Victory Auto owner one of the Eleven Who Care
by Eric Hagen
Staff Writer
When Jeff Matt opened an auto repair business in March 1997, he wanted it to be more than a place where people got their cars fixed. He wanted to be sensitive to the fact that some people need a car to get around, but cannot afford expensive repairs.
Jeff Matt, owner of Victory Auto Service and Glass, hands over the keys of a repaired used vehicle to Shannon Catlin of Coon Rapids. This was the 800th vehicle that Free2B! has given to a family in need. Matt will be recognized with the Eleven Who Care award from KARE 11 because his business has volunteered over half-a-million dollars in service since it began assisting Free2B! in 2003. Submitted photo
Between 2003 and 2010, Victory Auto Service and Glass locations in Ham Lake and Fridley have provided $526,265 of service for hundreds of people, according to the audit firm of Smith, Schafer and Associates. Non-profit organization Free2B! determines who needs the most help while Victory Auto repairs cars two Saturdays each month at deeply discounted rates.
Because of his generosity, Matt was named one of the ‘Eleven Who Care’ by KARE 11.
“Without their support or their space or staff, we wouldn’t be able to function,” said Clifford Korkowski, executive director of Free2B!.
Matt said he was blown away when he heard he was being recognized for this individual award.
“The spotlight is sometimes a little bright,” Matt said. “I want to share it with other people who made this possible.”
Beyond the staff and board of directors at Free2B!, many others have enabled Matt to continue to volunteer his Ham Lake and Fridley repair shops for Car Care Saturdays. It starts with a couple of local parts stores selling discounted parts.
After that, area churches and businesses sponsors the twice a month Car Care Saturdays to help cover repair remaining costs. Volunteers with auto repair backgrounds repair the vehicles.
Generous donors of used vehicles have also helped make Free2B! a success. Since its inception in 2000, the organization has distributed 800 donated vehicles to people who cannot afford one and need it the most. The 800th vehicle was recently given to Shannon Catlin, a Coon Rapids mother of three. Once again, Free2B! evaluates all applicants to see who is most in need. Victory Auto inspects the cars to see what repairs they need, of even if they should be junked.
Partnering with Free2B! makes Matt’s job a little easier. When he started Victory Auto in 1997, he wanted to help people going through tough financial times, but he did not want people to take advantage of him. It’s difficult for a business owner to ask for personal financial information from customers, so Free2B! takes care of these awkward questions so he can focus on providing the service.
Matt said before he opened Victory Auto he made a deal with God. “I said if you open up a door for me to have my own business, I’d do my best to help people through my business.”
One day in early 2003, Matt got a call from Korkowski and Free2B! founder Tom Buchman. When he heard about the premise of Free2B!, a light went off in Matt’s head that told him this was the philanthropic work he sought to do for years.
Victory Auto’s Fridley location was the first to be involved starting Feb. 1, 2003, according to Korkowski. Starting Aug. 16, 2003, the Ham Lake location joined in.
He said everybody in the organization from the donors to the volunteers are winners because of the recognition the Eleven Who Care award will give to this initiative. But Korkowski also feels Jeff should be singled out.
“Jeff deserves the recognition because he’s the one who made the commitment,” Korkowski said.
KARE 11 is planning to first run a story on Matt during this Saturday morning (April 23) news show, which begins airing at 8 a.m. The second airing will be Tuesday evening (April 26) during the 10 p.m. news. The celebration will all 11 award recipients will be on June 22.
Eric Hagen is at eric.hagen@ecm-inc.com
