Penske Associates Pull 80 Tons for Veteran’s Charity
August 02, 2019
Editor’s note: This story is part of our “50 Stories of People Helping People” series. As we celebrate Penske’s 50th anniversary in 2019, we are spotlighting associates every Friday who are making a difference in their communities.
<p><a href="https://www.gopenske.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penske</a> associates from the Boston District participated in the Travis Mills Foundation Plane Pull to support injured veterans and their families.</p><p>Held June 8 at the Portland International Jetport, Portland, Maine, the plane pull featured corporate-sponsored teams pulling a Boeing 757. The plane weighed 80 tons, which equals to roughly 6,400 pounds of weight being pulled by each team member.</p><p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1bc1520c532aff5372abdf354693dce3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="12022" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMTk5NDU2OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDU2NTI0Nn0.PT-fZmI_s4nuOP6qWiu1cWHW4MWLPjuEDEsMI03ymIo/img.png?width=980"/>Travis Mills is a veteran quadruple amputee who turned a horrific event into something positive — the Travis Mills Foundation. He travels the world as a motivational speaker and has a New York Times bestselling memoir, “Tough as They Come.”</p><p>Mills’ quote, “Never give up. Never quit,” has inspired many, especially the Penske team that participated.</p><p>According to the Travis Mills Foundation <a href="https://travismillsfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a><u>,</u> the foundation “supports post 9/11 recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.”</p><p>The foundation supports veterans through a retreat located in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. The retreat is an all-inclusive, all-expense paid, barrier-free vacation where they can participate in adaptive activities, bond with other veterans and enjoy rest and relaxation that Maine’s outdoors provides.</p><p>Some of the 20 adaptive activities offered at the retreat include cycling, hiking, golfing, ice fishing, boating and pottery.</p><p>In 2017, the foundation hosted 84 veteran families to the Maine retreat.</p><p>Penske Branch Manager Robert Hubbard was the organizer of Penske’s involvement in the Travis Mills Foundation Plane Pull.</p><p>Hubbard said that getting associates to volunteer was easy — they were all so supportive of the cause.</p><p>“Travis is a quad amputee with an incredible attitude,” Hubbard said. “His sense of humor and upbeat personality make it an easy event to support.”</p><p>The event exceeded the original $50,000 goal and in the end raised over $100,000, which is able to support 100 families. Penske associates raised $3,400.</p><p>Hubbard said the event was successful.</p><p>“I was very excited to be a part of the event. Knowing about Travis, when the opportunity came up to support him and veterans, we were more than happy to help.”</p><p>Penske’s District Manager Chad Hough said that getting the whole Boston District together was a big deal.</p><p>“We had people from the south end of our district come up to the very northern part — Portland, Maine, for such a great cause, and it was just cool to have everyone together. Maine is a ‘do business with your neighbor; support your neighbor’ type of environment. The best part was seeing the community there to support each other,” Hough said.</p><p><em>By Emma Creamer, Communications and PR intern</em></p></div>
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Giving Back is No Obstacle for Penske Associates
June 28, 2019
Editor’s note: This story is part of our “50 Stories of People Helping People” series. As we celebrate Penske’s 50th anniversary in 2019, we are spotlighting associates every Friday who are making a difference in their communities.
<p>Horses weren’t the only things racing in Louisville, Kentucky, during last month's Derby Week. <a href="https://www.gopenske.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penske</a> associates from the Louisville East location spent May 1 at Battle of the Bounce competing in a charity obstacle course.</p><p>Each year <em>Battle of the Bounce</em> supports three local charities through pledges and encouragement of team members, supporters and sponsor partners. This year’s proceeds went toward <a href="https://www.strokekyin.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kentuckiana Stroke Association</a>, <a href="https://www.christiancarecommunities.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christian Care Communities</a> and <a href="https://www.mattinglyedge.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mattingly Edge</a>.</p><p>Penske participated in the event as a sponsor and organized a relay team. The “Penske Pit Crew,” made up of a team captain and four Penske team members, bounced their way to fundraising on Louisville’s Riverfront.</p><p><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50779ec75071c15bdc08e580f9e855ed" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f5bfc" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMTk5NDUzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzY3ODA4NX0.rFKcOTHmeEEdoesLZxZDG0e5MPs_bP0xGjvW_6VnhkM/img.jpg?width=980"/>Team members Kyle Hahn (captain), <span>Tim Shain, Keenan Bowman, Andrew Christensen, Mitchell Wessel (pictured, from left)</span> all had cheers coming from the spectators — including a large cheering section filled with Penske associates, according to Matt Reinke, Louisville East district rental manager.</p><p>Reinke said that it was Penske’s first year participating in the event.</p><p>“We stopped by one of our customers. This event company annually organizes this event. They told us about the event being a fun and unique way to support local charities. After looking into the event and what it supports, we decided this would be something worthwhile to participate in,” Reinke said.</p><p>The Kentucky Derby is comparable to a national holiday in Louisville, Kentucky, according to Reinke. Children even get the Friday before the Derby off school. Reinke explained that the event was impactful because it shows that the community supports and cares for those less fortunate — even in the middle of all the festivities.</p><p>“The powerful part of the event to me was the networking opportunity we had with the other teams in the race. Being able to engage with others in the community who are similarly focused on giving back really made the morning enjoyable,” Reinke said.</p><p>The team worked hard to win their heat of the obstacle course, which consisted of four parts — one for each team member. Team building skills were necessary for the completion of the course, which Hahn said the Pit Crew pushed themselves to use to their advantage.</p><p><em>Battle of the Bounce</em> was a great way to get everyone out of the office and doing something great for the community — especially because the Kentucky Derby is a large event in Louisville.</p><p>Hahn was in charge of the outfits for the event. Each team participating in the race needed a theme. Wearing checkered race flags and helmets for the course, the Penske Pit Crew wanted to stand out.</p><p>“We chose Penske Pit Crew to get our brand out in other ways besides yellow trucks,” Hahn said. “I think that being able to give back with a team effort, get out of the office and bond outside of work was something important for our location. The event just emphasized how everything comes full circle with the team building and giving back to our community.”</p><p><em>By Emma Creamer, Communications and PR intern</em></p></div>
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