Fred Beans Charitable Foundation Announces Donations Totaling $200K

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Established by the family of automotive CEO Fred Beans, the Fred Beans Charitable Foundation has selected four nonprofits to receive donations this year: Alpha Bravo Canine, Athletes Helping Athletes, Big Brother Big Sister Bucks County and Meals on Wheels Bucks County. Each will receive $50,000 to support regional outreach.

Beans, owner of the Fred Beans Automotive Group, operates his business out of headquarters in Doylestown, the same town where he raised his family. His three daughters each hold leadership positions in the family business: Beth Beans Gilbert is vice president, and her husband, Chris, is COO; Barbara Beans is fleet manager; and Jennifer Beans Keiser is president of the Autorent daily rental section of the business. Together, they not only help manage the business, but aim to make a difference through the automotive group’s charitable giving.

Beans formed the Fred Beans Charitable Foundation to further the impact the family can have on the community. Beans’ 10 grandchildren helped shape the Foundation over the last two years, adding structure to ensure giving reflects the family’s diverse interests, as well as the common goal to support nonprofits in and around Bucks County.

“We each come into this with personal experiences of giving back in both big and small ways, which have connected us to different nonprofit organizations,” explained Lauren Murray Soverino, daughter of Barbara Beans.

The Foundation also made a $200,000 donation in its inaugural year of giving, distributing the funding evenly last year between Veterans Multi-Service Center and Salute 2 Service, with an initial focus - decided by family consensus - to support veterans affairs.

Soverino said the grandchildren developed a new system this year to award grants. They divided into four “teams,” each charged with the task of identifying potential recipients based on members’ charitable interests. The teams then selected a beneficiary after ranking organizations under consideration using five criteria: programs and services; number of individuals served; credibility and financial health; capacity to make the most of grant funding; and opportunities to increase Foundation visibility through the grant announcement.

“Our 2024 recipients are doing tremendous work in our region and are likely making a difference in the lives of Beans customers and even employees, which is especially important to us and the mission of the Fred Beans Charitable Foundation,” added Soverino.

All 10 of Beans’ grandchildren grew up and attended school in Bucks County. In the coming months, they look forward to personally awarding the organization selected by their team.