Each year, car wash organizations contribute countless hours and dollars to the communities they serve. We want to make sure we’re capturing those stories and highlighting that impact, so in every issue of CAR WASH Magazine we’ll be shedding light on some of these good deeds. 

Share Your Good Deeds
Let us know what causes are important to you and how you are making a difference in your community in 2024: www.carwash.org/community.

Big Dan’s Car Wash

With the opening of each new location, Big Dan’s Car Wash selects a charity and donates the first $5,000 in proceeds from unlimited wash club memberships. With 20 sites located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina — and five more opening soon and 10 under construction — not only have they made a lot of contributions, there’s a lot more coming.

Being a responsible business owner means giving back, said Jay Shadday, president. “We don’t want to come into a community and ask consumers to support us and not reciprocate.” 

The charities they select to support vary depending on the operators’ feedback. “We start by asking our operating partners if they have direct involvement with a local non-profit… and we also contact the Chamber of Commerce and municipalities for suggestions,” Shadday said.

There is one that holds special meaning, though. “Our chairman served on the board of directors for the Northwest Georgia Boys and Girls Clubs for 35 years and, in 2022, he was inducted into the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Lifetime Giving Society,” Shadday said. “As a company, we are passionate about the Boys and Girls Clubs and are always proud to support their mission.”

“Like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, we at Big Dan's believe every kid deserves a great future. Playing a small part in making that happen is important to everyone on our team,” said Jarrett Shadday, chairman of Big Dan’s Car Wash.

One of the most memorable fundraisers they’ve participated in was for the American Legion in Lady Lake, Fla. “It is the largest American Legion in the U.S., so giving back in a small way to those who helped provide the freedom we enjoy was certainly meaningful,” Jay Shadday said. “We also supported Feeding Tampa Bay when we opened our location on North Dale Mabry, and knowing that our donation put food on the table for families with food insecurities felt great.”

BlueWave Express Car Wash

“Paramount” is the word Samantha Sauceda at BlueWave Express Car Wash uses when describing how important is for their organization to make a positive difference in the community. “We believe in the power of giving back,” the marketing and PR specialist said. “As a local business, we understand the interconnectedness between our success and the well-being of the neighborhoods we serve. Each wash’s team understands that by actively engaging in community initiatives, supporting local causes and participating in fundraisers, they not only fulfill their corporate social responsibility but also foster a stronger sense of connection with our customers and neighbors.”

Choosing a charity is one of the hardest parts, so they prioritize causes that address pressing issues such as education, environmental sustainability and community development. “Additionally, we assess the transparency and effectiveness of each charity's programs to ensure that our contributions make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we aim to help,” Sauceda said. “We meticulously evaluate organizations that closely align with our values and have a tangible impact on our communities.”

With 45 locations across the Rio Grande Valley, Houston, San Antonio and California, there isn't a single charity that holds exclusive significance to the entire team. So each member is encouraged to advocate for causes that resonate with them personally. “By supporting a diverse array of charities, we can address a wide range of community needs and make a more comprehensive impact,” Sauceda said. 

One of the most fulfilling fundraisers they’ve participated in, a Superheros 5K Run in Edinburg, supported individuals with autism. “Witnessing the outpouring of support from the community was truly heartwarming,” Sauceda said. “During the fundraiser, we were able to raise funds to help support Team Mario's mission and summer programs, including camps at UTRGV, Bike Camp at ECISD, International Museum of Arts and Science Special Needs Camp and Team Mario camp at Valley Nature Center.”

Whistle Express Car Wash

“Having a positive impact on our community is not just a value we hold; it's the essence of who we are as a local car wash brand,” said Robin Dye, VP of talent and culture at Whistle Express. “As a business operating within a community, we recognize our responsibility to give back. We understand that our success is intertwined with the prosperity of the area we serve. Therefore, it's imperative for us to actively contribute to its betterment.”

With 127 car wash sites currently operating in the Midwest and East Coast from Ohio/Virginia down to Alabama/Florida, Whistle Express is impacting a lot of different communities and charities. They focus on charities that operate within their immediate communities or serve local populations. “This ensures that our efforts have a direct and tangible impact on the lives of our neighbors and customers,” Dye said. They also invite their team members to make suggestions. “People like to serve in causes that are near and dear to their hearts,” she said.

A volunteer event they participated in recently fell into that category. It benefited the Roc Solid Foundation, a Virginia-based charity that provides support to Levine’s Children Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. The Whistle Express team helped pack hospital “Ready Bags” filled with essentials that parents may need if their child with pediatric cancer needs to head to the hospital at a moment’s notice. “This charity held special meaning to one of our team members who was diagnosed with pediatric cancer and was able to beat it thanks to charity efforts like this one,” Dye said. “The foundation arranged for a local father to come speak to our team and give his firsthand experience on how this foundation not only supported him and his family with physical materials to help during the toughest time of their lives, but also continued to support them throughout their child’s treatments and recovery.”

Another particularly fulfilling fundraiser was when 15 team members volunteered at Nourish Up (formerly known as Loaves & Fishes). They joined an assembly line, packing non-perishable food supply boxes for distribution across the Charlotte Metro area, Dye said. “During the two hours spent at the warehouse, they collectively packed over 600 boxes, filling more than three pallets. Witnessing our team collaborate seamlessly toward a common goal — to serve our community as effectively as possible within our available time — was truly inspiring.”

Woodie’s Wash Shack

While Woodie’s Wash Shack proudly supports various charities, one of the fundraisers they participated in recently was “remarkable,” said Jake DeGeare, VP of strategic initiatives. It was the Surfers for Autism event held at Upham Beach. “This heartwarming event gathers over 200 children and young adults with autism and offers them the opportunity to experience the joy of surfing on our Saint Petersburg ‘waves,’” DeGeare said. 

“Their dedication to unlocking the potential of children and adults with autism through free surf lessons deeply resonates with our team’s values and ethos,” DeGeare said. “We've witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of their work, and we are proud to stand behind their cause wholeheartedly.”

Woodie’s participates in this event every year — and has donated more than $12,000 to the cause over the years — and every year is an experience to be remembered. In 2023, Woodie’s even brought in their sponsored athlete, a celebrity surfer. Red Bull Pro Surfer Andrew “Cotty” Cotton surfed alongside these remarkable kids, creating unforgettable moments of camaraderie and joy, DeGeare said. 

He said they chose to support this cause as it was a “perfect match for our brand pillars,” especially considering Woodie’s surf-theme and their desire to help children with autism.

When selecting charities to support, they focus on alignment with their core values and mission. “We look for organizations that share our commitment to environmental sustainability, endorsing our first responders, and supporting children’s education and sports. Additionally, we consider the impact and reach of the charity, ensuring that our contributions make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities,” DeGeare said. They also prioritize transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Woodie's Wash Shack recognizes the integral role the community plays in their success. “Therefore, it's not just important but imperative for us to give back and make a positive impact,” DeGeare said. “Our community supports us, and we believe in reciprocating that support by actively engaging in initiatives that benefit the neighborhoods we serve. We want Woodie’s Wash Shack to be a household name in Tampa Bay, and we feel it’s best to do that by truly becoming a good neighbor to the people in the community and the organizations they support.”
 
Currently, Woodie's Wash Shack operates 15 car wash locations, with #16 opening soon and six more sites in the works.