American Towing and Recovery Institute and Friends Donate to the Museum and Survivor Fund
Left to right, first row: Mike Woolard, Janet Woolard, April Wilburn, Wes Wilburn, Jeffrey Godwin, Cathy Brumgard and Peter Ashenden, Jr.
Left to right, second row: Brooke Zueger, Andrew Pittman, Bill Gratizanna, Jon Kupchin and Mike Porter.
The following is a press release from the American Towing and Recovery Institute:
Peter Ashenden, Jr, on behalf of the American Towing and Recovery Institute (ATRI) with Wes Wilburn, raised $14,000 to be split between the International Towing Museum and the Survivor Fund.
While helping Wes instruct a heavy-duty class, Washington, N.C., at Woolard’s Towing, Peter explained that it had been a tough year for the towing museum, and he had seen it firsthand on a recent trip to Chattanooga. Peter took the lead on “the money game,” which is a game played at classes to raise money for museum and Survivor Fund. A $2,000 “pot” was raised to be split.
Scott Tomlin of J & J Towing won the money and donated half of his winnings to the museum. Mike Woolard (Woolards Towing), Andrew H Pittman (Pittman Towing) and the American Towing and Recovery Institute donated funds as well.
On the way home from the class, Wes talked to his good friend Fred Scheler (Henrys Wrecker Service) who donated, so from the class we ended up donating $5,000 to the museum.
Since then, we have spoken to many other friends in the industry, particularly the Texas Towing & Storage Association, to bring in several donations for a total of $3,525 from Todd Johnston (Apple Towing), Danny Potts (Chubs Towing & Recovery), Andy Chesney (B & B Wrecker), Mike Poole (Neal Poole Reckers), Don Ward (Wards Towing), Albert Delgado (Delgado’s Wrecker Service), Tye Smith (Hwy 290 Wrecker Service) and Ford Wagner (Texas Auto Carriers).
Matthew Porter of 24 Hour Towing & Recovery from Washington State made a personal donation, and his state association, the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington, also donated. Andy Malpocker of Purpose Wrecker and Puryear Towing donated as well.
With all that hard work and support from our friends, we would like to thank Peter for allowing ATRI to present a check for $14,000 to the museum at the Florida Tow Show in April. After the year they have had, like many others, it is a blessing to give to them.