From hometownlife.com
September 6, 2016
Laura Colvin, lcolvin@hometownlife.com
Milford’s Downtown Garage is giving away a car. Again.
For the second straight year, Downtown Garage owner Karen Wielkopolan and her staff are participating in Wheels to Prosper, a nationwide initiative started in 2011 by an auto shop owner in Sonoma, Calif., who set out to make a positive difference in his community.
Last year, Jaleane Thomas, a Highland Township resident and single mother, learned she’d been chosen as the recipient of a completely refurbished 2004 Malibu Classic.
This year, Wielkopolan will give away a refurbished 2001 Hyundai Accent to a “deserving” person who lives in Milford or the surrounding communities. The ideal person, she said, is someone who is “always looking out for others.”
“We had an overwhelming response last year,” said Wielkopolan, who has lived in the community some 30 years and opened Downtown Garage on the corner of South Main and West Huron streets about six years ago. “I continue to see a need in the community, and I want to give back.”
Like last year, Downtown Garage mechanics will make all necessary repairs and replace old parts before the new owner takes possession of the car. Dave Ellis of Car, Inc.has once again donated bodywork, so the car will not only run well, but look good, too.
“It will be completely refurbished inside and out,” Wielkopolan said. “Our goal is for the car to look and drive like a new vehicle.”
Nominations
In following with the guidelines of the Wheels to Prosper program, Wielkopolan will accept letters of nomination, Individuals she said, can nominate themselves or someone they know, and should submit a letter explaining why the person needs or deserves the car.
Nomination letters should include the nominating person’s name, address and phone number, nominee’s name, address and phone number, and information about why the nominee needs or deserves to receive the 2001 Hyundai Accent
All letters of nomination must be postmarked by Oct. 3 and can be mailed to: Downtown Garage, Wheels to Prosper, 120 W. Huron St. Milford, MI 48381.
Letters may also be submitted at www.downtowngaragemilford.com; electronic submissions must be received by Oct. 5 at midnight.
All nominations will be reviewed and a winner selected as the new owner of the 2001 Hyundai Accent. The car will be awarded at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Downtown Garage in Milford.
The new owner will be responsible for all title, taxes, license, registration and insurance fees, Wielkopolan said.
To learn more about the Wheels to Prosper initiative, visit wheelstoprosper.org.
