Refinish concludes fund-raising effort, donates proceeds

From left, Garry Goudy, Tina May Garcia, Mike Murphy, Dave Perewitz and Ray Evernham stand behind the Charity Chopper and display the $134,000 check presented during a ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth to conclude the Charity Chopper fund-raising effort.

December 22, 2005 - To conclude the Charity Chopper fund-raising effort, Garry Goudy, senior vice president, PPG automotive aftermarket; Ray Evernham, owner of Evernham Motorsports; and Dave Perewitz, noted bike builder, presented a $134,000 check for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America (LLS) during a ceremony at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Sponsored by PPG’s automotive refinish business, Evernham and Perewitz, the 10-month Charity Chopper effort raised money through activities, merchandising and monthly, online auctions of items such as NASCAR collectibles and the Charity Chopper – a custom V-twin motorcycle conceived by PPG, Evernham and Perewitz and built by Perewitz Cycle Fab.

During the ceremony, which took place before the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dickies 500 race, the Charity Chopper and a scrapbook with autographs by NASCAR personalities, photos and articles about the project were presented to the winning bidder. Tina May Garcia, executive director of the North Texas Chapter of LLS, accepted the $134,000 check on behalf of her organization. “The Charity Chopper fund-raiser has generated a tremendous response and created invaluable support for our cause,” she said.

All proceeds from the fund-raiser were donated to the LLS in support of efforts to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

“I am extremely proud of the refinish team and the level of ownership they have taken in such an important cause,” Goudy said. “The Charity Chopper not only reflects the spectacular custom color finishes of Vibrance Collection paints and the awesome workmanship of Dave Perewitz, but it also captures the passion we share with Ray Evernham and his charitable foundation, Racing for a Reason.”