Cypress-area body shop and non-profit team up for car giveaway, school supply drive

HOUSTON, TX – Elite Auto Experts has officially launched the Summer 2017 Drive & Thrive initiative, ongoing now until late July, in partnership with Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM). This back-to-school event features a car giveaway and school supply drive benefiting local children in the Cypress and Cy-Fair areas.

“Giving children the best possible start to the school year is a cause that’s very dear to all our hearts,” said Moufid Rabieh, owner of Elite Auto Experts. “Every kid deserves to be successful, and we want to contribute our share of assistance to those less privileged by pooling our own resources with those of the Cypress community.”

CAR GIVEAWAY

Studies show that 1 in 10 households in the Houston area do not own a car, and the number is likely higher among single parents. The lack of personal transportation can cause hardship especially in suburban or rural areas where public transportation may be scarce or non-existent, and may result in restricted access to food, health care, and education for children.

Rabieh hopes to change this kind of dilemma for at least one local single parent this summer.

“Our paint and body shop has recently completed a complete restoration of a 2012 Hyundai Elantra we bought at auction, and we will present this vehicle to the winner of our car giveaway in August,” he said. “The car is in impeccable condition. It looks and drives like new.”

The Elantra, which features leather seats and a sun roof, has undergone painstaking restorative and paint work as well as a full inspection of all mechanical parts. The vehicle will come with a warranty and free oil changes for the first year. Elite Auto Experts will even cover TTL (tax, title and registration/licensing) of the car!

Eligibility requirements to enter the giveaway include:

• Must be a single parent of a child or children entering grades K-12
• Must reside in zip codes 77065, 77095, 77429, or 77433
• Must not own a that is younger than 10 years old
• New backpacks
• New underwear and socks
• New pencils, notebooks, pens, rulers, glue, crayons, folders, staples, markers, calculators, erasers, etc.

Entries can be made online at www.eliteautoexperts.com/car-giveaway. Nominations by friends or relatives are also accepted. The deadline for entries is July 25, 2017. The winner will be announced the second week of August, 2017, followed by an award ceremony.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

Rabieh plans to fill the Elantra to the brim with notebooks, pencils, backpacks and shoes, but the lucky winner of the car giveaway won’t be the only child to benefit from the school supply drive Elite Auto Experts is holding in partnership with CAM. In fact, Rabieh and his team hope to lend a hand to as many local kids as possible.

“We want to put a smile on the face of every one of our local kids on that all-important first day of school,” he said, “and we’re not in this alone. We live and work in an amazing community full of generous, caring people who agree that our children’s success is all our business.”

Through July 20, Rabieh will personally outfit up to three children with clothing and school supplies for every customer who brings in a vehicle for body or paint services. In addition, members of the community who donate a new pair of tennis shoes will receive a complimentary alignment.

Other items needed include:

Donations can be dropped off at Elite Auto Experts, 17130 FM 529, Houston, TX 77095. All items will be delivered to CAM on July 21.

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About Elite Auto Experts

Elite Auto Experts is a family-owned and -operated automotive and collision repair shop serving the Cy-Fair area for more than a decade. The team of expert technicians is dedicated to performing all automotive work with integrity, fairness, and affordability. In early 2017, Elite Auto Experts moved from its longtime home to a newly-built facility just next door and launched its state-of-the-art paint and body shop. The new location features a play area for children, free WiFi, complimentary beverages and, as always, a highly experienced staff of ASE Certified Master Technicians.

About Cypress Assistance Ministries

CAM is a faith based organization that serves individuals and families in financial crisis, those on the brink of homelessness, the elderly, the unemployed and anyone that needs hope for a better future. Unexpected events such as illness, separation, job loss, and family crisis can be overwhelming, and that’s when CAM steps in. Assistance ranges from financial help with rent or utilities, food, furniture, clothing and household goods to providing job counseling services and job leads. Our goal is to restore our neighbors, regardless of religious or ethnic background, to self-sufficiency. In addition, CAM provides school supplies, holiday meals, and toys at Christmas for our neighbors in need.