It's understandable that business owners will focus on their business and not look for outside projects. It's also devastating to see someone struggling with medical bills on top of a tiring battle with cancer or other illness. Many businesses—including many quick lube businesses—find it rewarding to give back to the community by championing a cause, charity, or community issue.
The Backstory
It is no different for Evansville, Indiana-based Lucas Oil Center, a shop with two locations in town. The family-owned business champions multiple causes with annual fundraisers both close to home and close to their hearts.
The Challenge
When April Maxey, VP of operations and human resources at Lucas Oil Centers and daughter of owner Bill Floyd, saw her good friend battling breast cancer and struggling with medical bills, Maxey realized she could do something to help her friend and empower the community.
"They decided to do a giveback for her," says Christopher Payne, marketing, e-commerce and distribution manager at Lucas Oil Center.
The proceeds of a giveback weekend went directly toward the friend battling breast cancer, rather than an organization where funds might get lost to administrative costs. The drive is now an annual event typically held during the second half of October, Breast Cancer Awareness month. Each year the Lucas Oil Center franchise finds one or two individuals battling breast cancer to raise money for their medical bills.
The business not only recognized a need to help individuals with battling breast cancer but has found other causes close to home that have also become an annual focus.
"One of our owners at the time was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, so that naturally became a charity we wanted to be involved in," Maxey tells NOLN. "Through our involvement we found that many of our customers we also affected by MS in one way or another and it sparked lots of conversations and we saw a need for a connection to our community on such a personal level."
Even more causes came through the shop's doors, and Lucas Oil Centers responded.
"It was shortly after this that the owner's granddaughter was struggling with an unknown illness and became a Riley Kid," Maxey explains, referring to the Riley Hospital for Children network throughout Indiana. "Through lifesaving measures and treatment at Riley Children's Hospital, her life was saved.
"This sparked our connection and personal relationship with Riley Children's Foundation" Maxey continues.
Unfortunately, the Floyd family has had more Riley kids. It has strengthened the family's relationship with the children's foundation and created community involvement for the cause.
"Since this we've now had multiple family members including two other grandchildren who have received lifesaving care through Riley," says Maxey.
"Our community is connected to us through our stories and shared struggles. As success continued, we wanted to be involved in breast cancer awareness as the owner, Bill Floyd, has four daughters," Maxey details.
The Solutions
The quick service franchise has found success with giveback weekends where events include haunted carwashes, trunk-or-treat, oil changes, Silver Crown racing, and car shows.
Keeping up with the givebacks and drives is a year-round effort.
"January through March is planning time," explains Payne. "As soon as April hits, we are set to go. We do a big push for the car wash starting in April."
Right after the spring clean at the car wash, Payne starts planning for the Riley event, which is held mid-July each year.
"After that we start planning for the breast cancer event, then the Christmas toy drive," Payne says.
The Tons of Toys drive is held in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul's local shops, and promoted through local radio stations. Parents in need can go to select toys from the drive to give their kids gifts at Christmas.
"Our owner, Bill Floyd, felt there was a need as a business owner to contribute to the community," Payne says.
A typical giveback weekend includes a drive to bring cars in for oil changes and car washes, of which a percentage such as 15% or 20% is donated to the charity. An event also highlights many givebacks. For the Riley event each July Lucas Oil Centers holds a car show at its location on the West side of town, where there are few car shows.
In October, to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month and the company's annual event, the shop brings out its Pink 69 Racing Silver Crown racecar and takes part in the race at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in nearby Brownsburg, Indiana.
The Aftermath
Each drive brings in money for individuals or foundations. In 2023 the breast cancer awareness giveback raised $9,000, which went to two women fighting breast cancer. The 2023 event for the Riley Children's Foundation raised $6,000. This was matched by Lucas Oil to make a total donation of $12,000 for the foundation, which provides lifesaving treatment.
The car show for the Riley event last year raised $2,500, which made up part of the $6,000. The show had over 100 car owners, who each paid $20 to show off their wheels.
This year, the 2024 Riley Giveback Weekend in July raised $4,500 culminating from 15% of proceeds from the weekend's oil changes and services, plus participation in the Sunday car show. Lucas Oil Products matched the donations to offer a total of $9,000 to the Riley Children's Foundation. The weekend included giveaways from the shop, Riley Children's Foundation, and nearby businesses.
Lucas Oil Centers also participates in charity golf outings and other events throughout the year to support various charities and causes.
"From the moment of conception, we knew that community involvement would be very important to us," says Maxey. "However, after our first year of being open we really started to see that we had a responsibility to our customers who come from all different walks of life. We wanted to be able to connect and support them in any way possible."
The Takeaway
The business's community involvement tagline is "We're not just changing oil, we're changing lives," and Lucas Oil Centers lives by that motto by participating in their own drives as well as others when they are approached.
Events change over time. For two years the shop hosted a popular haunted car wash. Payne says setting up the haunting took lots of work and planning, so the shop changed gears to host a trunk-or-treat event this past year.
Customers are loyal supporters of events and the business.
"We have customers who always mention they came to the Riley car show, or got toys from the Tons of Toys drive," Payne tells NOLN. "That's why it's so important that we keep doing these events every year."
Employees are excited to be involved. Payne says the events are discussed during the hiring process, and all employees are on hand for the weekend of each event, as the shop gets very busy with customers who come to support the cause. Every employee gets a shirt that calls out the giveback event to wear throughout the weekend.
Employees also participate. "We have employees who bring cars and bikes to the car show," says Payne. "They pay to register. The employees love it, they know it's important."
While the driving force of the events is to give back to the community, Payne also says work in the community is marketing for the shop. It is a way for a business to get more involved in the community, and gain customers in the process.
"I encourage any shop to get involved, even if it starts small like we did," says Maxey. "Start slowly in your local schools by maybe hosting a 'Back to school drive for backpacks or school supplies' or by donating gift cards to local silent auctions. Giving back to the community doesn't have to be a large event, it can simply be smaller ways that then lead to word of mouth and a good reputation as a giving company."
