Saturday, September 18, 2004, marks the date of the fourth national Wash U.S.A. event conducted by carwash associations and independent carwash operators across the country, and the third year the event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation&Mac226;. The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 75 chapters in the United States and its territories and 27 international affiliates spanning five continents. Through private donations and the efforts of more than 25,000 creative wish-granting volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 110,000 wishes around the world since its inception in 1980. To read more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, please read the “About the Make-A-Wish Foundation” document on this CD.

Wash U.S.A. began in 2001 as a grassroots group comprised of hundreds of carwash operators from Maine to Virginia, who conducted a fund-raising event to benefit September 11th charities. The original intent of this group was to do something good for a community hit by tragic circumstances, and in the process, they found they had done something good for their individual businesses and boosted the image of the carwash industry as well.

Over the last two years, through the participation of more than 700 carwashes annually and the support of several industry sponsors, Wash USA raised more than $275,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Many thanks are also due to the corporate sponsors that make Wash U.S.A. 2004 possible through their cash and in-kind donations valued at more than $100,000 including Platinum Sponsors Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine of Latham, N.Y., and the Jim Coldman Company of Houston; Founding Sponsors Dultmeier Sales of Omaha, Neb., Innovative Control Systems of Nazareth, Pa.; and Gold Sponsors Belanger, Inc. of Northville, Mich., Cleaning Systems, Inc. of De Pere, Wisc.; PDQ Vehicle Wash Systems of De Pere, Wisc., and Simoniz of Bolton, Conn.

Wash U.S.A. is an opportunity for carwashers to not only become involved in their local communities, but to drive business to their establishments as well as brand their carwash operation(s) as the best in the business.

Why should I participate?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has a national brand that will help the carwash associations and independent carwash operators associated with Wash U.S.A. generate positive publicity for independent carwashes across the country; provide independent carwashes with a platform for local community involvement; and generate increased business for independent carwashes. For more information on cause-related marketing and what it can mean to your business, please see the “What is Cause Marketing” document on this CD.

Sound good so far? It is! The Wash U.S.A. event is rapidly gaining momentum. Currently, the New England, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, South East, Chicagoland, Western, Southwestern, Puget Sound, Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountain, Heartland, and International Carwash Associations have committed their support to the project.

Do you, as a carwash operator, see yourself involved in this worthwhile project, which not only affords you the opportunity to do something good for someone, but also partners your business with a nationally recognized charity? If you do, you are strongly encouraged to join 700 other participating car washes for the Wash U.S.A. event on Saturday, September 18, 2004, to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the special children it serves.

How do I get involved?
Sign up to participate in the Saturday, September 18, 2004, Wash U.S.A. event to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation by completing the participation agreement found on this CD. Indicate your level of financial commitment. Suggested donations amounts are 50 cents per car for self-serve washes, $1.00 per car for exterior-only washes, and $2.00 per car for full-service washes for every car washed on September 18, 2004. Sign and return the agreement to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (submission information is included on the form). Once a signed agreement has been received by the Foundation, your carwash(es) will be added to the Wash U.S.A. Web site at www.washesforwishes.org and all other location information provided to consumers.

What's the next step?

Open your CD-ROM. There you will find a series of tools to help market the event to your surrounding community. It is to your advantage to use these tools to market your carwash in association with the Wash U.S.A. event, not only to drive customers to your carwash, but to provide you with community recognition as well. Included on the CD-ROM you will find:

• Adaptable press release and letter to the editor templates for distribution to community newspapers and magazines
• A radio script for your local radio ad spots
• Several versions of artwork for an 8.5" x 11" flier
• Ad slicks for newspapers and magazine insertions using SAU (Standard Advertising Unit) measurements:

Quarter Page - 5.93" wide x 10" high
Half Page - 12" wide x 12.5" high     Full page - 12 " wide x 20 " high

Page Buster - 7.94" wide x 16" high

 

Tips on generating maximum attention for the event using the provided materials are included on the CD as well. You may choose to use one or all of these tools.

What do I do after the event is over?
The Make-A-Wish Foundation has developed a system for collecting funds and tracking the results of the event. By the end of October, all participating carwashes will receive a tracking form and mailing envelope from Kristin Keck, the Wash U.S.A. account manager at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. After completion of the September 18th event, simply complete the tracking form, and send it back to Kristin, along with your check made payable to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. All contributions are due by October 18, 2004.

How do I know the Make-A-Wish Foundation received my donation?
Following receipt of your contribution, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will send you a letter that can be used for tax purposes, indicating the amount of your donation and the day it was received. More than 78 percent of funds raised are used directly to fulfill the mission of the Foundation, granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. All Wash U.S.A. contributions are 100 percent tax deductible