $1 million per year. Miracle Miles will be an associate-driven and administered organization which will encourage expansion of participants to include associate families.
Miracle Miles already has entered into formal relationships to provide support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) and the international relief organization World Vision based upon fixed dollar grants per RV unit sale. In addition to the company donation, customers buying RVs will be given the opportunity to contribute.
The monies directed to St. Jude will fund treatment as well as leading edge research for children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. A program is being created with World Vision using Miracle Miles donations to provide clothing to poverty stricken children in the United States. Miracle Miles will also provide funding for the RVDA's Learning Center. In addition, the organization will accept applications from other qualified charitable groups.
According to Karin Bell, Senior VP and Chief Accounting Officer of FreedomRoads, "All of us at FreedomRoads feel a responsibility to give back to our communities; it is a fundamental tenet of our business. I think I can speak for the company's 2,400 associates when I say that regardless of our success as a business, it is not complete, whole and balanced without sharing that success for those who need it most."
"Not only will this benefit those who receive, it will reward those of us who give; giving to those who are in need helps us maintain a healthy balanced perspective on our lives and our obligation to others," said Randy Thompson, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Initiative at FreedomRoads. "Our company strives to maintain a proper work-life balance not only through policy but also through programs. We expect that Miracle Miles will richly reward our associates as they help others."
Dave McKee, COO for ALSAC/St. Jude said, "Children are going to benefit directly from this partnership. The funds that FreedomRoads raises will help those receiving treatment and also benefit the children in the future through our intense research efforts. What we are doing together is so important."
That sense of importance and optimism was echoed by World Vision's Director of Corporate Development and Communications, Dana Buck, who said, "We're thrilled to have FreedomRoads involved in helping us to help poverty stricken children in the United States that desperately need proper clothing. We're so pleased to have such a socially conscious partner in FreedomRoads."
About FreedomRoads
FreedomRoads is a dynamic national network of well-established local and regional RV dealerships that have united to benefit customers, employees, suppliers and the RV industry. FreedomRoads operates as a multi-store retail chain engaged in the retail sale, finance and service of recreational vehicles.
FreedomRoads is America's largest RV retailer. It currently employs over 2,000 associates and owns and operates 54 locations in 21 states including; Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
FreedomRoads stocks over $300 million of new and used recreational vehicle inventory and retails over 36,000 units annually. For additional information, please visit http://www.FreedomRoads.com, where more than 9,000 recreational vehicles are available for sale.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays St. Jude for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.
About World Vision International
World Vision International is a partnership of independent national offices sharing a common mission to end suffering, poverty and injustice so that children and poor communities can realize their god-given potential. To learn more about World Vision visit www.worldvision.org